JSB170 Introduction to Criminology and Policing
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | JSB170 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | JSB131, JSB011, JSB101 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $2,124 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $996 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,204 |
| International unit fee | $4,572 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | JSB170 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | JSB131, JSB011, JSB101 |
| Coordinator: | Bridget Weir | bridget.weir@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Introduction to Criminology and Policing will provide you with an introduction to the disciplines of criminology and policing. This unit will provide you with a foundation for understanding theories, concepts, and issues related to criminology and policing in an Australian and international context. It begins with an exploration of the existing explanations of crime from both an individual and social theoretical perspective and will provide you with a background of policing in Queensland, Australia, and internationally. The remainder of the unit then covers topics of interest to those within the area of criminal justice, policing and criminology, for example, crimes in the home, crime in public, white collar crime, and youth crime.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the contribution of theory and social justice principles to criminology and policing in historical and contemporary contexts (CLO1.1, 2.4)
- Apply relevant theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence to analyse a crime problem (CLO 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
- Critically reflect on the ways that cultural narratives underpinning criminology and policing approaches in Australian contexts have impacted on indigenous and non-indigenous peoples (CLO 5.1, 6.1, 6.2)
- Communicate effectively using academic and professional conventions, including grammar, style, structure and referencing (CLO3.1, 3.2).
- Find and synthesise research from appropriate sources that can inform a real-world criminology or policing problem. (CLO 3.2, 4.1, 4.2)
Content
The content is presented within three broad modules:
Criminology:
1. What is crime and who is a criminal?
2. The extent and location of crime
3. Individual explanations of crime
4. Social explanations of crime
Policing:
5. Histories of policing
6. Eras of policing
7. Organisation of policing
Studies of crime:
8. Youth crime
9. Crime in the streets
10. Crime in the home
11. White collar crime and environmental crime
Learning Approaches
Students will have rich opportunities to interact with teaching staff and their peers in blended learning environments, including lectures, tutorials, and online learning experiences. It is important that you take this opportunity to learn from the diverse experience and knowledge of each lecturer and think critically about the information with which you are presented.
Reflection will be taught and modeled and will become a process you are encouraged to use throughout the course. This unit is supported by an online teaching (Canvas) site.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- informal: worked examples, such as quizzes, verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- formal: in writing, eg criteria sheets, written commentary
- direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
There are two distinct forms of assessment used in this unit - formative and summative. Formative assessment provides students with either written or verbal feedback for a piece of assessment, and summative assessment provides students with a mark that will contribute to their final grade in the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Research log
The purpose of this assessment is to introduce you to searching for peer-reviewed articles in databases available through the QUT library website. In addition, this assessment is designed to begin to build on your understanding of the relevance of research to criminology and the nature of criminological theory. You will assume the role of a Justice professional and gather research to prepare for Assessment 2 where you will propose a response to a case study of offending.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Reflective Report
The purpose of this assessment is to introduce and build on the skills you began to develop in Assessment One. In addition to this, the assessment is designed to continue to build on your research skills and draw on your critical and reflective thinking skills. You will be required to think about policy implications for research and articulate an argument as to the impact of research in the practice of criminal justice.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Examination (Written)
This examination will be conducted to test and consolidate your learning over the semester.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There will be additional recommended readings supplied throughout the semester. You are also encouraged to independently find additional resources to facilitate your learning. If you find a particularly good resource, feel free to bring it to the attention of your subject coordinator and/or raise some points from it in your tutorial groups. The library website (http://libguides.library.qut.edu.au/databases/law/guides) also has useful subject guides that provide you with the ability to search by each subject for relevant journals, articles, books etc. This site will also provide you with direction in sourcing the most relevant databases and narrowing your search criteria. This is an excellent resource that is updated regularly.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Available for purchase from the QUT Bookshop:
Dalton, D., De Lint, W., & Palmer, D. (2020). Crime and justice : a guide to criminology (Sixth edition.). Pyrmont, New South Wales: Lawbook Co.
Recommended text(s)
Anthony, T & Cunneen, C (2008). The Critical Criminology Companion. Sydney: Federation Press.
Broadhurst, R & Davies, SE (eds) (2009). Policing in Context: An Introduction to Police Work in Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Goldsmith, A, Isreal, M & Daly, K (2006). Crime and Justice: A Guide to Criminology, 3rd ed. Sydney: Lawbook Co.
Hogg, R & Carrington, K (2002). Critical Criminology: Issues, Debates, Challenges. Devon: Whillan.
White, R & Haines, F (2008). Crime & Criminology, 4th ed. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Risk Assessment Statement
Students are advised that some content in justice units may be confronting. If you are concerned that the content of a unit may impact your completion of the course, please see the unit coordinator. You can also access free student counselling through QUT Counselling via the QUT Student Homepage.
