This unit provides a critical introduction to issues and debates relating to crime in the context of sport. From doping to corruption in the world game, sport and crime are inextricably linked. Sharing a number of themes and issues such as violence, terrorism and security, sport and crime both offer key sites through which to explore key social processes and practices. Perhaps paradoxically, sport is also presented as an important avenue for crime prevention and rehabilitation. The unit draws on sociological concepts and theories as well as a number of case studies from Australia and abroad, to explore the inter-relationships between sport and crime, including corruption, mega-events and security, violence, child protection and human rights and sports-based interventions for crime prevention and rehabilitation.

Indicative content:

Conceptualising Sport and Crime: introduces students to key Sociological approaches to definitions and debates in crime and sport, thus providing students with a theoretical framework to underpin their study of representations of, and responses to crime and criminal practices in sport.

Sport Mega Events, Governance and Corruption: examines incidents of criminal activity and corruption as they relate to sport mega-events. Topics include: terrorism/security; sex-trafficking; scalping and counterfeiting; environmental crime, match-fixing; gambling.

Violence and abuse: explores issues of violence and abuse in the context of sport and sports sub-cultures. Topics include: violence in sport, child protection and sexual abuse, and issues of human rights.

Sport for Crime Prevention and rehabilitation: explores the theoretical perspectives behind the use of sport for 'social development', as well as evaluating examples of applied policies and practice such as sport-based interventions as they relate crime prevention and rehabilitation. Examples include sport in prisons, youth-based interventions, sport in drug and alcohol recovery programs.