units

LAW7280

Faculty of Law

Monash University

Postgraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 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 3, 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.

LevelPostgraduate
FacultyFaculty of Law
OfferedNot offered in 2014

Notes

Synopsis

This unit provides an overview of the legal issues which arise when electronic and telecommunication devices are used in the commission or facilitation of crime. Such devices allow offences to be committed on an unparalleled scale, sometimes with international ramifications, yet with greatly reduced chance of detection. They therefore present a significant challenge to investigative agencies and to conventional notions of crime and jurisdiction. Topics to be, covered include the nature of cybercrime, detection and investigation, application of existing criminal law principles, legislative responses, and jurisdictional issues.

Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit students should have an understanding of:

  1. the ways in which electronic and telecommunication devices may be used in the commission of crime
  2. the difficulties which such devices present in the detection and investigation of crime and the means which are adopted to combat these difficulties
  3. jurisdictional difficulties in determining where an offence has been committed
  4. the application of existing criminal law to cybercrimes
  5. Australian and overseas legislative responses to cybercrime.

Students should also gain:

  • enhanced research skills;
  • an enhanced ability to critically analyse and evaluate both existing law and proposed reforms;
  • interdisciplinary perspectives; and
  • enhanced skills of oral presentation

Assessment

Research paper (3,750 words): 50%
Take-home examination (3,750 words): 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Workload requirements

24 contact hours per semester (either intensive, semi-intensive or semester long, depending on the Faculty resources, timetabling and requirements). Students will be expected to do reading set for class, and to undertake additional research and reading applicable to a 6 credit point unit.