Level: 100 level core / elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: None

Unit Description:

Throughout the unit, students will examine the historical and social contexts within which criminological theories have arisen, as well as their current relevance to the Australian criminal justice system and society.

The unit commences by introducing students to the broader perspectives and orientations within which criminological theories are situated. Following an introduction to these foundational concepts, students will then examine major criminological theories, beginning with classicism, positivism and social theories.  Labelling perspectives will then be introduced, and the sociological origins of these models explored.  The final major theoretical areas to be outlined are the conflict and radical perspectives, Marxist and feminist perspectives.  The critical ideas inherent in these models will be used to analyse the assumptions of previously analysed theories. The contemporary perspectives of new right criminology and left realism will also be examined, and the subject will conclude by examining the optimistic approach and initiatives espoused by republican theory, and critical criminology’s post-modern and structuralist approaches.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the major theoretical perspectives within criminology
2. Explain the contemporary relevance of criminological theories to the Australian criminal justice system
3. Understand and apply key concepts and terms within criminology
4. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of criminological theories

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

Depending on the delivery mode, this unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2 hour lecture and 1 hour tutorial via Zoom.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including assessments, lecture and tutorial preparation, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 100 level core
Credit points: 6
Prerequisites: None

Unit Description:

This unit introduces students to the study of criminology and criminal justice. In doing so, it aims to develop students’ ability to perform successfully at tertiary level by addressing the skills applied to the context of social science, specifically to criminology and criminal justice. This unit also introduces students to the origins of the Australian Criminal Justice System and the formal functions of law enforcement, courts and correctional services.

This unit commences with an examination of core concepts central to the study of criminology and criminal justice. This includes introducing students to varying classifications and perspectives of justice, crime and criminality. Students will also explore the workings of the major institutions of the Australian criminal justice system. Throughout the unit, students will be introduced to the core skills and requirements when undertaking tertiary study, namely time management, utilising library resources effectively, academic writing style and referencing.

Learning Outcomes:

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Pre-learning activities
4. Post-learning activities

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial (via Zoom).

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The weekly individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 100 level core / elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: None

Unit Description:

This unit introduces students to media representations of crime, criminal justice and society. It examines the influence of media and popular culture on attitudes and behaviours, and how the law intersects with media via attempts to moderate its effect. Interactions between media and political and economic factors are analysed, as are issues including ‘fake news’ and censorship. Throughout, real-world examples of media will be considered, including news broadcasts, television programs and films.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Discuss and compare forms of media and their effects on society
2. Examine the effects of media consumption on society, including in relation to criminal behaviour and attitudes to justice
3. Examine attempts to regulate media, including censorship
4. Explain and contrast media representations of crime and criminal justice processes

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 100 level core

Credit points: 6

Mode of delivery: On-campus and online

Pre-requisites: None

Unit Description

This is the first of three inquiry-driven, multidisciplinary units in our undergraduate courses, which build upon one another to introduce key academic skills and an understanding of critical concepts relevant to the professions and careers into which our graduates progress. It will introduce you to higher education study, including key knowledge about the nature of higher education and how to navigate it successfully. It will help you develop critical thinking and communication skills, including reading and evaluating sources of information, summarising them effectively, and communicating your understanding to others. We will examine interactions between our own and others’ personal cultural identities, how they shape our experience of relationships personally and professionally, and their implications for future study and career. Finally, it will ensure that you understand the concept of cultural safety both as it applies to higher education and the workplace. The unit lays the groundwork for all of your future studies and will help you understand both yourself and others better.

Learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

a. Identify, summarise and communicate concepts from credible sources of information

b. Explain the role of culture, cultural identity and cultural influence in higher education and professional practice

c. Evaluate and apply theories and evidence related to culturally safe practices in professional practice

Unit workload:

The workload for this unit is 10 hours per week.

Textbook

The required text book for this unit can be found by viewing the textbook list by selecting the course and trimester at the following link: https://www.acap.edu.au/student-resources/student-central-your-studies/textbooks-and-course-materials/

Academic misconduct

Ethical conduct and academic integrity and honesty are fundamental to the mission of ACAP. Academic misconduct will not be tolerated by the college. Please refer to the Academic Misconduct Policy on Policies & Procedures webpage for full details.

Disclaimer

Unit information may be subject to change prior to the teaching trimester commencing. Once term has commenced please review the Unit Outline in your class space to ensure your trimester study plan is correct.

