JSB386 Death Investigation
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: | JSB386 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | 96cp of previous study |
| Equivalent(s): | JSB986 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $2,040 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $957 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 | $3,024 |
| International unit fee | $4,224 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | JSB386 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 96cp of previous study |
| Equivalent: | JSB986 |
| Coordinator: | Belinda Carpenter | b.carpenter@qut.edu.au |
Overview
The investigation of death is a well-regulated system, orchestrated through the coronial system with identification of suspicious deaths undertaken by the criminal justice system. This death investigation model involves legal, medical and criminal justice personnel to establish both the medical cause and legal circumstance of death. The information gathered in this way is also used to inform government policy, including preventing deaths. In the wake of Harold Shipman in the United Kingdom and Dr Patel in Australia, the issue of concealed homicide has become topical, with questions asked about how the coronial system can better investigate death. Detailed knowledge of death investigation in Australia is crucial for legal and medical professionals as well as criminal justice agency personnel. This unit examines the history, processes, procedures and outcomes of death investigation in Queensland; including overrepresentation, cultural issues, trauma and determining manner of death.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Understand the history, legislation and purpose of the death investigation system in Australia (Discipline Knowledge - Course Learning Outcomes 1.2, 1.3, 1.4)
- Identify the complex ways in which information is gathered in the coronial system and the ways in which it is utilised (Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills - CLOs 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
- Explore the differing personnel in the coronial system and the various ways in which death is understood and investigated (Discipline Knowledge; Professional Ethics - CLOs 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3)
- Appreciate the different ways in which death is understood and the reasons for religious and cultural objections to death investigation (Professional Ethics; Communication and Collaboration - CLOs 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2).
Content
Week 2: The sociology of death and dying
Week 3: The medicalisation of death
Week 4: Over-representation and difference
Week 5: Assessment discussion in class
Week 6: Assessing the evidence: policing the investigation
Week 7: The inquest: legal decision making
Week 8: Determining the cause of death: the key role of autopsy
Week 9: Homicide investigation and concealed homicides
Week 10: Managing the trauma of death: counselling families
Week 11: Conclusions
Learning Approaches
This unit is offered internally and online. Both internal and online delivery are organised around two hours of lectures and online discussion. Students can choose to attend lectures or participate online. You are advised to make extensive use of the Canvas website, which is available through the QUT homepage, to access your materials.
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 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
Assessment is in this unit is both formative and summative. It is identical for internal and online students.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Annotated bibliography
The specific assessment guidelines for this piece are available on the Canvas site for the unit. Students will be asked to collect and critically summarise 10 key sources relevant to answering the research question they have chosen from the list provided on Canvas. This literature will provide the basis for the student's argument in their final presentation, assessment 2.
Weighting split: 10% for reference list; 40% for annotated bibliography
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Presentation
The specific assessment guidelines for this piece are available on the Canvas site for the unit. This assessment will be informed by feedback gained from the annotated bibliography. Students will be asked to make a comprehensive argument in response to a research question posed to them, chosen from a list provided on Canvas. The student's individual argument will be presented orally in the form of a 10-minute recorded presentation, submitted online.
Word length: approximately 2000 words, 10 minutes
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
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Online
| Unit code: | JSB386 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 96cp of previous study |
| Equivalent: | JSB986 |
Overview
The investigation of death is a well-regulated system, orchestrated through the coronial system with identification of suspicious deaths undertaken by the criminal justice system. This death investigation model involves legal, medical and criminal justice personnel to establish both the medical cause and legal circumstance of death. The information gathered in this way is also used to inform government policy, including preventing deaths. In the wake of Harold Shipman in the United Kingdom and Dr Patel in Australia, the issue of concealed homicide has become topical, with questions asked about how the coronial system can better investigate death. Detailed knowledge of death investigation in Australia is crucial for legal and medical professionals as well as criminal justice agency personnel. This unit examines the history, processes, procedures and outcomes of death investigation in Queensland; including overrepresentation, cultural issues, trauma and determining manner of death.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Understand the history, legislation and purpose of the death investigation system in Australia (Discipline Knowledge - Course Learning Outcomes 1.2, 1.3, 1.4)
- Identify the complex ways in which information is gathered in the coronial system and the ways in which it is utilised (Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills - CLOs 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
- Explore the differing personnel in the coronial system and the various ways in which death is understood and investigated (Discipline Knowledge; Professional Ethics - CLOs 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3)
- Appreciate the different ways in which death is understood and the reasons for religious and cultural objections to death investigation (Professional Ethics; Communication and Collaboration - CLOs 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2).
Content
Week 2: The sociology of death and dying
Week 3: The medicalisation of death
Week 4: Over-representation and difference
Week 5: Assessment discussion in class
Week 6: Assessing the evidence: policing the investigation
Week 7: The inquest: legal decision making
Week 8: Determining the cause of death: the key role of autopsy
Week 9: Homicide investigation and concealed homicides
Week 10: Managing the trauma of death: counselling families
Week 11: Conclusions
Learning Approaches
This unit is offered internally and online. Both internal and online delivery are organised around two hours of lectures and online discussion. Students can choose to attend lectures or participate online. You are advised to make extensive use of the Canvas website, which is available through the QUT homepage, to access your materials.
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 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
Assessment is in this unit is both formative and summative. It is identical for internal and online students.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Annotated bibliography
The specific assessment guidelines for this piece are available on the Canvas site for the unit. Students will be asked to collect and critically summarise 10 key sources relevant to answering the research question they have chosen from the list provided on Canvas. This literature will provide the basis for the student's argument in their final presentation, assessment 2.
Weighting split: 10% for reference list; 40% for annotated bibliography
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Presentation
The specific assessment guidelines for this piece are available on the Canvas site for the unit. This assessment will be informed by feedback gained from the annotated bibliography. Students will be asked to make a comprehensive argument in response to a research question posed to them, chosen from a list provided on Canvas. The student's individual argument will be presented orally in the form of a 10-minute recorded presentation, submitted online.
Word length: approximately 2000 words, 10 minutes
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
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.