Overview
This unit introduces you to the basic elements of criminology and criminal justice. The nature and trends associated with crime are examined, together with how it relates to dimensions such as social class, age, gender and ethnicity. You will examine crime in the context of contemporary criminology theory. This unit also introduces you to the institutional response to Criminal Justice in Australia, how society responds to offensive behaviour and the roles of key agencies and individuals within the justice system.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student evaluations
Assessment need to be a little clearer
We will provide more resources and more structured guidance to how to go about study and what the expectations are each week.
Feedback from Student evaluations
Some students reported they would prefer a text book
Although some students indicate they would like a text book, many cannot afford a textbook. We will set an optional textbook for additional reading plus develop the second iteration of the study guides to fill some more of the knowledge and skills that students require.
Feedback from Student evaluations
Some students reported they would like more feedback
Students are encouraged to attend tutorials which have the primary purpose of giving feedback each week. Weekly learning diary tasks and a quiz provide early opportunities for feedback.All markers that assist with marking on this unit are required to attend a markers meeting prior to commencing marking. This meeting provides markers the information they need to provide feedback to students so that the comments provided to students is consistent. If markers cannot attend the meeting it is expected they will watch the recording prior to commencing their allocated marking. Additionally the unit coordinator will go in and check the markers comments for comments and in marking as they move through their allocated marking in grade mark.
Feedback from Student evaluations
Some students reported they enjoyed having guest lectures which they found these lectures engaging and it expanded their critical thinking and reflection on the unit topics.
We will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders to bring our students real life experiences and knowledge
- Describe how crime is classified, measured and analysed
- Analyse basic criminology theories and how they relate to criminal activity
- Explain the roles of individuals and key agencies within the justice system
- Examine the societal and institutional responses to criminal justice in Australia.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15% | ||||
2 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||
3 - Written Assessment - 50% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Communication | ||||
2 - Problem Solving | ||||
3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
4 - Information Literacy | ||||
5 - Team Work | ||||
6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
8 - Ethical practice | ||||
9 - Social Innovation | ||||
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15% | ||||||||||
2 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 50% |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.beattie@cqu.edu.au
e.turley@cqu.edu.au
m.suzuki@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to crime & Criminal Justice
Unit overview
Chapter
Australian Institute of Criminology. Australian crime: facts and figures 2014. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology
https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/facts/2014
Phelan, M. (2019). Crime & Justice Research 2019. Canberra: Australian institute of Criminology
https://aic.gov.au/publications/special/crime-and-justice-research-2019
Davis B., Dossetor K. (2010), (Mis)perceptionsof crime in Australia, Trends and Issues in crime and criminal justice No 396, Australian Institute of Criminology
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Social problems- criminal or social?
Sociological theories of crime Social perspectives on crime
Chapter
Blumer H.(2014 ) Social Problems as Collective Behaviour, Social Problems, Volume 18, Issue 3, 1 January 1971, Pages 298–306,
https://doi.org/10.2307/799797
Cunneen C (2006) Racism, Discrimination and the Over-Representation of Indigenous People in the Criminal Justice System: Some Conceptual and Explanatory Issues, Vol 17No 3 Current Issues Criminal Justice. pp 329-346
https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/cicj17&div=34&g_sent=1&casa_token=&collection=journals
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Psychological theories of crime
Individual perspectives on crime
Chapter
Nabavi, R. T. (2012) Bandura's Social Learning Theory & Social Cognitive Learning Theory, research gate.
Skinner, B. F. (1963). Operant behaviour, American Psychologist, Vol 18(8), Aug, 1963. pp. 503-515.
https://social.stoa.usp.br/articles/0016/2394/Skinner_B._F._Operant_Behavior.pdf
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Implications of media and media representations of crime
Chapter
Crime shows as PR for law enforcement & its implications
https://shadowandact.com/new-study-details-how-crime-shows-are-a-pr-machine-for-law-enforcement
Cohen S (2011) Whose side were we on? The undeclared politics of moral panic theory, Crime Media Culture Vol 7:3 pp 237–243, Sage Publishing, California.
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1741659011417603
Ewanation L A, Yamamoto S , Monnink J, Maeder E M(2017) Perceived realism and the CSI-effect, Cogent Social Sciences Vol 3, Cogent OA.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/23311886.2017.1294446?needAccess=true
Turley, E.L., & Fisher, J. (2018). Tweeting back while shouting back: Social media and feminist activism. Feminism & Psychology, 28,1. 128-132
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online quiz opens Monday 9am
Module/Topic
The impact of gender, race and ethnicity on criminality & perceived criminality
Chapter
Carrington K.,(2013) Girls and Violence: The Case for a Feminist Theory of Female Violence,crime and Justice Journal Vol 2:2 pp 63‐79
https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/download/693/446
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online quiz closes Monday 9am
Online Quiz Due: Week 5 Monday (6 Apr 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
What is deviance? What are social norms?
