PCE4020

Criminology, community justice and crime prevention

Art Veno and Scott Beattie

12 points
* One two-hour seminar per week
* Second semester
* Caulfield

Objectives On completion of this subject, students will be able to critically analyse aspects of the criminal justice system; demonstrate an understanding of models and theories of social control; understand the social and historical context of various theories of crime and crime prevention initiatives; explore the relationship between the community and the justice professional in different cultural and subcultural contexts; demonstrate a practical understanding of how community justice programs operate and design crime prevention programs for a diversity of communities and sub-cultures; become involved in and comment on community issues, particularly the evaluation of crime prevention programs; provide and respond to critical feedback on work in progress; use the mediation process competently.

Synopsis The traditional criminal justice system is facing challenge from both critical and economic concerns. The contemporary system of courts, policing and corrections is not delivering the results it promises in terms of crime and violence reduction. `Community justice' is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative paradigm to legal-authoritarian criminal justice. This subject uses the cross-disciplinary field of criminology to explore this new trend in policing and justice. Is community justice something new, or a return to traditional justice practices? Is it the result of dissatisfaction with an authoritarian system or is it merely driven by economic rationalism? This subject examines the relationship between the community and the justice professional, contextualised in relationship to social control and crime prevention.

Assessment Theory paper (2000 words): 30%
* Research project (6000 words): 50%
* Discussion leadership (1000 words): 20%

Prescribed texts

Braithwaite J Crime, shame and reintegration CUP, 1989
A set of collected readings will also be provided by the department