ATS2458 · Policing

Overview

Drawing from both the classic and contemporary policing research, you will consider key policing concepts and police practice found in democratic societies. In the first part you will broadly survey police function and responsibilities, including the origins of policing, understand jurisdictional differences among agencies, and appreciate an overview of responses to contemporary crime and policing problems. You will engage with key sociological and social-psychological concepts that help to explain police officer behaviour in the second part, where you will focus on concepts of control, coercion and the use of force, how police organisational and operational cultures affect police-community interaction, and the delivery and effectiveness of police-led intervention.

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 and discuss key criminological approaches to the study of policing;
2. demonstrate effective analytical research skills individually and in class teams;
3. demonstrate depth of knowledge and comprehension of key criminological policing concepts, including origins, function, and effectiveness of police activities;
4. communicate well-structured, evidenced and organised responses to questions pertaining to contemporary debates in policing;
5. identify and synthesise the foundational and contemporary debates around contemporary challenges in policing and analysis of policing practices and its impact.

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.