Level: 100 level core
Credit points: 6
Prerequisites: None

Unit Description:

This unit introduces students to the study of ethics, including key ethical theories and their application to society and areas of law and criminal justice. The unit commences by defining ethics and examining the key theories of ethics, including deontological and teleological approaches. Students will then apply these approaches to society and the law by considering the nature of, and debates surrounding, matters such as life and death (e.g. euthanasia), honesty and sex.

The unit then considers the ethical obligations and guidelines associated with criminal justice professions. Specifically, the codes of conduct applied to police, the judiciary and legal professionals, and correctional officers will be considered, along with the ethical dilemmas such professions encounter.

Learning Outcomes:

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

Depending on the delivery mode, this unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial (via Zoom)

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 100 level core

Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: MULT1015 Applications in Context

Mode of delivery: On-campus and online

Unit Description:

Opening up possibilities for developing multidisciplinary knowledge and practice, ACAP draws on the four disciplines in the college to develop three integrative units that are core to first-year undergraduate courses and a postgraduate course. These inquiry-driven units lay the groundwork for engaging students with multidisciplinary thinking, discourse and initiative in their fields of endeavour and in their future profession.

This unit introduces the student to academic skills and reflective writing practices. The unit develops the student’s understanding of ethical practice across multiple disciplines. The human rights framework in Australia and its relation to ethics and ethical behaviour in professional practice is also explored.

Learning outcomes:

Unit workload:

The workload for this unit is 10 hours per week.

Level: 100 level core

Credit Points: 6

Pre-requisites: MULT1015 Applications in Context
Mode of delivery: On-campus and online

Unit description:

Opening up possibilities for developing multidisciplinary knowledge and practice, ACAP draws on the 4 Disciplines in the College to develop three integrative units that are core to first-year Undergraduate courses. These inquiry-driven units lay the groundwork for engaging students with multidisciplinary thinking, discourse and initiative in their fields of endeavour and in their future profession/vocation.

This unit will introduce students the issues of sustainability on a personal, professional and community level. We will examine individual and group practices that can meet the needs of current generations without compromising our or future generations ability to meet their own needs through a transdisciplinary perspective. This will encompass evidence-based approaches to promoting sustainability in the context of study, professional work and within our communities. The unit provides students with an opportunity to explore, analyse and reflect on the contribution of human behaviour to the sustainability of individuals and communities, and apply this to their personal, educational and future professional lives.

Please note: There are slightly different expectations in MULT1035 for Graduate Certificate of Psychological (GCPS) Science students. If you are enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Psychology there are modified versions of Learning Outcome [c], the Assessment 1b rubric, and the Assessment 2 rubric in the relevant sections below. If you are not enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Psychological Science, you can ignore these sections.

Learning outcomes:

Unit workload

The workload for this unit is 10 hours per week.

Level: 100 level core / elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: None

Unit Description:

This unit introduces students to contemporary issues surrounding the impact of social and cultural diversity on Australian society and the criminal justice system. The objective of this unit is to provide students with a sociological framework to inform their studies in criminal justice. This includes understandings of social and cultural diversity, and constructed norms, processes of socialisation, issues of inequity and the concept of intersectionality. Students will expand their understanding of the role of the media and popular culture and will examine the intersections of class, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexuality and mental health status. Students will then explore the historical and contemporary issues regarding the impact of cultural and social diversity on the Australian criminal justice system (CJS).

This unit will provide students with a theoretical framework in sociology that allows them to understand how the CJS and society interact in the Australian setting.

Learning Outcomes:

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 200 level core
Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: 4x Level 100 units

Unit Description:
This unit encourages students to think critically about criminal justice issues and how they manifest in the experiences of those who come into contact with criminal justice systems. On completing this unit students will have a broader understanding of contemporary criminal justice issues and be able to critically engage in debates that question its effectiveness and role in a changing society.

