ATS2056 · Crime and inequality

Overview

In this unit you will explore the contemporary and historical significance of 'difference' in structuring patterns of law making, offending, victimisation, criminal justice system responses and experiences. You will be introduced to theoretical paradigms and empirical approaches for identifying and understanding marginalisation and inequality in society. You will be taught how to identify and draw connections between broader societal experiences of inequality and marginalisation and the development and orientation of systems of law and criminal justice. The unit focuses on factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, (dis)ability, regional inequalities, income and wealth distribution, social class, and homelessness, and examines how current patterns of social and economic inequality contribute to the disproportionate victimisation and criminalisation of certain marginalised populations in society.

Areas of study: Criminology

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Identify the connections between marginalisation, inequality and criminal justice contact;
2. Formulate well-structured responses to questions of 'difference' in the criminal justice system;
3. Appraise contemporary approaches to reducing inequality in the criminal justice system in relation to age, gender, ethnicity and (dis)ability;
4. Synthesize and communicate the key elements of theoretical paradigms and empirical approaches to reduce criminalisation, marginalisation and inequality within the criminal justice system.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.