JUST 7007 Issues in the Criminal Justice System
Credit Points 10
Legacy Code 201068
Coordinator Rossi Kotsis Opens in new window
Description This subject introduces candidates to the criminal justice system through a critical review of justifications for punishment and the policy and practice of various criminal justice agencies. Attention is paid to the significance of race, class and gender, and how these variables impact upon justice within the criminal justice system. Students will engage with contemporary issues and ongoing debates in criminal justice. Where possible, visits to criminal justice agencies and a prison are organised, and practitioners are invited to seminars to enable candidates to gain a more practical understanding of the criminal justice system.
School Law
Discipline Legal Studies
Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp
Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject
Pre-requisite(s) LAWS 7048 - Criminal Law
Incompatible Subjects JUST 3011 - Issues in the Criminal Justice System
Restrictions
Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate program.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Critically review current approaches to crime and criminal justice.
- Evaluate the dynamic nature of criminal justice and the social, political and legal factors which contribute to this dynamism.
- Critically analyse the impact of the criminal justice system on different social groups, including Indigenous people.
- Demonstrate advanced communication and collaboration skills.
Subject Content
The following topics comprise the list from which each semester's content will be based. However depending on guest speakers and student interest not every topic is necessarily covered.
- Themes in Criminal Justice
- Criminal legal theory
- Crime and Indigenous Australians
- Crime and Statistics
- The Jury
- Victims of Crime
- Sentencing
- Prisons and penalty
- Restorative Justice
- Victim-offender conferencing
- Terrorism
- History of criminal law and procedure
- International crime and tribunals
- Psychology and crime
- Public order
- Police practices
Assessment
The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.
| Type | Length | Percent | Threshold | Individual/Group Task |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participation | Ongoing throughout subject | 10 | N | Individual |
| Presentation | 30 minutes | 30 | N | Group |
| Report | 2,000 words | 20 | N | Individual |
| Final Exam | Take home examination | 40 | N | Individual |
Prescribed Texts
- Findlay, Mark, Stephen Odgers and Stanley Yeo, Australian Criminal Justice (Oxford University Press, 5th ed, 2014)
Teaching Periods
Autumn (2023)
Online
Online
Subject Contact Rossi Kotsis Opens in new window