JUST 7007 Issues in the Criminal Justice System

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 201068

Coordinator Rossi Kotsis Opens in new window

Description In this subject, students will critically review the criminal justice system, analysing justifications for punishment as well as the policies and practices of various criminal justice agencies. Students will examine the influence of race, class, and gender on justice, and how these factors impact on the outcomes. Students will also engage with contemporary issues and ongoing debates in criminal justice wherever possible, through exposure to criminal justice agencies, prison, and connect with legal clients and practitioners to gain practical and professional understanding and experience.

School Law

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

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:

  1. Critically review current approaches to crime and criminal justice.
  2. Evaluate the dynamic nature of criminal justice and the social, political and legal factors which contribute to this dynamism.
  3. Critically analyse the impact of the criminal justice system on different social groups, including Indigenous people.
  4. Demonstrate advanced communication and collaboration skills.
  5. Articulate solutions to contemporary issues in criminal justice in response to experience in and exposure to real cases, clients and legal practitioners in the criminal justice system.

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.

  1. Themes in Criminal Justice
  2. Criminal legal theory
  3. Crime and Indigenous Australians
  4. Crime and Statistics
  5. The Jury
  6. Victims of Crime
  7. Sentencing
  8. Prisons and penalty
  9. Restorative Justice
  10. Victim-offender conferencing
  11. Terrorism
  12. History of criminal law and procedure
  13. International crime and tribunals
  14. Psychology and crime
  15. Public order
  16. 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 Mandatory
Participation Ongoing throughout subject S/U Y Individual Y
Presentation 30 minutes for presentation 500 word for post-presentation reflection S/U Y Group/Individual Y
Report 2,000 words S/U Y Individual Y
Professional Task 20 minutes S/U Y Individual Y

Prescribed Texts

  • Findlay, Mark, Stephen Odgers and Stanley Yeo, Australian Criminal Justice (Oxford University Press, 5th ed, 2014)

Structures that include subject