Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor Peter Rogers peter.rogers@mq.edu.au Contact via peter.rogers@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 3
Prerequisites	Prerequisites 12cp
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description This unit offers students an opportunity to examine the social relationships that underpin crime and criminal behaviour, the policy and politics of crime, and our understanding of 'justice' in the modern world. The unit brings criminology and sociology together as social sciences, providing insight into both social and criminal justice. Particular attention is paid to the purpose and aims of the criminal justice system. The 'cycle of justice' is unpacked, including: interacting with the police; what happens in court; and how we punish people and what we expect to happen after punishment has been administered. Issues discussed include: questions of how crime is defined, measured and prevented; criminal responsibility and victimisation; the form and function of law in democratic society; gender-based violence; hate crimes; and crimes of the powerful; as well as an introduction into debates surrounding terrorism and security. Students are encouraged to re-examine the socially constructed nature of crime, questioning the purpose of law and the role it plays in maintaining, or disrupting, established notions of fairness and equity from a criminological perspective.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate a scholarly understanding of criminal justice, social justice and criminology
Critically apply 'criminal justice' and 'social justice' to the Australian criminal justice system
Use social research skills to analyse, interpret and assess different sources of data and evidence
Critically assess justice 'done' and justice 'managed' in the Australian criminal justice system
Critically assess key concepts in the sociology of law and criminology across local, regional and global examples
Communicate ideas on crime and society to fellow students and teachers clearly in spoken and written format
Engage in independent observation activity in a courtroom environment

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Due
Attendance and Participation	15%	ONGOING
Online Quiz	30%	Week 7
Court Report	55%	Week 13

Attendance and Participation

Due: ONGOING
Weighting: 15%

Attendance at both lectures and tutorials is mandatory in this course for on campus students, however if you are studying externally this is monitored differently. External students have historically stuggled to do well in demonstrating participation by not reading instructions or by lacklustre engagement with the online tools. I am hoping to reverse that trend this year with clearer and simpler tasks. Remember as a collective increased participation helps each other do well, as a learning community participation breeds participation.

As an external student 5% of the final unit grade is allocated according to the following criteria:

Download or access of lectures from echo360 (monitored by convenor)
Active participation in the online discussions boards (monitored by convenor)

10% of your performance will be assessed against:

Evidence of engagement in the group wiki (monitored by tutors & convenor)

This may also be amended to reflect, for example, your engagement with wider reading materials, your participation in related discussions with staff and students, reporting back to the class or students on your experiences and views on relevant topics and evidence of independent study (such as bringing extra material into class or engagement in other activities as organised by the teaching staff).

This seeks to test all of the learning outcomes and graduate capabilities through a reflexive engagement with the learning experience gauging commitment and effort throughout all areas for the duration of the course. However there is a particular emphasis on your demonstration of a commitment to continuous learning.

PLEASE NOTE, external students are required to engage - e.g. by asking questions in the wiki but also by responding to other students in the discussion threads. ONE POST each week is NOT considered to be active engagement. If you do not make multiple weekly posts on a regular basis you may be excluded from the unit for none participation in required activities.

You will also need to keep an eye on the announcements during the course as new tasks for external students may appear throughout the course to help you show an active engagement and participation.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Critically apply 'criminal justice' and 'social justice' to the Australian criminal justice system
Critically assess justice 'done' and justice 'managed' in the Australian criminal justice system
Communicate ideas on crime and society to fellow students and teachers clearly in spoken and written format
Engage in independent observation activity in a courtroom environment

Online Quiz

Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%

The online quiz will test some basic knowledge on the course content for the first 6 weeks of the unit. It also tests student engagement with web resources and awareness of some basics about the Australian criminal justice system required for completion of later assessments. It serves to review and consolidate previous learning techniques, strategies and writing skills that are a core of social science, sociology and criminology disciplines.

This test will be made available through i-learn from week 5 until week 7 of the term (including the semester half-term break). Students may complete the quiz at any time within this period. Failure to complete the quiz within this time will result in a mark of ‘0’ for the online quiz component. Instructions for the completion of the quiz will be provided in i-learn when the quiz is released. This focuses on discipline specific knowledge and developing a basic set of reflections at the lower order level of learning. Nonetheless it remains vital as a basis for your further study and as a commitment to continuous learning testing a narrow but important range of capabilities and learning outcomes.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate a scholarly understanding of criminal justice, social justice and criminology
Critically assess justice 'done' and justice 'managed' in the Australian criminal justice system
Critically assess key concepts in the sociology of law and criminology across local, regional and global examples
Communicate ideas on crime and society to fellow students and teachers clearly in spoken and written format

Court Report

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 55%

In observing justice in the courtroom, would you say that what you saw was the IDEAL of justice being DONE or the PROCESS of justice being MANAGED?

Make reference to specific cases and contrast and compare the outcomes to support your claims.

