Students

PICT2020 – Policing and Crime

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Vincent Hurley
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
50cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to police and policing and their role and purpose in contemporary society. Policing is and always has been a complex and contentious aspect of society be it in crime prevention and or social control. This unit provides students with the theoretical tools required to make sense of the different forms of policing and the concepts that underpin them. The unit will critically explore the history of the police and policing, how officers are trained, corruption, the use of force, police culture through to policing transnational organised crime. Through analysis of historical and current policing issues, students will learn to assess the relevance and cause and effects of crime and how it is policed.

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: Describe the historical development of contemporary policing, as well as policestructures, management, powers, as well as reform and accountability mechanisms
  • ULO2: Research, locate and summarise academic texts
  • ULO3: Examine the social implications of real world policing methodologies
  • ULO4: Critically explore contemporary issues in policing, including: training and culture; strategies; ethics, corruption and accountability; and the use of force

General Assessment Information

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Paper Summary 30% No 11.55pm Sunday, 23rd August
Essay Plan 20% No 11.55pm Sunday, 27th September
Final Essay 50% No 11.55pm Sunday, 25th October

Paper Summary

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 11.55pm Sunday, 23rd August
Weighting: 30%

A paper summary requires the student to conducting independent scholarly research and find a seminal paper (either a book chapter or a peer-reviewed article) on one chosen contemporary policing topic


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Research, locate and summarise academic texts
  • Examine the social implications of real world policing methodologies
  • Critically explore contemporary issues in policing, including: training and culture; strategies; ethics, corruption and accountability; and the use of force

Essay Plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 21 hours
Due: 11.55pm Sunday, 27th September
Weighting: 20%

Essay Plan sets the platform for students final assignment. The Essay Plan will cover individual topics/issues that students will be critically exploring in their final essay. They are required to research, assess and determine what are the 5 best scholarly publications they will be using to frame and argue their case.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the historical development of contemporary policing, as well as policestructures, management, powers, as well as reform and accountability mechanisms
  • Research, locate and summarise academic texts
  • Examine the social implications of real world policing methodologies
  • Critically explore contemporary issues in policing, including: training and culture; strategies; ethics, corruption and accountability; and the use of force

Final Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 11.55pm Sunday, 25th October
Weighting: 50%

The student’s final essay examines the facets of contemporary policing practices. It requires scholarly consideration on existing policing praxis and social attitudes on 1 of 4 current social - policing issues. The essay asks students to determine if current police occupational practices and policies reflects social expectations.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the historical development of contemporary policing, as well as policestructures, management, powers, as well as reform and accountability mechanisms
  • Research, locate and summarise academic texts
  • Examine the social implications of real world policing methodologies
  • Critically explore contemporary issues in policing, including: training and culture; strategies; ethics, corruption and accountability; and the use of force

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

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

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments.
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities.
  • In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.

 

REQUIRED READINGS

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site. Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.

 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

  • Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient. 
  • Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/

 

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically. This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date.
  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
  • The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/specialconsideration

 

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • 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 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 FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.
  • Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.
  • If the number of words exceeds the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words over the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).
  • The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener. 

 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

 

STAFF AVAILABILITY

  • Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not be answered over the weekend or public holiday period.
  • Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.

Unit Schedule

Week 1      Unit Guide & Brief History of Policing

Week 2      Police & Policing. What's the difference?

Week 3      Police Use of Force. The good and the bad

Week 4      Police Training & Culture. Is police culture a bad thing?

Week 5      Police Corruption. Noble Cause Corruption. What’s that?

 Week 6      Police Strategies. What are they?

Week 7       The Pluralisation of Policing. What’s that?

Week 8      Policing Terrorism

Week 9      Organised Crime. What is it actually?

Week 10     Transnational Organised Crime. Human Trafficking

Week 11     Transnational Organised Crime. Counterfeit medicines

Week 12     Green Criminology. Policing the Environment

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.