This unit introduces students to a range of critiques that arise in the context of criminal justice in action. It examines how relationships of power manifest within criminal justice systems, including how these impact on what behaviours are defined as criminal and whether justice is applied universally. It takes a critical look at the effectiveness of traditional criminal justice, including the sustainability of current imprisonment practices. This unit considers some innovative forms of justice that have arisen in both international and Australian contexts, and the emergence of justice reinvestment as a principle. The unit concludes by critically examining some contemporary challenges to criminal justice in Australia.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of traditional criminal justice processes and institutions, including juries and prisons
2. Examine the nature and impact of societal changes on the criminal justice system
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the various drivers of criminal justice policy and practice, including political, economic, and social factors
4. Analyse non-traditional approaches to criminal justice, including restorative justice and justice reinvestment
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the informal functions of law enforcement, court and correctional systems

Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

Depending on the delivery mode, this unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial (via Zoom)

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 200 level core / elective
Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: 4x Level 100 units

Unit Description:
This unit extends students’ understanding of criminology and criminal justice by introducing them to the field of comparative criminology. The unit commences with an explanation of the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of comparative criminology, including its aims, benefits and key methodological approaches. It then introduces students to the different major legal traditions by comparing the common law/adversarial system with the civil law/inquisitorial and Islamic systems of justice.

Throughout the unit, students will be exposed to the similarities and differences between criminal justice agencies and processes across national jurisdictions. This will include examinations of law enforcement, types of punishment, imprisonment, and youth justice. These analyses will be interspersed with case studies of different nations from across the world. Case studies will provide students with an understanding of the similarities criminal justice systems share, as well as their differences. Case studies will also involve analysis of the various factors that influence crime in different societies and the development of criminal justice systems and processes, including history, culture, politics, and economics. Indigenous justice practices of justice will also be examined, including consideration of the extent to which such practices are integrated within broader justice systems.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the aims and benefits of comparative criminology
2. Analyse the nature and causes of crime across societies
3. Examine the influence of various factors, including history, culture and politics, on the development of different criminal justice systems and processes
4. Analyse the similarities and differences of criminal justice systems across different jurisdictions

Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 200 level core / elective
Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: 4x Level 100 units

Unit Description:
This unit introduces students to issues related to substance use and dependency, drug-related crime, and the effects of these on criminal justice and society.

The unit commences by providing students with an understanding of key terms and substances before embarking on an historical examination of drugs, drug use and drug control. The unit will then outline the nature and extent of drug use and dependency in Australian society, especially as it pertains to vulnerable populations including Indigenous Australians and youth, as well as the causes of use. The unit will then address the link between drug use and other criminal behaviours, including organised crime.

The unit analyses a range of policies to reduce drug use and its related issues including supply reduction, demand reduction and harm minimisation approaches. Specific initiatives examined include diversion strategies, needle exchange programs, drug courts, education programs and injecting facilities. Further examination will be made in the context of the criminal justice system, including the involvement of police, courts and corrections. The unit concludes by considering the influence of the internet on the illicit drug market and assessing future trends.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Examine key issues relating to licit and illicit substance use in Australian society
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the various factors that inform the drug debate and shape drug policy, such as historical, health, political and societal influences
3. Examine the association between substance use and anti-social behaviours, including criminal offending
4. Analyse attempts by authorities to prevent or reduce substance use and abuse and the difficulties encountered by authorities when attempting to do so

Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3.  Pre-learning activities
4. Post-learning activities

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial (via Zoom).

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The weekly individual workload of this unit will be around 9 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level core
Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: 4x Level 200 units

Unit Description:
This unit develops students’ understanding of Indigenous populations and the crime and criminal justice issues they face. In doing so, it examines the histories and justice processes of Indigenous populations prior to and following western colonisation and the impact of western colonisation on Indigenous peoples. The unit will analyse the reasons underlying Indigenous over-representation in the criminal justice system, as well as the treatment of Indigenous people by government and criminal justice agencies, such as police. This analysis will include consideration of Indigenous offending and victimisation and official responses to crime in Indigenous communities. The unit will also consider attempts to resolve the issues faced by Indigenous populations, including reconciliation and treaty.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of pre-settler Indigenous Australian cultures
2. Analyse the impacts of colonialism on Indigenous populations in historical and contemporary contexts
3. Compare Indigenous and non-Indigenous legal and justice processes
4. Examine critically the nature and effects of western criminal justice policies and practices in relation to Indigenous people in Australia

Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

Depending on the delivery mode, this unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 200 level core
Credit points: 6
Prerequisites: Successful completion of any four 100 level units

Unit Description:

This unit engages students in criminological research by introducing them to social science research methods. It examines the nature and use of quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods and how these are utilised within criminology. In undertaking applied criminology, students will examine the validity of data, including crime statistics, as well as formulate a topic that will form the basis of three written tasks.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

Depending on the delivery mode, this unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 200 level core / elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: 4x Level 100 units

Unit Description:

This unit introduces students to the various forms of transnational crime and its effects on domestic and global environment. The unit commences by introducing students to the concept of transnational crime and by defining and distinguishing the various offences that are classified under this concept.  The global context in which these activities occur will be identified, with specific attention paid to globalisation and modernisation processes.  Students will also be introduced to the broader contexts and impacts of these activities, including the social, legal, economic and political arenas via examination of transnational organised crime as a threat to national and global security.