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Online
| Unit code: | JSB170 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | JSB131, JSB011, JSB101 |
Overview
Introduction to Criminology and Policing will provide you with an introduction to the disciplines of criminology and policing. This unit will provide you with a foundation for understanding theories, concepts, and issues related to criminology and policing in an Australian and international context. It begins with an exploration of the existing explanations of crime from both an individual and social theoretical perspective and will provide you with a background of policing in Queensland, Australia, and internationally. The remainder of the unit then covers topics of interest to those within the area of criminal justice, policing and criminology, for example, crimes in the home, crime in public, white collar crime, and youth crime.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the contribution of theory and social justice principles to criminology and policing in historical and contemporary contexts (CLO1.1, 2.4)
- Apply relevant theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence to analyse a crime problem (CLO 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
- Critically reflect on the ways that cultural narratives underpinning criminology and policing approaches in Australian contexts have impacted on indigenous and non-indigenous peoples (CLO 5.1, 6.1, 6.2)
- Communicate effectively using academic and professional conventions, including grammar, style, structure and referencing (CLO3.1, 3.2).
- Find and synthesise research from appropriate sources that can inform a real-world criminology or policing problem. (CLO 3.2, 4.1, 4.2)
Content
The content is presented within three broad modules:
Criminology:
1. What is crime and who is a criminal?
2. The extent and location of crime
3. Individual explanations of crime
4. Social explanations of crime
Policing:
5. Histories of policing
6. Eras of policing
7. Organisation of policing
Studies of crime:
8. Youth crime
9. Crime in the streets
10. Crime in the home
11. White collar crime and environmental crime
Learning Approaches
Students will have rich opportunities to interact with teaching staff and their peers in blended learning environments, including lectures, tutorials, and online learning experiences. It is important that you take this opportunity to learn from the diverse experience and knowledge of each lecturer and think critically about the information with which you are presented.
Reflection will be taught and modeled and will become a process you are encouraged to use throughout the course. This unit is supported by an online teaching (Canvas) site.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- informal: worked examples, such as quizzes, verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- formal: in writing, eg criteria sheets, written commentary
- direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
There are two distinct forms of assessment used in this unit - formative and summative. Formative assessment provides students with either written or verbal feedback for a piece of assessment, and summative assessment provides students with a mark that will contribute to their final grade in the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Research log
The purpose of this assessment is to introduce you to searching for peer-reviewed articles in databases available through the QUT library website. In addition, this assessment is designed to begin to build on your understanding of the relevance of research to criminology and the nature of criminological theory. You will assume the role of a Justice professional and gather research to prepare for Assessment 2 where you will propose a response to a case study of offending.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Reflective Report
The purpose of this assessment is to introduce and build on the skills you began to develop in Assessment One. In addition to this, the assessment is designed to continue to build on your research skills and draw on your critical and reflective thinking skills. You will be required to think about policy implications for research and articulate an argument as to the impact of research in the practice of criminal justice.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Examination (Written)
This examination will be conducted to test and consolidate your learning over the semester.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There will be additional recommended readings supplied throughout the semester. You are also encouraged to independently find additional resources to facilitate your learning. If you find a particularly good resource, feel free to bring it to the attention of your subject coordinator and/or raise some points from it in your tutorial groups. The library website (http://libguides.library.qut.edu.au/databases/law/guides) also has useful subject guides that provide you with the ability to search by each subject for relevant journals, articles, books etc. This site will also provide you with direction in sourcing the most relevant databases and narrowing your search criteria. This is an excellent resource that is updated regularly.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Available for purchase from the QUT Bookshop:
Dalton, D., De Lint, W., & Palmer, D. (2020). Crime and justice : a guide to criminology (Sixth edition.). Pyrmont, New South Wales: Lawbook Co.
Recommended text(s)
Anthony, T & Cunneen, C (2008). The Critical Criminology Companion. Sydney: Federation Press.
Broadhurst, R & Davies, SE (eds) (2009). Policing in Context: An Introduction to Police Work in Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Goldsmith, A, Isreal, M & Daly, K (2006). Crime and Justice: A Guide to Criminology, 3rd ed. Sydney: Lawbook Co.
Hogg, R & Carrington, K (2002). Critical Criminology: Issues, Debates, Challenges. Devon: Whillan.
White, R & Haines, F (2008). Crime & Criminology, 4th ed. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Risk Assessment Statement
Students are advised that some content in justice units may be confronting. If you are concerned that the content of a unit may impact your completion of the course, please see the unit coordinator. You can also access free student counselling through QUT Counselling via the QUT Student Homepage.