An exploration of deviant subcultures
Chapter
Turley, E.L. (2016) 'Like nothing I've ever felt before' understanding consensual BDSM as embodied experience. Psychology & Sexuality, 7, 2, 149-162.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
White Collar Crime & Corporate crime
Financial crimes online
Chapter
Wall Street Journal (2015) Can Cybercriminals Exploit the Internet of Things?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBHgr62EmMk&feature=youtu.be
Readings
Button M.,Nicholls C M,Kerr J.,Owen R.,(2014) Online frauds: Learning from victims why they fall for these scams, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology Vol 47:3 pp391-408.Sage Publication, London.
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0004865814521224
Holt T J., Burruss G W., Bossler A M., (2010) SOCIAL LEARNING AND CYBER-DEVIANCE: EXAMINING THE IMPORTANCE OF A FULL SOCIAL LEARNING MODEL IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD, Journal of Crime and Justice, Vol 33:2, pp 31-61, Elsevier, Amsterdam
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/0735648X.2010.9721287
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Victims and restorative justice
How victims feature in the criminal justice process
Chapter
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018) Key Findings 2016-2017
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4530.0
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2017) Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia,
Events and Submissions/Topic
Media article assignment due on Thursday 7 May
Media Article Due: Week 8 Thursday (7 May 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Public and private policing
Community police officers.
Police culture systemic practices
Chapter
Wallis L., Barker B., Burke H.,(2018) How unearthing Queensland’s ‘native police’ camps gives us a window onto colonial violence, The Conversation, Australia.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Criminal courts and the judiciary functions of courts with an introduction to specialist courts
Chapter
Jeffries S, Bond C.,(2009) Does Indigeneity Matter? Sentencing Indigenous Offenders in South Australia’s Higher Courts, THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY VOL 42:1 pp47-71,Sage Publications, California
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Working with Offenders Corrections Custodial and community corrections, investigating imprisonment.
Chapter
Haney C (2012) Prison Effects of in the Age of Mass Incarceration The Prison Journal Vol 20:10 pp1-24
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0032885512448604
Event
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Reintegration, rehabilitation (Recidivism v desistance) and offender management
Parole
Chapter
Australian Insitute of Criminology(2107) Recidivism rates, Indigenous women's offending patterns: A literature review, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Reflective journal assignment due on Friday 12 June
Reflective Journal Due: Review/Exam Week Friday (12 June 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit coordinator details:
Dr Emma Turley
e.turley@cqu.edu.au
Please email me to arrange an appointment
1 Online Quiz(zes)
This test will consist of both multiple choice and short answer questions.
The quiz will open on Monday at 9am in week 4 and close on Monday in week 5 at 9am.
This is an online multiple choice and short answer assessment. The questions will be drawn from the material from weeks 1-4. The quiz will include material from lectures, workshops, readings and other resources
Please be aware the multiple choice and short answer questions responses will be weighted differently. Students will have to complete this assessment in one session. Multiple attempts will not be available. So think carefully about your responses. You will not be able to go back and change your responses.
This assessment item:
• is a school based activity
• is an individual activity
• does not include a self assessment activity
• does not have a resubmission provision
1
Other
Week 5 Monday (6 Apr 2020) 9:00 am AEST
The quiz will open on Monday 30 March at 9am and close on Monday 6 April at 9am
Week 7 Monday (27 Apr 2020)
Knowledge of course content including readings and workshop activities
Application of theory to practical situations
Understanding of the context of the criminal justice system
- Describe how crime is classified, measured and analysed
- Analyse basic criminology theories and how they relate to criminal activity
- Explain the roles of individuals and key agencies within the justice system
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Written Assessment
For this assignment, you will need to produce a media article in the form of a newspaper or magazine feature article. Students must write a media article aimed at high school students aged 14-16 about ‘sexting’. You can choose to focus your article on any aspect of sexting (for example, to dangers and implications of sexting etc).
There a multiple objectives in writing a media article:
· It has to hook the reader and sell the story to the casual reader or listener.
· It has to give the main point of the story very quickly, so that even if the reader moves on after one or two paragraphs, or if the listener stops listening after the first sentence or two, they will still have a fair idea of what the story was about.
Word limit 1000 words
Week 8 Thursday (7 May 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Week 10 Thursday (21 May 2020)
Research skills
Integration of theoretical concepts
Awareness of audience requirements
Professional presentation
- Analyse basic criminology theories and how they relate to criminal activity
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
3 Written Assessment
Students will submit a reflective journal consisting of short activities relating to criminology to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of various criminological issues. The reflective journal will consist of several activities provided in the study guide.
Students are provided with a task to complete each week in the study guide. These short tasks make up the reflective journal, and there are 12 tasks in total. Each task is relevant to that week’s particular topic and will develop your knowledge and reflections in relation to criminology and criminal justice.
Word length per task 250-300 words (around half a side of A4). There are 12 tasks to complete, and students will submit any 9 of these tasks to form part of the reflective journal.
Total word limit: 3000 words
Review/Exam Week Friday (12 June 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Return: Friday 26 June
Application of theory and concepts from coursework
Ability to reflect on your own learning and progress
Independent research conducted
Professional presentation
- Explain the roles of individuals and key agencies within the justice system
- Examine the societal and institutional responses to criminal justice in Australia.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.