Working With Offenders unit (HGA232)

Hobart, Online

Introduction

This unit is designed to introduce students to the issues and processes associated with working with offenders, particularly those in prisons or under the supervision of community corrections. The unit explores issues pertaining directly to how best to work with a wide variety of people with offending histories. Topics to be covered include duty of care, 'special populations' of prisoners, risk management and difficult situations, safety and security, working with involuntary clients, inter-agency collaboration, prison culture, assessment tools, mental illness and drug use, restorative justice, victim interests, children and families of prisoners, worker self-care and professional report writing. The unit also examines how and why people stop offending and change (desistance from crime). International examples of innovation are showcased from key jurisdictions such as England and Wales, Scotland, Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. The unit is intended to be relevant and familiar for those already working in the field, in prison and in the community, as well as to introduce contemporary principles and practices to those wishing to do so in the future.

This unit utilises experiential work integrated learning (WIL). Students will participate in practical workshops for developing professional boundaries, apply motivational interviewing techniques, and case note writing. These are all professional skills that people working in the criminal justice system employ on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, engaging presentations from experienced guest speakers who are senior practitioners in the field are one of the popular features of this unit.

Summary

Unit name	Working With Offenders
Unit code	HGA232
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Humanities and Social Sciences
Discipline	Sociology and Criminology
Coordinator	Doctor Vicky Nagy
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Intermediate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Winter
Online	Winter

Note

Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.

Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Winter	13/6/2027	21/6/2027	23/6/2027	3/7/2027

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the socio-economic and individual factors that contribute to criminal offending, and analyse the potential costs and harms associated with offending.
• Apply major criminological offender rehabilitation models, approaches and concepts to practical examples.
• Evaluate the work contexts and institutional dynamics of the courts, community corrections, prisons and community sector organisations, and how these may shape offender-worker relationships.
• Communicate your ideas clearly in written and verbal form.

Fee Information

Unit fee information for 2027 will be available in September.

Requisites

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

HGA332, HGA532

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Face-to-Face (On Campus) 6 days (9am to 4pm). 3 days will be held on one week, and the remaining 3 days will be held on the following week.  Students who are completing exams during this period can still attend and will need to discuss with the unit coordinator their participation during this period.  Asynchronous (Online) This will include listening to lecture recordings and completing discussion forum or other digital platform prompts. Engagement with ideas and responding to peers is required. This will amount to the same amount of time as the on campus teaching.
Assessment	Class participation (20%)|Critical Reflection (20%)|Case Study Analysis (25%)|Group Presentation and Reflection (35%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be posted on MyLO. There is no set textbook, but a wide variety of readings including journal articles, book chapters, policy documents, and creative works.
Recommended	Recommended readings will be posted on MyLO

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.