LAW4111 - Crime and gender - 2018

This unit provides an examination of areas of criminal law and procedure in which gender is particularly significant, and introduces students to feminist theories of law and criminality, and relevant rights analyses. Students will be encouraged to think critically about how the criminal law and its practice have evolved historically. Violence and gender will be a focus, including an examination of violent behaviours, the censures of violent behaviours, the operation of criminal defences, and developments in the laws dealing with sexual assault. A range of current issues will be discussed, including issues raised by sentencing and imprisonment.

On completing this unit students will have acquired or developed:

1. a critical understanding of criminal law and procedure and the operation of the criminal justice system, including an understanding of feminist legal theory and criminology relevant to the study of gender, crime and criminality;
2. an awareness of the role of gender in the formulation and operation of criminal laws and the criminal justice system; and
3. skills in research and writing and in the oral presentation of ideas. On completion of this subject students should be able to critically analyse developments in criminal law and the criminal justice system in the light of the theoretical perspectives gained in the course and conduct and write about an independent research project.

Research assignment (2500 words): 50% and class presentation: 20% and examination: 30% (one hour in-semester)

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. The 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