ATS2056 - Crime and inequality - 2019

In this unit students explore the contemporary and historical significance of 'difference' in structuring patterns of law making, offending, victimisation, criminal justice system responses and experiences. Students are introduced to theoretical paradigms and empirical approaches for identifying and understanding marginalisation and inequality in society. Students are taught how to identify and draw connections between broader societal experiences of inequality and marginalisation and the development and orientation of systems of law and criminal justice. The unit focuses on factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, (dis)ability, regional inequalities, income and wealth distribution, social class, and homelessness, and examines how current patterns of social and economic inequality contribute to the disproportionate victimisation and criminalisation of certain marginalised populations in society.

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

1. identify the connections between marginalisation, inequality and criminal justice contact;
2. formulate well-structured responses to questions of 'difference' in the criminal justice system;
3. appraise contemporary approaches to reducing inequality in the criminal justice system in relation to age, gender, ethnicity and (dis)ability;
4. synthesize and communicate the key elements of theoretical paradigms and empirical approaches to reduce criminalisation, marginalisation and inequality within the criminal justice system.

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

Criminology