On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Define the concepts central to understandings of justice generally and criminal justice specifically.
2. Explain how the Australian criminal justice system works with reference to each branch of the system; police, courts, and corrections.
3. Discuss Australian criminal justice systems and processes and alternative forms of delivering justice.
4. Articulate an appropriate understanding of theories and concepts used to inform policing, courts and corrections when working with communities, groups and individuals with whom they engage.

A holistic understanding of crime and its relation to criminal justice process.
Defining justice.
The purpose of justice, consideration of the role of justice in society.
Justice and crime, connecting notions of justice to the politics of social control.
The link between justice and law, including the separation of powers between parliament, judiciary and the executive branch of government.
Criminal justice institutions and practices: reporting on the role of police, courts, and corrections.
The criminalisation process and social inequality ? gender/sexuality, indigeneity/race and class.
The purpose of punishment and sentencing.
Comparing and contrasting approaches to justice (traditional and alternative approaches e.g. restorative justice).
Defining policing, including the historical context of policing in Australia as well as features of modern policing.
The impact of police discretion, culture, misconduct and moral vulnerability upon police accountability as well as emerging trends in policing.