This unit has been discontinued.
This is the same as the unit previously coded LAW615. Only the code has changed.
Pre-requisites are applicable to non-Law students, as well as to Law students. Those wishing to study this unit who do not meet the pre-requisites should contact the Law Manager Academic Administration about a possible pre-requisite waiver.
Semester 2 Off campus offering is only available for outbound exchange students studying an equivalent unit overseas on approved international exchange.
Introduction
This unit introduces law students to criminology. It examines why the discipline of criminology is relevant to many dimensions of law, and, conversely, why the law is relevant to criminology. Particular themes and issues that this unit considers are researching the prevalence of crime, justifications for criminalising particular conduct, determinants of the boundaries and definitions of offences, the impact of offence definitions and conceptions of crime on the fairness of trials, causes of crime and responses to crime. The unit seeks an understanding of the nature of crime and society’s response to it in its historical, social, cultural and political context. The study of these issues is dealt with thematically by focusing on particular offending behaviour, including sexual offences and drug offences.
Summary 2021
| Unit name | Criminology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAW638 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| Faculty/School | College of Arts, Law and Education Faculty of Law |
| Discipline | Law |
| Coordinator | Dr. Caroline Spiranovic |
| Teaching staff | |
| Level | Advanced |
| Available as student elective? | Yes |
| Breadth Unit? | No |
Availability
Note
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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.
Special approval is required for enrolment into TNE Program units.
TNE Program units special approval requirements.
* 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
- Have an understanding of the broader social and legal context of crime in western society, comprised of: international perspectives on crime; crime measurement techniques and prevalence data; social, legal and political responses to crime, and jurisprudential constructs underpinning the criminal justice system.
- Find and critique sources of crime data and criminological sources.
- Critically discuss the criminalisation of certain behaviours using (a) definitions of crime and (b) perspectives on and theories about crime.
- Appraise social responses to crime with reference to particular crimes, groups of offenders, and models of criminal justice.
Fees
Requisites
Prerequisites
Students wishing to enrol in LAW638 must have successfully completed all core second year law subjects in the degree in which they are enrolled as well as Criminal Law A (LAW351).
Mutual Exclusions
You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:
LAW615
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | Weekly lecture (1 x 50 minutes) |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Task 1: Seminar presentation, 90 minutes (25%) Task 2: Seminar participation (25%) Task 3: Assignment, 2000 words (50%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required | |
|---|---|
| Recommended |
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.