AZA2461 - Crime and punishment - 2019

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

Chief examiner(s)

Ms Tara Harris

Coordinator(s)

Ms Chiara Keune

Unit guides

Offered

South Africa

  • Second semester 2019 (On-campus)

Prerequisites

Twelve credit points of first-year Arts units.

Prohibitions

ATS2461, ATS3461, AZA3461

Synopsis

This unit focuses on formal and informal responses to crime and punishment. It examines issues relating to sentencing, punishment and corrections, including community based sanctions such as restorative justice. Theories and perspectives of punishment, justice and crime reduction are appraised providing a critical understanding and specialised knowledge of the evolution, elements, aims and applications of punishment within an African and international human rights framework.

Outcomes

The learning outcomes of the unit are to equip students with the following skills:

  1. Develop a critical awareness of the structure and functioning of criminal justice in South Africa and internationally;
  2. Understand contemporary debates relevant to crime, punishment and criminal justice;
  3. Analyse diverse arguments in relation to traditional and alternative forms of policing, sentencing and corrections;
  4. Apply punishment theories and perspectives on different contexts;
  5. Conduct independent research using appropriate science and technology effectively and responsibly when dealing with crime and punishment without harming society, the environment or individuals;
  6. Work and communicate with others as part of a multidisciplinary team to deal effectively with crime and punishment.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 65% + Exam: 35%

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

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