Students

PICT8042 – Crime, Inequality and Justice

2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor/Lecturer
Lara Palombo
lara.palombo@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
B312 Level 3, 25 WW
Email
Consuelo Martinez Reyes
consuelo.martinezreyes@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MCrim or MPICT or MCPICT or GradDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or PGCertPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MIntellMCrim or MCyberSecMCrim or MCTerrorismMCrim or admission to BSecStudMCrim
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

How do we transform inequalities ingrained in the criminal justice system? This unit examines the relationships between social inequalities and crime and justice. It explores historical and contemporary critiques and methods that challenge and transform this relationship. The unit draws from multiple disciplines to theorise, examine, and re-imagine the understanding of crime and justice. It focuses on social cleavages to explore how inequalities are structured and re-produced by the criminal justice system. We foreground the lived experiences of marginalised individuals and communities impacted by the criminal justice system and critically examine research-based approaches and collaborative solutions that respond to injustices. In doing so, the unit explores the role of the criminal justice system in amplifying and reproducing social inequality, whilst analysing what punishment systems say about us as a society. This approach enables students to understand the relationship between inequality and justice and how to build a ethically-focused response to issues of crime, inequality and justice.

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: Demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between disadvantage, inequality, and crime. 
  • ULO2: Analyse the impact of social disadvantage on the criminal justice system.
  • ULO3: Evaluate the criminal justice system as a response to social, economic, and cultural exclusion. 
  • ULO4: Assess the reproduction of social inequality by the criminal justice system. 
  • ULO5: Demonstrate a critical understanding of the societal implications of punishment and control systems on different sections of society.  

General Assessment Information

  • 1-Reflective Writing: This is a critical reflection on four unit essential readings discussed in the unit.
  • 2-Project Plan: This task is in preparation for Task 3, the Project Review.
  • 3- Project Review: Students will critically evaluate a human rights or community organisation's approach to a criminological topic covered in the unit.

Short Extensions apply in this unit for all tasks:

  • https://connect.mq.edu.au/s/article/Short-Extensions-How-they-work-and-what-you-need-to-know

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

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. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm.

A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (including 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. 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/assessment-exams/special-consideration.

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER:

 Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/appeals/grade-appeal

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Reflective Writing 20% No 23/08/2026 Individual Yes Open
Project Plan 40% No 27/09/0026 Individual Yes Open
Community Project Review 40% No 06/11/2026 Individual Yes Open

Reflective Writing

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 23/08/2026
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Drawing on key programs introduced in the unit, students will reflect upon its approach and limitations. (4 x 500 words)
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between disadvantage, inequality, and crime. 
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the societal implications of punishment and control systems on different sections of society.  

Project Plan

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: 27/09/0026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Students will create a one page outline of their proposed project. (800 words)
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate the criminal justice system as a response to social, economic, and cultural exclusion. 
  • Assess the reproduction of social inequality by the criminal justice system. 

Community Project Review

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 06/11/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Students will evaluate a human rights or community organisation's response to a key criminological concern. (2000 words)
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse the impact of social disadvantage on the criminal justice system.
  • Evaluate the criminal justice system as a response to social, economic, and cultural exclusion. 
  • Assess the reproduction of social inequality by the criminal justice system. 

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS 

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to tutorials, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments. 
  • Internal students are expected to attend all tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activitie. Students are expected to attend lectures or listen to recordings of weekly lectures in ECHO360.
  • 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 electronic copies can be accessed through Leganto. Electronic copies can also be accessed through the library. 

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

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 2026.04 of the Handbook