JSB173 Understanding the Criminal Justice System
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: | JSB173 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $2,174 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,020 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 | $3,456 |
| International unit fee | $4,932 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | JSB173 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinator: | Laura Vitis | laura.vitis@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Justice professionals require a thorough foundational understanding of how Australia’s criminal justice system operates and how people progress through this system. This unit provides a critical overview of the Australian criminal justice system through examinations of the core institutions of police, courts and corrections in addition to examinations of key processes like sentencing, bail, diversion, restorative justice, therapeutic jurisprudence and parole. This unit focuses on developing a foundational understanding of the components, aims and principles of these institutions and processes. It also focuses on developing a wide range of research skills to examine whether the aims and principles of these institutions and processes are reflected in their outcomes and operations.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the roles, aims and principal components of the criminal justice system in Australia.
- Analyse the impact of the Criminal Justice System on marginalised communities and groups, demonstrating a social justice orientation.
- Analyse issues within criminal justice policy and practice drawing on scholarly and professional literature.
- Create written and verbal research reports that communicate justice issues for professional and academic audiences.
Content
- Introduction to the aims of the criminal justice system
- The roles of the police in the criminal justice system
- The roles of courts in the criminal justice system
- Therapeutic jurisprudence and problem-solving courts
- Restorative justice in the criminal justice system
- Diversion
- Sentencing
- Punishment
- Bail and remand
- Victims and the criminal justice system
- Parole
- Producing research reports
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following:
- lectures - live and recorded
- tutorials - face-to-face and online
- peer and group discussions
- readings, video resources and media
- embedded library and writing support for research reports.
The unit adopts an interactive approach involving the use of unit workbook with weekly activities in which you are encouraged to engage with and examine a diverse mix of of material demonstrating the key issues with the functioning of the contemporary Australian criminal justice system.
It also adopts an enquiry-based approach as students are tasked with identifying critical issues within the criminal justice system and generating reports & presentations for a national research organisation. This enquiry-based approach is supported through regular in-class feedback from tutors and the unit coordinator and asynchronous assessment preparation resources.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- a range of formative exercises discussed and undertaken throughout the unit
- feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
- quizzes with automated feedback
- comments about summative assessment work included with your grade
- general summative assessment feedback posted to the whole cohort via the unit Canvas site.
Assessment
Overview
In this unit there are three assessments:
- Draft Report Presentation: This task brings together literature, research & presentation skills and asks you to identify and examine critical issues within key components of the contemporary criminal justice system and deliver a draft presentation of research to key stakeholders.
- Final Research Report: This task brings together literature and research skills and asks you to identify and examine critical issues within key components of the contemporary criminal justice system and deliver a research report for key stakeholders.
- Invigilated Exam: This task asks you to draw upon unit concepts and material to address a range of questions about the components and functioning of the contemporary Australian criminal justice system
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Draft Report Presentation
You will assume the role of a researcher who has been asked by a national research organisation to develop a report examining the current issues within key institutions/processes of the contemporary Australian Criminal Justice System. You will need to prepare a presentation for your manager on your draft for the report in order to receive feedback.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, is not permitted in this assessment task. The use of such tools when not authorised may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Final Research Report
You will assume the role of a researcher who has been asked by a national research organisation to examine current issues within key institutions/processes of the contemporary Australian Criminal Justice System. Focusing on the key institutions and processes discussed within the unit, you will complete a written report examining the aims, practices and impact of the Australian Criminal Justice System.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, is not permitted in this assessment task. The use of such tools when not authorised may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.'
Assessment: Invigilated exam
You will respond to a series of multiple choice, short answer and extended response questions. Your responses will describe and demonstrate an understanding of processes, and institutions within the Australian Criminal Justice system.
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
Additional readings will be made available via QUT Readings or the internet.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Dalton, D., De Lint, W., & Palmer, D. (2021). Crime and justice : a guide to criminology (Sixth edition.). Lawbook Co. This is an ebook available through the library. Copies of the textbook will also available in the QUT Bookshop.
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.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.JS34 Bachelor of Justice
- Apply social and criminal justice principles to explain justice issues and contexts.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Draft Report Presentation , Final Research Report, Invigilated exam - Collect and analyse evidence to inform decisions and recommendations in justice systems.
