Hobart
Introduction
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.
Summary 2021
| Unit name | Criminal Law: Principles and Processes |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAW229 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| Faculty/School | College of Arts, Law and Education Faculty of Law |
| Discipline | Law |
| Coordinator | Dr Helen Cockburn |
| Available as student elective? | No |
| Breadth Unit? | No |
Availability
Note
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* 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 (see withdrawal dates explained for more information).
Learning Outcomes
- Examine and evaluate the principles of criminal law, and the social context in which the criminal law operates
- Critically appraise the social and international context of criminal laws and develop options for law reform.
- Discuss criminal procedure and the importance of the rights of the defendant, suspect or detainee
- 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
- Select relevant legal principles and cases and apply them appropriately in problem solving exercises involving hypothetical factual situations
Fees
Requisites
Prerequisites
50 credit points of Introductory Law core or (LAW121 and LAW122)
Mutual Exclusions
You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:
LAW252 & LAW358
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | Interactive lectures (2.5 hours, weekly) |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Task 1: Multiple choice test, 30 minutes (10%) Task 2: End of semester open book exam, 2 hours (45%) Task 3: Critical thinking and law reform essay, 2500 words (30%) Task 4: Tutorial Paper, 1500 words (15%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required | None |
|---|
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