JSB374 Crime Prevention

Unit Outline: Summer 2023, Online

Overview

In recent years the effectiveness of the criminal justice system has come under sustained criticism. A key criticism of traditional criminal justice responses to crime involving police, courts and imprisonment is that they are reactive responses, occurring only after a crime has been committed. This has led policy makers, criminologists and criminal justice practitioners to develop schemes that involve federal, state and local authorities working together to predict, identify and address causes of offending. Such approaches to crime control emphasise proactive responses, which seek to prevent the crime before it has occurred. There are various approaches to crime prevention, as well as many perceived barriers to its successful implementation. This unit introduces students to the concept of crime prevention as well as its application to societal problems.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Discuss and analyse contemporary crime prevention theory and techniques (Discipline Knowledge - Course Learning Outcomes 1.1, 1.2)
2. Apply crime prevention theory in specific contexts, including solving problems and scanning for and conducting research on ways to prevent crime (Discipline Knowledge; Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills - CLOs 4.1, 4.2)
3. Analyse and evaluate crime prevention initiatives adopted in Australia and overseas (Discipline Knowledge; Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills - CLOs 1.2, 1.5, 4.1, 4.2)
4. Apply methods to evaluate crime prevention projects and factors that impact on the implementation of programs (Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills; Problem Solving - CLOs 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2), and
5. Express complex ideas in a professional written and oral format (Communication and Collaboration - CLOs 3.1, 3.2, 3.3).

Content

Learning Approaches

The main approach adopted in this unit is that of student-centred learning, which, in effect, means that you are required to take primary responsibility for your own learning under the general guidance and assistance of the unit's teaching staff. A program of workshops and readings form the basis of the unit.

It is essential that all students familiarise themselves with the layout and contents of QUT Canvas for this unit. On this site you will have access to:

• workshops
• audio recordings of lectures (uploaded on a regular basis)
• copies of articles and readings that are prescribed for course preparation and assessment
• links to web sites containing material useful to your study and assessment
• additional multimedia resources such as films and videos
• notices from the lecturer
• details of assessment requirements and tips, and
• an electronic copy of the Unit Information.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback is provided to students for each piece of assessment.

Assessment

Overview

The assessment for this unit is both formative and summative.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Applied Policy Analysis

This assessment requires you to critically analyse a real world crime prevention program. You will be asked to select a specific program and apply your knowledge of crime prevention theory in analysing how crime is understood in the program and the theoretical basis for the program. 

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Applied Case Study

This piece of assessment requires you to conduct a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) audit of a selected location. The assessment comprises two separate parts, the first is a written piece (1500 words) that provides a summary of the CPTED audit, and the second, is an accompanying video presentation (five minutes) where you visually present the audit that you have conducted.
Weighting: (40% for written component and 20% for video presentation)

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

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.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Sutton, A, Cherney, A, White, R and Clancey, G. (2021). Crime Prevention: Principles, Perspectives and Practices, 3rd edition. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.

Risk Assessment Statement

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