Unit Outline

This unit develops skills, knowledge and understandings that will enable students to work within an investigative unit, and to take the lead in criminal investigations. Students will: explore contemporary techniques and technologies; discuss and analyse communication needs within and across investigations, units, and organisations; analyse ethical and legislative expectations and requirements for investigators and approaches to gathering intelligence and evidence; and assess risks to personnel, the organisation, the community, and the investigation itself.

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	Lead investigations which will withstand scrutiny and are ethical and lawful
2	Describe and apply approaches to maintaining situational awareness beyond individual investigations
3	Prepare written and oral investigative reports, records, and briefings to appraise appropriate people of investigation details
4	Reflect on your role as an investigator within the criminal justice system
5	Maintain and promote a safe working environment for you, your team, related personnel, and the public during criminal investigations

Alterations as a result of student feedback

N/A

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
Online	Independent Learning	Learning activities and materials online will be presented using the online learning environment at the University of Tasmania: MyLO. Completion of the online activities in MyLO will be tracked, and you are required to participate in all the Discussions and complete all the quizzes to be awarded a pass for AT1.	5	Weekly
	Workshop (On Campus)	Three weeks of classroom learning will be held at the Police Academy in Rokeby. Your attendance will be required daily during those periods. You may also need to spend some of your evenings working on content for the course.	40	Study Period 3 times
	Fieldwork	Two-week secondment within an investigative area namely a Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) or Drug Investigation Service (DIS). The two-week secondment to an investigative area will allow students to build on the skills and knowledge developed during the program by practical application. Learning activities and materials in the field will be managed by your assigned supervising Detective Sergeant within an investigative unit of Tasmania Police. Your learning in the field will incorporate AT3.	40	Study Period 2 times

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

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:	Scenarios and Legislation	See the MyLO site for the due date	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Reflection & Critical Analysis	See the MyLO site for the due date	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Infield Investigation	See the MyLO site for the due date	60 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Scenarios and Legislation

Task Description:

Complete the scenarios, discussions, and quizzes in MyLO.

Task Length:

Incorporated into the learning activities within MyLO, each task approx 5-30 mins.

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe best practice approaches to resolving identified investigative challenges.	LO1
2	Record, process and handle physical and other evidence appropriately and with continuity.	LO1, LO3, LO5
3	Describe approaches to maintaining situational awareness beyond individual investigations.	LO2
4	Describe the legislation, jurisdictional policies and procedures relevant to your work as an investigator.	LO1, LO5

Assessment Task 2: Reflection & Critical Analysis

Task Description:

Section 4.4.2 (4) of the Tasmania Police Manual (TPM) outlines the sources of evidence by category available to investigators during an investigation, eg, interviews of witnesses and suspects, crime scene examination, telecommunication evidence, etc.
With reference to AT LEAST one (1) investigation you have completed, discuss how you utilised AT LEAST two (2) of these sources of evidence in achieving your aim as an investigator.

You should reference current legislation, departmental policies and procedures. You may also wish to include evidence and information from external literature sources.
Your response can be written in essay or report format.
Responses in first person may be utilised where appropriate.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Language, spelling and grammar.	LO3
2	Adherence to Academic Referencing Style.	LO3
3	Identify relevant sources of evidence and discuss how they assist with the aims of investigation.	LO2, LO4
4	Describe the legislation, jurisdictional policies and procedures relevant to your work as an investigator and discuss their influence on decision making.	LO1
5	Explain the operational safety and ethical risks relevant to your investigation and sources of evidence.	LO1, LO4, LO5
6	Explore where opportunities for innovative approaches to intelligence and evidence gathering exist.	LO1, LO5

Assessment Task 3: Infield Investigation

Task Description:

During your two-week placement in an investigative area, you will undertake duties under the supervision of a Detective Sergeant.
You will be required to demonstrate your investigative skills during this placement and will be assessed on the quality of 9 specific skillsets, including suspect interviewing.
You will document your demonstration of these skills by writing a short reflection about the decisions and actions you took in relation to your application of the skillset for the given investigation.
You will be assessed on both the quality of your investigation skills, and on your ability to reflect on your practice in writing.

Task Length:

Approximately 1600-2000 words, 10 days

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

60 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Quality of your demonstration of the skillset.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5
2	Clarity and depth of your reflection on your decisions and action.	LO4

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.