Advances in Criminological Research

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

120 hours

Criminology at Undergraduate level

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Criminology draws its frameworks for inquiry and understanding from a wide-range of intellectual traditions and contemporary conceptualisations. This subject provides accounts of contemporary developments in the construction and application of theory in criminal justice and related settings. It is axiomatic that practice in criminal justice ought to be founded on strong theoretical grounds, but this often is not the case. Drawing upon a range of enduring and emerging formulations, the subject explains and tests the relationships between theory and practice in criminal justice. Topics to be covered are drawn from a list which includes restorative justice, offender rehabilitation and desistance, developmental crime prevention, surveillance and control, community and intersectoral policing developments, risk prediction and offender classification, and anti-social behaviour orders.

On completion of this subject students should:

• comprehend the sources and varieties of theory formation of relevance to criminological inquiry;
• develop a sophisticated understanding of the relationships between theory construction, research and criminal justice practices;
• explore in detail topical criminal justice practices and interventions in the context of their underlying theoretical and research foundations;
• analyse and articulate critically the nexus between theory, research and practice in criminal justice across a wide range of settings.

Written work totalling 5000 words, comprising a 1500 word essay (30%) due mid-semester and a 3500 word research essay (70%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A Subject Reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should:

• have highly developed cognitive, analytical and problem-solving skills;
• have an advanced understanding of complex concepts and the ability to express them lucidly in writing and orally;
• have sophisticated awareness of cultural, ethnic and gender diversities and their implications;
• have an ability to plan work and to use time effectively.

CRIM90019 Advances in Criminological Research is a compulsory component of the Master of Criminology