Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

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 mainly down stream responses, reacting after crime has occurred. This has lead policy makers, criminologists and criminal justice practitioners to develop schemes that involve central and local authorities working together to identify and address causes of offending. Such approaches to crime control emphasis up stream responses, that is responses that aim to prevent crime. Various methods of crime prevention have been developed with state and local agencies adopting different techniques. A key aim of crime prevention is to instil an evidence-based approach that emphasises problem solving and analysis and systemic planning. Given the importance being placed upon prevention by the private and public sector it is important for you to understand the trends described above and develop skills relevant to the development, implementation and evaluation of crime prevention strategies.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with the capacity to comprehend and examine crime prevention theory, policy and practice. You will develop skills that help you assess the effectiveness of different approaches to the prevention of crime and acquire practical knowledge related to the design, planning and implementation of crime prevention policy in a range of community and organisational contexts. You will acquire theoretical knowledge and problem solving skills that will equip you with the ability to research and develop practical responses to crime.

Objectives

Once you have completed this unit you should be able to demonstrate:
1. An understanding of contemporary crime prevention theory and techniques and demonstrate this through the postgraduate attribute of multidisciplinary knowledge and critical awareness;
2. A range of skills to help you to apply crime prevention theory in specific contexts, solve problems, scan for and conduct research on ways to prevent crime and complete tasks in set timeframes. This ability demonstrates the postgraduate attributes of problem solving, research, critical thinking, time management, written communication, and self-directed learning and information literacy.
3. An understanding about crime prevention initiatives adopted in Australia and countries abroad and identify examples of best practice. This objective relates to the postgraduate attributes of critical awareness and thinking, information literacy, research and multidisciplinary knowledge; and
4. A capacity to assess crime prevention projects and identify factors that impact on the implementation of programs. This ability demonstrates the postgraduate attributes of reflective practice, problem solving, critical awareness, research, information literacy and multi-task learning.

Content

Week 1: Introduction to unit
Week 2: Key approaches to crime prevention
Week 3: Social crime prevention
Week 4: Environmental crime prevention
Week 5: Evaluating crime prevention
Week 6: Assessment Item No. 1 due
Week 7: The Australian National Crime Prevention Framework
Week 8: Global perspectives on crime prevention
Week 9: Young people, social disorder and crime prevention
Week 10: Crime prevention and emerging technologies
Week 11: The future of crime prevention
Week 12: Revision of unit
Week 13: Revision of unit

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is offered in external mode. 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.

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

• Lecture slides;


• Audio recording of lectures (uploaded on a regular basis);


• Copies of articles and readings which are prescribed for course preparation and assessment;


• Links to web sites containing material useful to your study and assessment;


• Notices from the lecturer - be alert for any weekly announcements by visiting Blackboard regularly;


• Details of assessment requirements and tips; and


• An electronic copy of the Unit Information.

Assessment

The assessment for this unit is both formative (since you will be provided with either written or verbal feedback for written assessment) and summative (since each piece of assessment will receive a mark that will contribute to your final grade).Feedback is provided to students for each piece of assessment.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Students will be provided with an essay question in week one, which will require them to critically analyse an aspect of crime prevention.
Relates to objectives: This assessment relates to objectives 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Reflective Journal
Description: Tutorial questions will be provided to all students on a weekly basis. Students are required to pick four separate weekly topics and respond to the questions provided, critically engaging with the literature provided on the topic. Each response should be approximately 800 words in length.
Relates to objectives: This assessment relates to objectives1, 2, 3, and 4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12

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

The prescribed text for this unit is as follows and is available for purchase from the QUT bookshop:

Sutton, A., Cherney, A. and White, R. (2008) Crime Prevention: Principles, Perspectives and Practices, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne.

There will be additional readings provided throughout the semester. However, the following bibliography may also provide useful resources for this unit:

Australian Institute of Criminology (2012) National Crime Prevention Framework - Bibliography. Available:

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: 30-Oct-2012