ATS1422 - Controlling crime, controlling society - 2019

Students will develop foundational knowledge of policing and crime prevention as forms of social control within this unit. Students will be introduced to different ways of thinking about social control in Australia and internationally. The unit introduces students to policing as a form of social control and students will examine the role of law, civil rights and culture in the context of police operations. Students examine the historical development of police services and their transformation since 9/11 along with emerging challenges associated with policing transnational threats. The focus then shifts to different forms of crime prevention that have gained popularity in recent decades as a means of addressing the shortcomings of criminal justice institutions in reducing the incidence and prevalence of crime. Students learn about different approaches including situational crime prevention and social crime prevention and consider the advantages and limitations of these in practice.

Upon successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:

1. explain police roles, functions and powers;
2. compare styles of policing and discuss the pressures and demands placed on police;
3. discuss the factors that affect police legitimacy and perceptions of effectiveness;
4. evaluate key developments in situational and social crime prevention;
5. appraise the strengths and limitations of crime prevention approaches in Australia and internationally.

Within semester assessment: 100%

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

Bachelor of Criminology