Students

LAWS2050 – Crime, Policy and Governance

2023 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lara Palombo
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
60cp including LAWS1010 or LEX101 or LEX102 or PICT101 or PICT103 or PICT1030 or LAW109 or LAWS1300
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit explores dynamic public policy development in relation to crime. It examines how governance frameworks (including legal and regulatory institutions) endeavour to regulate conduct by individuals and corporations, and how these frameworks aim to promote public interests and community welfare. Students will analyse the impact of various stakeholders in the criminal justice system on policy formulation, including in relation to corporate, environmental and moral crimes. They will be challenged to critically analyse real-world reform initiatives and to appreciate how criminological expertise and modern concepts in governance theory (such as reintegrative shaming, responsive regulation and restorative justice) are articulated in legal and policy-making forums.

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 and critique how legal institutions and governance frameworks endeavour to regulate the conduct of individuals and corporations in relation to activities that impact on community welfare and the public interest
  • ULO2: Analyse and apply modern theories of criminal justice (restorative justice, responsive regulation and reintegrative shaming)
  • ULO3: Conduct interdisciplinary research in criminology in the course of developing problem-solving skills, and identify the role played by these disciplines in influencing legal processes and policy-making forums
  • ULO4: Critique current policy initiatives in relation to crime through the application of established theoretical frameworks

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. 

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl reading summaries, essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Class participation 10% No Ongoing
Research Report 40% No Monday 25/9/2023, 11:55 pm.
Summary of weekly readings 10% No Weeks 2,3,4,5,6. (by Monday, 2 pm of set weeks)
Take Home Exam 40% No Tuesday 7 November 2-5 pm.

Class participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%

 

Students will be assessed on their contributions to tutorial discussions, debates and other activities.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and critique how legal institutions and governance frameworks endeavour to regulate the conduct of individuals and corporations in relation to activities that impact on community welfare and the public interest
  • Analyse and apply modern theories of criminal justice (restorative justice, responsive regulation and reintegrative shaming)
  • Critique current policy initiatives in relation to crime through the application of established theoretical frameworks

Research Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22 hours
Due: Monday 25/9/2023, 11:55 pm.
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will be required to submit a research paper on an assigned topic which consolidates their learning in the unit.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and critique how legal institutions and governance frameworks endeavour to regulate the conduct of individuals and corporations in relation to activities that impact on community welfare and the public interest
  • Analyse and apply modern theories of criminal justice (restorative justice, responsive regulation and reintegrative shaming)
  • Conduct interdisciplinary research in criminology in the course of developing problem-solving skills, and identify the role played by these disciplines in influencing legal processes and policy-making forums
  • Critique current policy initiatives in relation to crime through the application of established theoretical frameworks

Summary of weekly readings

Assessment Type 1: Summary
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Weeks 2,3,4,5,6. (by Monday, 2 pm of set weeks)
Weighting: 10%

 

A short written summary of a weekly reading to be submitted in set weeks prior to attending the tutorial.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and critique how legal institutions and governance frameworks endeavour to regulate the conduct of individuals and corporations in relation to activities that impact on community welfare and the public interest
  • Analyse and apply modern theories of criminal justice (restorative justice, responsive regulation and reintegrative shaming)

Take Home Exam

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: Tuesday 7 November 2-5 pm.
Weighting: 40%

 

Open book take-home exam of short questions covering topics discussed in the unit

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and critique how legal institutions and governance frameworks endeavour to regulate the conduct of individuals and corporations in relation to activities that impact on community welfare and the public interest
  • Analyse and apply modern theories of criminal justice (restorative justice, responsive regulation and reintegrative shaming)
  • Conduct interdisciplinary research in criminology in the course of developing problem-solving skills, and identify the role played by these disciplines in influencing legal processes and policy-making forums
  • Critique current policy initiatives in relation to crime through the application of established theoretical frameworks

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

This unit requires students to listen online (through Echo360) a weekly one-hour lecture. Students are also expected to attend a one-hour tutorial each week.  There is no required textbook. Weekly readings are available through Leganto (link available via the iLearn site).

Before listening to the weekly live lecture, students are required to access the unit's iLearn page to review online content such as videos (of approximately one hour) and read the assigned readings.

Before you listen to the first lecture, you should have logged onto iLearn and viewed the assigned weekly online content of approximately an hour, and read the assigned weekly readings.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.


Unit information based on version 2023.03 of the Handbook