Postgraduate - UnitFBS5001 - Fundamentals of forensic behavioural science

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2012 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Offered	Caulfield Second semester 2012 (Off-campus)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Stuart Thomas

Synopsis

This unit aims to equip professionals with a broad-based understanding of basic legal and criminological principles. The unit then builds on this knowledge by examining key areas involving the interaction between mental health and the law, and examining the role of the 'expert witness'.

Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit the student will be able to:

Explain the role of the law and the criminal justice system in society;
Describe in broad terms the assumptions and limitations of major criminological theories (biological, sociological and psychological);
Summarise the basic processes involved in the operation of the criminal justice system;
Describe the legal and ethical constraints in working at the interface between mental health and the law;
Discuss the legal and ethical constraints in working at the interface between mental health and the law;
Describe the roles and functions of an expert witness.

Assessment

Workshop presentation/Alternative Assessment - 10%
Applied Learning Exercise - 30%
Essay - 60%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Stuart Thomas

Off-campus attendance requirements

One day workshop