The unit will examine the main forms of transnational crime, focusing on illegitimate economies and ‘black market’ trade.  Key offences examined include illegal trade of: arms; licit and illicit substances; and human beings.  Environmental harms, cyber-offences, maritime piracy and terrorism will also be examined. Throughout, students will analyse the roles played by organised criminal networks and official corruption in relation to the commission and facilitation of transnational offences.

The unit will critically examine attempts by governments and domestic and global agencies to combat transnational crime, including legislative and enforcement strategies.  Students will analyse the effectiveness of governmental and agency attempts to combat transnational crime, with particular attention paid to the difficulties encountered.  The unit will conclude by considering future trends in the area of transnational crime.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this subject the student should be able to:

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

Depending on the delivery mode, this unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 200 level core / elective
Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: 4x Level 100 units

Unit Description:
This unit introduces students to the study of crime prevention strategies and the analysis of techniques and theories used in crime prevention programs. In doing so, the unit examines the key approaches and theories within the crime prevention field, including the situational, developmental, social, and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) approaches. Specific techniques of prevention associated with each approach are analysed, as are weaknesses and critiques. The unit will also engage students in the application of crime prevention theories, with specific contexts and offence-types considered. In doing so, the unit will demonstrate the differences between crime prevention and crime control. The unit concludes with a consideration of the future directions of crime prevention.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

a. Explain, compare, and critique major crime prevention approaches

b. Examine the theoretical foundations of crime prevention approaches

c. Apply crime prevention approaches to specific offences and practical contexts

d. Examine the effectiveness of crime prevention approaches and the factors that impact on their successful application.

Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning.

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 200 level core / elective
Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: 4x Level 100 units

Unit Description:
Penology is the study of punishment. This unit introduces students to the issues involved in approaches to sentencing and punishment, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. This unit will provide introductory knowledge and critical insights into the theories and practices of punishment, correctional ideologies and practices and prison privatisation. Emphasis will also be placed on the question of whether prisons effectively rehabilitate offenders, prisoner rights and alternatives to imprisonment and punitive processes.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

a. Examine sentencing purposes and considerations
b. Apply knowledge of the historical, philosophical and social aspects of correctional systems
c. Analyse concepts of punishment and rehabilitation in custodial and non-custodial settings.
d. Communicate in a professional manner.

Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning.

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level core / elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of all level 100 level units and any four 200 level units (incompatible with: JALE3934 Forensic Psychology and PSYC3162 Applying Psychology to Crime and Justice)

Unit Description:

This unit explores the intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system (CJS) in Australia and examines current debates surrounding outcomes for people interacting with the CJS who are classified as exhibiting mental illness. This unit canvases the breadth of the problem of mental illness in the criminal justice system, and outlines the multidisciplinary approach developed to address the needs of this population. It also examines the vulnerability of persons with mental illness as victims of crime and the history of classification of behaviours as mental illness. This unit then explores the classification of offenders as mentally disordered in the context of police, courts, sentencing, prisons and the community, and responses to mental illnesses and special populations. Students should develop a broad understanding of the relationship between mental illness and offending, and the risks and services associated with case management.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Examine the relationship between mental illness and crime
2. Examine the challenges faced by the criminal justice system, including by police, when dealing with mentally ill individuals
3. Evaluate the provision of mental health treatment by the criminal justice system, including in prisons
4. Analyse the relationship between mental health and institutionalisation

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level core
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of all level 100 level units and any four 200 level units

Unit Description:

This unit applies the knowledge students have developed by exposing them to a working environment within the criminal justice, public safety, community welfare, or security fields. Prior to undertaking his unit, students will complete (or have commenced) a 75-hour placement with an agency in, or associated with, the criminal justice system.

In classes, students will be given the opportunity to contextualise their placement experience. The unit will also provide students with the skills required to write an effective job application, including a cover letter and CV. The unit also provides students with guidance on how to succeed in interviews.