A full break down of the assessment requirements will be provided in the i-Learn space. refer to this guidance for a full breakdown of the assessment, the stages you go through and details of how to make observations.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate a scholarly understanding of criminal justice, social justice and criminology
Critically apply 'criminal justice' and 'social justice' to the Australian criminal justice system
Use social research skills to analyse, interpret and assess different sources of data and evidence
Critically assess justice 'done' and justice 'managed' in the Australian criminal justice system
Critically assess key concepts in the sociology of law and criminology across local, regional and global examples
Communicate ideas on crime and society to fellow students and teachers clearly in spoken and written format
Engage in independent observation activity in a courtroom environment

Delivery and Resources

Teaching

LECTURE & TUTORIALS are used in this unit. A 2 hour lecture is supported by one hour tutorials in smaller groups. Locations will be confirmed through the online system. Rooms may change depending on timetabling and enrollments so check these on the online timetable regularly for updates.

Required and recommended resources

The required texts (and weekly readings) for this unit of study are not listed in the online unit guide.

The reference for weekly readings will be posted in the iLearn system, we cannot post up large sections of the books due to copyright restrictions.

Please note there are two text books used as required readings for this unit, it is recommended you purchase at least one of them. These books are listed in iLearn. Both books should be available through the Co-op bookstore on MQ campus, though stock may be limited. You can also check the second hand book store on campus or book exchanges for cheaper second-hand copies. Visit the book store for more information.

Supplementary readings may be made available on iLearn and in e-reserve where possible, but your required readings each week are usually from one of the two textbooks.

Technologies Used & Required

Enrolled students on this course will need access to a computer and to the internet (both of which are avaiable through MQU campus). Though use of a solid internet connection off campus will facilitate the ease of access to online learning materials and support.

WHAT HAS CHANGED in 2014

This unit has been streamlined and the assessment orientation is now aligned with MQ assessment policy. We offer three assessment tasks instead of 4 with a higher wieghting on the substantial assessment 'the court report'. The 'online quiz' component has been expanded and includes more interpetation of empirical material and a deeper reflection in some of the questions on the online Lawlink and BOCSAR resources avaiable to students. We are also introducing a more stringent assesment of student preparation for tutorials linked to a commitment to continuous learning as a graduate capability.

Unit Schedule

WEEK 1	INTRODUCTION TO THE UNIT
WEEK 2	KEY CONCEPTS
WEEK 3	WHAT IS JUSTICE?
WEEK 4	THE POLITICS OF CONTROL
WEEK 5	ASSESSMENT WORKSHOPS
WEEK 6	HOW DOES JUSTICE HAPPEN?
WEEK 7	WHATS TO JUDGE
WEEK 8	WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
WEEK 9	A DIFFERENT APPROACH
WEEK 10	CRIME STOPPERS
WEEK 11	WHO SUFFERS MOST?
WEEK 12	UNIT SUMMARY
WEEK 13	NO LECTURE

Learning and Teaching Activities

Lectures

Weekly lectures on discipline specific content

Tutorials

Weekly tutorials on content, workshops on assessments and skill development

Online Discussion

Accessing group spaces online and general discussion boards to participate in critical debate

Announcements

Access convenor announcements for up-to-date information

iLearn

Access Ilearn and echo360 to download and review lecture slides, content and relevant information

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Critically assess justice 'done' and justice 'managed' in the Australian criminal justice system
Communicate ideas on crime and society to fellow students and teachers clearly in spoken and written format
Engage in independent observation activity in a courtroom environment

Assessment tasks

Attendance and Participation
Online Quiz
Court Report

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Use social research skills to analyse, interpret and assess different sources of data and evidence
Communicate ideas on crime and society to fellow students and teachers clearly in spoken and written format
Engage in independent observation activity in a courtroom environment

Assessment tasks

Attendance and Participation
Online Quiz
Court Report

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate a scholarly understanding of criminal justice, social justice and criminology
Critically assess key concepts in the sociology of law and criminology across local, regional and global examples
Engage in independent observation activity in a courtroom environment

Assessment tasks

Attendance and Participation
Online Quiz
Court Report

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

Critically assess key concepts in the sociology of law and criminology across local, regional and global examples

Assessment tasks

Online Quiz
Court Report

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Use social research skills to analyse, interpret and assess different sources of data and evidence
Communicate ideas on crime and society to fellow students and teachers clearly in spoken and written format
Engage in independent observation activity in a courtroom environment

Assessment tasks

Online Quiz
Court Report

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Use social research skills to analyse, interpret and assess different sources of data and evidence
Communicate ideas on crime and society to fellow students and teachers clearly in spoken and written format
Engage in independent observation activity in a courtroom environment

Assessment task

Court Report

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate a scholarly understanding of criminal justice, social justice and criminology
Critically assess justice 'done' and justice 'managed' in the Australian criminal justice system

Assessment tasks

Attendance and Participation
Court Report

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Critically apply 'criminal justice' and 'social justice' to the Australian criminal justice system
Critically assess justice 'done' and justice 'managed' in the Australian criminal justice system
Critically assess key concepts in the sociology of law and criminology across local, regional and global examples

Assessment task

Court Report

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Critically apply 'criminal justice' and 'social justice' to the Australian criminal justice system
Critically assess justice 'done' and justice 'managed' in the Australian criminal justice system
Communicate ideas on crime and society to fellow students and teachers clearly in spoken and written format