CJC3270

Victimology ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Sharon Pickering

Offered:
Caulfield Second semester 2005 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2005 (Day)

Synopsis: This unit analyses the concept of the victim. The historical and current conceptions of the victim in the criminal justice system and in society is surveyed by academic materials and experts working in the area. Victim-offender mediation and crime prevention are discussed. Community-based agencies are identified and analysed in the context of theoretical perspectives of blame, shame and reintegration.

Objectives: Upon completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate a: 1. Critical understanding of the victim in historical and current social perspectives. 2. Critical understanding of victim, offender, community or system blaming and its relationship to other social and political systems. 3. Critical understanding of contrasting perspectives and practitioner approaches to the victim. 4. Critical understanding of the victim in both domestic and internationals settings and within international human rights discourse and mechanisms. 5. Critical understanding of developing practices of national and international restorative justice. 6. Critical understanding of representations of victims.

Assessment: Assignment (2000 words): 40% + Class presentation (500 words equivalent): 10% + Examination (2 hours): 50% + Third-year level will be required to write an essay of a more theoretical nature.

Contact Hours: 2 hours (1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 1 hour tutorial) per week