JSB179 Crimes of Violence

Unit Outline: Summer 2025, Online

Overview

Justice students work, or hope to work, as justice professionals in areas related to the criminal justice system or human rights. They need an understanding of fundamental principles of criminal law and of social justice issues related to violent offending.

Laypeople may assume that the law is shaped by rational decisions aimed at reducing crime and punishing wrongdoing, when in fact a closer examination of the policy underpinnings, the substance of the law and the way in which it is applied demonstrates that such an analysis is overly simplistic. A deeper understanding of the forces that shape policy objectives is essential to those who wish to contribute to more effective responses to violent offending.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Describe ways in which criminal law and violence in western society are a product of this society and its political order, and categorise these in terms of social and criminological theories (Discipline Knowledge - Course Learning Outcomes 1.1, 1.2, 1.5)
2. Articulate an understanding of the provisions of the Criminal Code of Queensland creating offences of violence and dealing with issues of criminal responsibility, the principles of criminal law, and any deficiencies in the law (Discipline Knowledge; Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills - CLOs 1.4, 4.2, 4.3)
3. Apply knowledge of empirical research and criminological theory to explain issues relating to victimisation, offending and sentencing through real world scenarios (Communication and Collaboration Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills - CLOs 3.2, 4.1, 4.2,4.3)
4. Describe and categorise criminal justice and social responses to violent offending and victimisation in written formats, articulating an understanding of the social and ethical impact of policy and real world application (Discipline Knowledge; Communication and Collaboration; Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills - CLOs 1.3, 3.1,.3,2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3), and
5. Cultivate and develop a sense of community and professional responsibility to support an understanding of the criminal justice framework and its principles (Professional Ethics, Problem Solving - 2.3, 2.4, 5.1, 5.2).

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit is offered in online mode. Online mode delivery is organised around one-hour pre-recorded lectures and one-hour online activities. Lectures will be focused on presenting the material for clarification and reflection through engagement with the readings. Lecture material will be available on the Canvas site, which will include PowerPoint presentations for each module and other pedagogic material that will support and scaffold learning.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:

• informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback, personal consultation
• formal: in writing, e.g. criteria sheets, written commentary
• direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
• indirect: to the whole class.

Assessment

Overview

The assessment process in this unit is designed to be both formative (provide you with feedback on your progress in the unit) and summative (grade your progress in the unit and provide your final mark). There are two forms of assessment: a literature review and a case study report.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Literature Review

This assessment requires students to conduct a literature review on a specific topic chosen from the unit.  

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Case Study Report

This assessment requires students to write a report in response to a case study (real-world case). Students are to review this case and conduct research to inform a report, showing their understanding of the crime committed and responses to this.   

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

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.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.