Students

CRIX3001 – Crime, Justice and the Environment

2026 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Alex Simpson
alex.simpson@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 2000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

In the 21st century, environmental harm is an ever-present reality of our globalised world, with criminologists increasingly asking questions relating to how different political, social and criminal justice systems respond – or fail to respond – to the harm imposed on ecosystems and their human and non-human components. Such work has crystallised into the rapidly evolving field of green criminology. However, much of what we may think of as green crime is not in fact defined as 'criminal' by criminal justice agencies. In response, as leading criminologist Nigel South (2010: 242) states, the study of crime, justice and the environment requires not just "a new academic way of looking at the world but also a new global politics”. Drawing on a harm perspective, students will examine questions concerning rights, justice, moral and the nature of victimisation. Central topics include social justice, ecological consciousness, the destructive nature of global capitalism, the role of the nation state (and regional and global regulatory bodies) as well as inequality and discrimination as these relate to class, gender, race, Indigeneity and nonhuman animals. These debates enable students to think beyond a narrow focus on street-level and interpersonal crimes, turning their critical attention to the destructive and harmful effects of human activities on local and global ecosystems.

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: Define the concept of green criminology and explain the how interconnected social, economic and political structures and systems can contribute to environmental degradation.
  • ULO2: Identify the global dimensions associated with environmental crimes, examining the transnational factors, global trade, and international policies that influence ecological sustainability and justice.
  • ULO3: Critically assess instances of environmental harm perpetrated by corporations and nation states, analysing the role of economic interests and regulatory frameworks in shaping environmental practices.
  • ULO4: Investigate how environmental crimes affect vulnerable communities and ecosystems, and determine the social and environmental justice implications of such harms.
  • ULO5: Analyse the challenges in enforcing environmental laws at local, national, and international levels and integrate a harm perspective to propose potential solutions.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Annotated bibliography 25% No Week 4 Individual No Open
News media article 35% No Week 7 Individual No Open
Group presentation 40% No Week 12 Individual and Group No Observed

Annotated bibliography

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Students will write a 800 word annotated bibliography focusing on a case of environmental harm
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify the global dimensions associated with environmental crimes, examining the transnational factors, global trade, and international policies that influence ecological sustainability and justice.
  • Critically assess instances of environmental harm perpetrated by corporations and nation states, analysing the role of economic interests and regulatory frameworks in shaping environmental practices.
  • Investigate how environmental crimes affect vulnerable communities and ecosystems, and determine the social and environmental justice implications of such harms.
  • Analyse the challenges in enforcing environmental laws at local, national, and international levels and integrate a harm perspective to propose potential solutions.

News media article

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 35%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Students will write a 1,200 word news media article appropriate for publishing in a headline news media site
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define the concept of green criminology and explain the how interconnected social, economic and political structures and systems can contribute to environmental degradation.
  • Critically assess instances of environmental harm perpetrated by corporations and nation states, analysing the role of economic interests and regulatory frameworks in shaping environmental practices.
  • Investigate how environmental crimes affect vulnerable communities and ecosystems, and determine the social and environmental justice implications of such harms.
  • Analyse the challenges in enforcing environmental laws at local, national, and international levels and integrate a harm perspective to propose potential solutions.

Group presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual and Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Working in a group, students will prepare a 10-15 minute media presentation focusing on an agreed topic relevant to the unit content (worth 75%) as well as an individually graded personal reflection (worth 25%).
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define the concept of green criminology and explain the how interconnected social, economic and political structures and systems can contribute to environmental degradation.
  • Analyse the challenges in enforcing environmental laws at local, national, and international levels and integrate a harm perspective to propose potential solutions.

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

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 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/special-consideration

 

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 (incl 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

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.  

 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER 

  • Macquarie University operates a Final Grade Appeal procedure as part of the Assessment policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=277
  • In accordance with the Grade Appeal procedure, individual works are not subject to regrading. 

 

STAFF AVAILABILITY 

  • Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually 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.

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 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.

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 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 2026.03 of the Handbook