Units
Gender Crime and the Criminal Justice System
Unit code: JSB971
Contact hours: 3
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit examines the experiences and treatment of men and women as criminals, victims and workers within the criminal justice system by asking whether and how: a) offending patterns vary according to gender, b) experiences of victimisation differ for men and women, c) the treatment and experiences of male and female offenders, victims and workers within the criminal justice system differ. Theories about crime, victimisation and criminal justice practice in relation to gender are also explored as are intersections between gender and Indigenous status. Recent developments in criminal justice policy and practice that could potentially effect future change with regard to gender inequities are critically examined.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2012 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
The Justice degree aims to produce competent justice professionals. In order to achieve this purpose, this degree combines knowledge of the criminal justice system with an understanding and appreciation of the complexities of social justice. This unit explores the persistent and profound differences between men and women in:1) offending and victimisation patterns, , 2) criminal justice system experiences and responses.
Aims
This unit examines and theorises the experiences and treatment of men and women as offenders and victims within the criminal justice system by asking whether and how:
a) offending and victimisation patterns vary according to gender;
b) experiences of victimisation differ for men and women;
c) the treatment and experiences of male and female offenders and victims differ.
Objectives
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1. Understand how gender informs us about differential patterns of criminal involvement, treatment by and experiences in the criminal justice system and demonstrate the graduate attribute of critical thinking and research;
2. Demonstrate the graduate attributes of a social justice orientation by showing an understanding of how gender shape offending, victimisation and experiences in the criminal justice system;
3. Apply the graduate attributes of critical awareness and independent work to assess recent developments in criminal justice policy and practice in relation to gender.
Content
Module 1 - Gender, Offending and Victimisation
This Module introduces the unit, examines offending and victimisation patterns by gender, and theorises the gendered nature of both.
Week 1: Introduction, Gendered Patterns of Offending and Victimisation
Week 2: 'Girls won't be Boys': Theoretical Explanations for Women's Offending
Week 3: 'Boys will be Boys': Theoretical Explanations for Men's Offending
Week 4: Controlling Femininity: Theorising, Women and Violent Victimisation
Week 5: 'Boys Don't Cry': Theorising, Men and Violent Victimisation
Week 6: 'Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice'?: Female Sex Offenders and Lesbian Domestic Violence
Module 2 - Gender and the Criminal Justice System
This Module looks at the treatment and experiences of male and female offenders in the criminal justice system.
Week 7: Is Chivalry Dead? The Gendered Nature of Sentencing
Week 8: Keeping Themselves Safe? The Court, 'Battered women' who kill and Domestic Violence Protection Orders
Week 9: Women's Imprisonment
Week 10: Masculinity and prison sub-culture
Exam Preparation
Week 11: Exam preperation, the lecturer will be available on-line during the scheduled lectorial time to answer student queries/provide guidance
Week 12: Exam preperation, the lecturer will be available on-line during the scheduled lectorial time to answer student queries/provide guidance
Week 13: Exam preperation, the lecturer will be available on-line during the scheduled lectorial time to answer student queries/provide guidance
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Internal mode delivery is organised arounda lectorial of 2.5 to 3 hours duration. The Lectorials in this unit will consist of the presentation of material by the lecturer, presentations by others from the 'real world', interactive discussions and activities . The unit will also make use of popular media.
External mode delivery encourages you to engage with the topics in the Study Guide on a weekly basis. The presentation component of the Lectorials will be audio streamed and available via the unit Blackboard site. Interactive discussions and activities will take place on a weekly basis via on-line chat sessions via BlackBoard
You are advised to make extensive use of the QUT Blackboard unit site, which is available through the QUT home page under Quicklinks. Most specifically, PowerPoint slides, lecture recordings, study guide, week one unit infomation and readings will be available for download.
Assessment
Assessment for this unit is both summative and formative.Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
You will required to research and write an essay from a list of essay topics provided in the unit outline on Blackboard.
Relates to objectives:
This assessment is linked to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3.
Weight:
35%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 7
Assessment name:
On-Line Activity
Description:
The on-line activity will be posted on the unit BlackBoard site at the end of Week 1 and removed at the end of Week 13. It will include written and tick box responses to questions pretaining to the unit content.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3.
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 13
Assessment name:
Examination (written)
Description:
An end of Semester exam will be scheduled during the central examination period. This exam will cover all material in the unit.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3.
Weight:
45%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Exam Period
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
There is no set text for this unit - readings will be available on the Course Materials Database. Additional Texts of interest include:
Allen, H. (1987). Justice Unbalanced: Gender, Psychiatry and Judicial Decisions.Milton Keynes: Open University Press
Belknap, J. (2001).The Invisible Woman: Gender, Crime, and Justice. Belmont, CA. Wadsworth Publishing Company. (First Edition was published in 1996; 3rd edition in progress)
Bowker, L. (Ed.), (1998). Masculinities and Violence. Thousand Oaks: Sage
Carlen, P. (1985) Criminal Women, Virago, London
Carlen, P. (1998). Sledgehammer: Women's Imprisonment at the Millennium. London: MacMillian
Carrington, K (1993) Offending Girls, Allen & Unwin, Sydney
Carrington, K. Pereira, M (2009) Offending Youth, Federation Press, Sydney
Carlen, P., Worrall, A. (1987). Gender, Crime and Justice. Milton Keynes: Open University Press
Chesney-Lind, M. (1997). The Female Offender: Girls, Women and Crime. Thousand Oaks: Sage
Cohen, A.K. (1955) Delinquent Boys: The Culture of the Gang, The Free Press, New York
Daly, K. and Maher, L.. (eds). (1998). Criminology at the Crossroads: Feminist Readings in Crime and Justice. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hahn Rafter, N. Heidensohn, F. (eds) (1995) International Feminist Perspectives in Criminology, Open University Press, Buckingham
Howe, A. (1994) Punish & Critique, Routledge, London
Eaton, M. (1986). Justice for Women: Family, Court and Social Control. Milton Keynes: Open University Press
Kirkby, D. (ed) (1995) Sex, Power & Justice, Oxford University Press, Melbourne
Messerschmidt, J.W. (1993). Masculinities and Crime, Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield
Naffine, N. (1997). Feminism and Criminology. St Leonards: Allen and Unwin
Newburn, T. and E.A. Stanko. (Eds.), (1994). Just Boys Doing Business? Men, Masculinities and Crime. London: Routledge
Polk, K. (1994). When Men Kill: Scenarios of Masculine Violence. New York: Cambridge University Press
Sabo, D., T.A. Kupers, W. London (Eds.), (2001). Prison Masculinities. Philadelphia: Temple University Press
Thornton, M. (ed) (1995) Public and Private: Feminist Legal Debates, Oxford University Press, Melbourne
Winlow, S. (2001). Badfellas: Crime, Tradition and New Masculinities. New York:Berg.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 21-May-2012