Relates to: ULO3, Draft Report Presentation , Final Research Report - Communicate justice and social issues in respectful, professional and ethical ways with other professionals and stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO4, Draft Report Presentation , Final Research Report
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Online
| Unit code: | JSB173 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
Overview
Justice professionals require a thorough foundational understanding of how Australia’s criminal justice system operates and how people progress through this system. This unit provides a critical overview of the Australian criminal justice system through examinations of the core institutions of police, courts and corrections in addition to examinations of key processes like sentencing, bail, diversion, restorative justice, therapeutic jurisprudence and parole. This unit focuses on developing a foundational understanding of the components, aims and principles of these institutions and processes. It also focuses on developing a wide range of research skills to examine whether the aims and principles of these institutions and processes are reflected in their outcomes and operations.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the roles, aims and principal components of the criminal justice system in Australia.
- Analyse the impact of the Criminal Justice System on marginalised communities and groups, demonstrating a social justice orientation.
- Analyse issues within criminal justice policy and practice drawing on scholarly and professional literature.
- Create written and verbal research reports that communicate justice issues for professional and academic audiences.
Content
- Introduction to the aims of the criminal justice system
- The roles of the police in the criminal justice system
- The roles of courts in the criminal justice system
- Therapeutic jurisprudence and problem-solving courts
- Restorative justice in the criminal justice system
- Diversion
- Sentencing
- Punishment
- Bail and remand
- Victims and the criminal justice system
- Parole
- Producing research reports
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following:
- lectures - live and recorded
- tutorials - face-to-face and online
- peer and group discussions
- readings, video resources and media
- embedded library and writing support for research reports.
The unit adopts an interactive approach involving the use of unit workbook with weekly activities in which you are encouraged to engage with and examine a diverse mix of of material demonstrating the key issues with the functioning of the contemporary Australian criminal justice system.
It also adopts an enquiry-based approach as students are tasked with identifying critical issues within the criminal justice system and generating reports & presentations for a national research organisation. This enquiry-based approach is supported through regular in-class feedback from tutors and the unit coordinator and asynchronous assessment preparation resources.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- a range of formative exercises discussed and undertaken throughout the unit
- feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
- quizzes with automated feedback
- comments about summative assessment work included with your grade
- general summative assessment feedback posted to the whole cohort via the unit Canvas site.
Assessment
Overview
In this unit there are three assessments:
- Draft Report Presentation: This task brings together literature, research & presentation skills and asks you to identify and examine critical issues within key components of the contemporary criminal justice system and deliver a draft presentation of research to key stakeholders.
- Final Research Report: This task brings together literature and research skills and asks you to identify and examine critical issues within key components of the contemporary criminal justice system and deliver a research report for key stakeholders.
- Invigilated Exam: This task asks you to draw upon unit concepts and material to address a range of questions about the components and functioning of the contemporary Australian criminal justice system
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Draft Report Presentation
You will assume the role of a researcher who has been asked by a national research organisation to develop a report examining the current issues within key institutions/processes of the contemporary Australian Criminal Justice System. You will need to prepare a presentation for your manager on your draft for the report in order to receive feedback.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, is not permitted in this assessment task. The use of such tools when not authorised may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Final Research Report
You will assume the role of a researcher who has been asked by a national research organisation to examine current issues within key institutions/processes of the contemporary Australian Criminal Justice System. Focusing on the key institutions and processes discussed within the unit, you will complete a written report examining the aims, practices and impact of the Australian Criminal Justice System.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, is not permitted in this assessment task. The use of such tools when not authorised may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.'
Assessment: Invigilated exam
You will respond to a series of multiple choice, short answer and extended response questions. Your responses will describe and demonstrate an understanding of processes, and institutions within the Australian Criminal Justice system.
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
Additional readings will be made available via QUT Readings or the internet.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Dalton, D., De Lint, W., & Palmer, D. (2021). Crime and justice : a guide to criminology (Sixth edition.). Lawbook Co. This is an ebook available through the library. Copies of the textbook will also available in the QUT Bookshop.
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.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.JS34 Bachelor of Justice
- Apply social and criminal justice principles to explain justice issues and contexts.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Draft Report Presentation , Final Research Report, Invigilated exam - Collect and analyse evidence to inform decisions and recommendations in justice systems.
Relates to: ULO3, Draft Report Presentation , Final Research Report - Communicate justice and social issues in respectful, professional and ethical ways with other professionals and stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO4, Draft Report Presentation , Final Research Report