Students

LAWS1300 – Criminal Justice

2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Andrew Burke
6 First Walk, Room 622
Monday 12-1pm
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
LAW115 or LAWS1000
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit aims to develop in students a critical understanding of substantive criminal law - what makes an accused guilty or not guilty of a crime. Students will learn the principles of criminal responsibility and the defences available to an accused, and then apply that knowledge to a range of crimes including murder, assault and property offences. Students are encouraged to consider if the criminal law of NSW is rational, fair and just, and how it has been shaped by historical, social, political and philosophical factors.

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:

  • ULO1: Apply principles of statutory interpretation and problem solving methods to criminal justice scenarios
  • ULO2: Explain general doctrines of criminal responsibility and outline elements of offences and defences in accordance with Priestley requirements for legal practice
  • ULO3: Research, analyse, synthesise, interpret and derive legal principles from legislation, case law and parliamentary debate governing the administration of criminal justice
  • ULO4: Identify how the criminal law of NSW has been shaped by historical, social, political and philosophical factors

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests. 

Word limits will be strictly applied and work above the word limit will not be marked. Footnotes are only to be used for referencing. Substantive material in footnotes will not be marked.

All assessments in the unit are to be submitted electronically via Turnitin. Plagiarism detection software is used in this unit. 

All assessments must be appropriately referenced, applying the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th ed).  The Guide is available here <https://law.unimelb.edu.au/mulr/aglc>. 

Assessments must be submitted in double line spaced text, 12 point, Times New Roman font. Headings and subheadings should be used where appropriate. No bibliographies are required.

Detailed marking rubrics will be made available on iLearn. Markers in this unit undertake a process to establish a common marking standard and all Fail papers are double marked.

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

The required textbook is: Roderick Howe, Paul Sattler and Marissa Hood, Hayes & Eburn Criminal Law and Procedure in New South Wales (LexisNexis Butterworths, 6th ed, 2019).

This unit is delivered via a weekly lecture and a weekly tutorial. Lectures and tutorials both commence in Week 1.

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Lecture Schedule

1. Introduction to criminal justice: what is crime?

2. Principles of criminal responsibility

3. Summary offences

4. Homicide: murder and voluntary manslaughter

5. Homicide: involuntary manslaughter; assault causing death

6. Defences: self-defence, duress

7. Defences: mental illness, intoxication

Mid-semester break.

8. Assault

9. Property Offences 

10. Sexual Assault

11. Drug Offences

12. Extended criminal liability

13. No lecture

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

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

Changes from Previous Offering

The text book has changed. See Delivery and Resources for details.