Unit Outline

In the first half of this unit you will examine the criminal justice system in its theoretical, historical, political and social context. This will entail understanding the agencies and processes involved in criminal justice – from initial complaint, police investigation, and prosecution all the way through to sentencing and imprisonment. You will consider limitations of the criminal justice system in dealing with vulnerable groups, including Indigenous Australians, young people, people with mental illnesses, and victims of sexual offences. Students will analyse options for criminal law reform, particularly those in Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. With this foundation, the unit then introduces you to the fundamental principles of criminal responsibility that govern criminal trials. You will study the detail of particular crimes – including assault, grievous bodily harm, trespass, arson and motor vehicle theft, as well as certain defences, such as intoxication and self defence. Underlying these topics is an analysis of what the criminal law calls mens rea, or the guilty mind, and the principle of coincidence of act and intent. In practical problem-solving exercises you will determine the guilt or innocence of fictitious characters involved in hypothetical scenarios.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Examine and evaluate the principles of criminal law, and the social context in which the criminal law operates
2	Critically appraise the social and international context of criminal laws and develop options for law reform
3	Discuss criminal procedure and the importance of the rights of the defendant, suspect or detainee
4	Recall and summarise legal definitions, the outcomes of court cases, and the facts that need to be proven to establish guilt for different criminal offences
5	Select relevant legal principles and cases and apply them appropriately in problem solving exercises involving hypothetical factual situations

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	50 credit points of Introductory Law core

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Assessment Task 1: Essay	See the MyLO site for the due date	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Assessment Task 2: Assignment	See the MyLO site for the due date	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Assessment Task 3: Examination	Exam Period	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Assessment Task 1: Essay

Task Description:

Critical thinking and law reform essay – research, develop and present arguments on a legal issue that requires reform

Task Length:

2500 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Accuracy of explanation of relevant legal principles	LO1, LO3
2	Ability to discuss empirical research and theoretical literature to critique limitations of criminal law	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Assessment Task 2: Assignment

Task Description:

Seminar Paper

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Ability to identify legal issues	LO4, LO5
2	Ability to explain and apply legal rules to factual scenario	LO4, LO5
3	Critical reasoning and reflection on principles of criminal responsibility	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 3: Assessment Task 3: Examination

Task Description:

End of semester open book invigilated exam

Task Length:

2 hours

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Ability to identify legal issues	LO3
2	Ability to explain and apply legal rules to factual scenario	LO4, LO5
3	Critical reasoning and reflection on principles of criminal responsibility and criminal procedure	LO1, LO2, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.