Learning Outcomes:

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level core / elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of all level 100 level units and any four 200 level units

Unit Description:

This unit extends student’s understanding of sex, gender and crime. Taking a theoretical and critical approach to identity, this unit examines how gender and sexuality interact with criminal offending, victimisation and criminal justice processes. Specific topics covered include social constructions of gender and sexuality, sexual violence, and violence in the home. Throughout, students will apply intersectionality in considering the multidimensional nature of identity and its impact on individuals and society in relation to crime and criminal justice.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Analyse socially constructed forms of identity, including gender and sexuality
2. Examine critically the relationship between gender, criminal behaviour and victimisation
3. Evaluate the impact of gender on criminal justice agencies and processes
4. Examine the intersections between gender and sexuality and other points of difference including class and race, in relation to crime, victimisation and criminal justice

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level core / elective
Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: 4x Level 200 units

Unit Description:
This unit enables students to examine trends and initiatives that impact upon victims in various contexts, with particular reference to the criminal justice system.

The first half of this unit explores the relationship between victims, society, and the criminal justice system. It begins with an examination of how the area of Victimology emerged and some of the ways victims have been conceptualised in relation to criminal behaviour and theories. It explores the [re]discovery of the crime victim, both in academia and in legal processes. This is followed by an examination of victim’s experiences of the criminal justice system and the sorts of legislative and procedural reforms that have arisen in response to an increased awareness of victim’s needs. The role of the media in the social construction of victim ideal types is studied, along with a critical examination of gender and experiences of victimhood, as well as the victimisation of especially vulnerable populations.

The unit also considers the specific forms of victimisation, with a particular focus on crimes against the person. It explores the complexities around victims of sexual crimes before examining intimate partner violence. This is followed by a focus on the issue of institutional abuse and the emergence of interest in victims of international crimes such as human trafficking and terrorism. This unit concludes with a discussion of victim centred response to crime, the role of victim restitution in the aftermath of a crime, and current controversies in Victimology.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

a. Demonstrate knowledge of Victimology as a field of study and the evolution of victim’s rights in Australia

b. Critique the definition and construction of victims in various contexts, including academia, the law, politics, and media

c. Evaluate the role of victims within the criminal justice system

d. Examine the varying impacts of victimisation on different populations

e. Analyse the issues that different types of victim face, including challenges relating to criminal justice processes.

Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.
Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

Depending on the delivery mode, this unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of all level 100 level units and any four 200 level units 

Unit Description:

This unit synthesises students’ understanding of criminal justice processes via an introduction to the approaches, methods, structures, and processes of criminal justice at the international level. The unit commences with an introduction to the international criminal justice (ICJ) context, including how international crime is defined and classified. Content examines the interplay between international criminal justice (ICJ) and human rights and explores how nation-states can be held accountable. The unit examines the different forms of international crime, including genocide and crime against humanity, and the use of international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute such acts.

Broader analysis of the place of ICJ will then occur, with students examining the globalised nature of crime and crime control and the place and potential role of ICJ in global governance. In this context, the relationship between crime and development is investigated, with the unit concluding by considering the future of ICJ, particularly in relation to human rights. Throughout the unit, students will be asked to consider the role and impact of political power and agendas on ICJ.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Examine the origins, goals and effectiveness of international criminal justice and its associated processes
2. Differentiate the main categories of crime under the operation of the International Criminal Court, including torture, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes
3. Analyse the role and validity of human rights in relation to crime and criminal justice in the international context
4. Evaluate the current international features of law enforcement, investigation, prosecution, and punishment

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level elective
Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: 4x Level 200 units

Unit Description:
This unit aims to provide the student with an understanding of the philosophies and practices of youth justice. The unit looks holistically at youth crime from a historical perspective through to contemporary approaches to prevent youth offending. Consideration will be given to debates about young people and their status in society including the notions of competence, criminal responsibility, and maturity as central considerations in the youth justice system. The age of criminal responsibility is analysed within a historical and political context. Throughout the unit, theories, legislation, services, institutions, sentencing options, preventative approaches and processing pathways that exist for young offenders will be examined.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

a. Demonstrate knowledge of the origins, aims and key concepts of youth justice

b. Analyse the application of criminal responsibility to young people and wider debates that surround this application

c. Apply criminological theories of offending to young people

d. Evaluate the effectiveness of responses to youth offending, including the youth justice system.

Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of all level 100 level units and any four 200 level units

Unit Description:

This unit enhances students’ understanding of how crime has expanded into online spaces. Through analysis of cybercrime, students will gain knowledge of various forms of online offending, the theoretical underpinnings of online offences, and associated responses. Upon completion, students will demonstrate a firm knowledge of cybercrime and be able to critically evaluate current and future responses to online offences.

Learning Outcomes:

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of all level 100 level units and any four 200 level units

Unit Description:

This unit enhances student’s understanding of the historical and contemporary issues relevant to policing in Australia. The unit commences with an overview of the historical basis for the development of statutory authorities including police and introduces students to the general roles performed by police. The unit will examine the influence of the changes in society to the evolution of policing and the role of police within society before examining contemporary law enforcement powers and duties aimed at the prevention and detection of crime. Students will consider the role of training and education within enforcement and will analyse “culture” as it applies to policing and how it can impact upon issues of corruption and the protection of human rights.

The unit will then evaluate accountability mechanisms including internal and external monitors such as the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (Victoria) and interstate equivalents, the courts as regulators such as coronial proceedings, and internal Professional and Ethical Standards Departments. Critical analysis will also relate to the exercise of discretion within enforcement agencies.

The unit will conclude with an overview of recent initiatives relative to law enforcement and include a critical review of contemporary issues and practices.

Learning Outcomes:

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level elective
Credit points: 6

Pre-requisites: 4x Level 200 units

Unit Description:
This unit introduces students to the primary tenets and central topics within the specialist field of forensic psychology. The unit will outline the history and definition of “forensic psychology”, exploring in detail the five key subspecialties within the discipline, and identifying conflicts that arise between psychology and the law. Contemporary theories of offending will be examined in detail and linked to the empirical principles that underlie work with forensic clients.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

a. Examine the role of psychology in the criminal justice system

b. Critique major contemporary theories of offending

c. Distinguish the treatment needs of different offender populations, including youth and serious offenders

d. Apply psychological approaches to criminal justice processes and issues faced by the criminal justice system.

Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.
In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of all level 100 level units and any four 200 level units

Unit Description:

This unit introduces students to historical and contemporary ideas and issues surrounding terrorism, including its impact on domestic and global environments. From the outset, students will be introduced to the political context in which terrorism exists, including the process by which non-state actors are classified as terrorist. To understand terrorism as political violence, the unit will examine the nature of non-state actors classified as terrorist, including their ideological motivations, goals and tactics, as well as the structures of such groups. Recruitment practices will also be examined, such as radicalisation processes, as will the use of technologies by groups to communicate, recruit and conduct attacks.

The unit will also consider the counter-terrorism strategies adopted by governments and the effectiveness of these strategies. The role of intelligence and criminal justice agencies will be specifically considered in this context. The unit will also analyse the implications of counter-terrorism strategies for human rights and due process.

Learning Outcomes:

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Lectures and critical discussion
2. Tutorials and skill development activities
3. Online pre-learning activities
4. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).

Level: 300 level elective
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: Successful completion of all level 100 level units and any four 200 level units

Unit Description:

This unit expands students’ understanding of crime and criminalisation processes by engaging them in the sociology of deviance. In doing so, the unit adopts a view of deviance as socially constructed, allowing students to identify and analyse the social, legal and political forces at play in classifications of people and behaviour as deviant.

Specifically, the unit applies key sociological approaches to deviancy (e.g. labelling, feminism, functionalism, post-modernism) and societal attitudes. Students critically examine the nature of crime, deviance and corresponding societal reactions and control measures in their socio-political and socio-legal contexts. Throughout the unit, case studies will be employed to engage students in the study of the sociology of deviance and to provide students with real-life and practical examples of deviance as well as the formal and informal measures employed to prevent and manage behaviours and populations classified as deviant.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:

1. Apply the major sociological theories of deviance to social contexts and behaviour
2. Differentiate between crime and deviance
3. Analyse the nature of deviance and corresponding societal reactions and control measures
4. Evaluate formal and informal attempts to prevent and manage deviant behaviour

Learning and Teaching Process:

This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.

Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:

1. Seminars, critical discussion and skill development activities
2. Online pre-learning activities
3. Online post-learning

This unit’s content is delivered to students via a weekly 3-hour (on-campus) seminar. Online students will have access to the seminar recording and will attend a weekly 1-hour tutorial via Zoom.

In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including teamwork, individual self-study and reading).