AZA1282 - Introduction to criminal justice - 2017

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

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

Faculty

Arts

Organisational Unit

South Africa School of Social Science

Coordinator(s)

Mr Emmanuel Maravanyika

Unit guides

Offered

South Africa

  • Second semester 2017 (Day)

Synopsis

The police, courts, and corrections constitute the Criminal Justice System. The "independence" of these three elements from each other is essential to the civil, political and human rights of a particular society. This unit describes and analyses the crucial functions of each part of the system and of the system as a whole. In so doing it incorporates emerging forms of justice and formal and informal approaches to policing, mediating and punishment.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate:

  1. A critical understanding of the functioning of the three elements of the criminal justice system and of the system as a whole;
  2. An understanding of contemporary debates relevant to global criminal justice issues from an African perspective;
  3. The skill to analyse contemporary issues in relation to traditional and alternative forms of policing, sentencing and punishing;
  4. The ability to write an essay based on rational argument;
  5. The skills needed to deliver an oral presentation;
  6. Library and internet based research skills.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 50% + Exam: 50%

Workload requirements

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. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Prohibitions