• Offered by School of Sociology
  • ANU College ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Course subject Sociology
  • Areas of interest Sociology, Criminology
  • Academic career UGRD
  • Course convener
    • Dr Gavin Smith
  • Mode of delivery In Person
  • Offered in Second Semester 2014
    See Future Offerings

Controversies in Crime Control provides students with an introduction to the crime control field from a sociological vista.

This course examines the social functions of deviance and explores the various strategies of securitization - e.g. private security growth, criminalization of mundane behaviours and social groups, hardening crime control legislation, mass surveillance and incarceration, etc. - emerging in response to what commonly is perceived as the 'crime crisis’. We consider the key issues associated with the identification and management of social problems and contemplate how behavioural disobedience, as a moral resource, is purposefully exploited for political and commercial ends. Using a set of case studies (or crime control 'controversies') as evidence, students will address the following key questions:

  • How are social problems defined and policed?
  • To what degree is public understanding of crime culturally mediated and influenced by specific rhetorics?
  • Which groups and interests effectively dictate crime control policies and criminal justice system agendas?
  • What are the social consequences of intensifications in criminalization processes and securitization projects?


Overall, this course equips students with the appropriate knowledge, acuity and research skills to understand and engage the contemporary crime control landscape from a critically informed perspective.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1.     Discern the political and economic interests influencing the crime control landscape.

2.     Critically evaluate the social impacts and resonances of contemporary crime control interventions.

3.     Analyse struggles between governing authorities and governed populations.

4.     Apply theoretical perspectives used by sociologists to explain in original ways crime control processes, specifically theories of risk, power, capitalization, spectacle and struggle.

5.     Undertake and assess research in the field of crime control, including the use of census data, attitudinal surveys, content analysis, participant observation and interviews.

6.     Evaluate complex ideas lucidly and critically, orally and in writing.

Other Information

From 2015 this course has been coded CRIM 2003

Indicative Assessment

• One 1500 word 'Research Essay' (35%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 4, 5 & 6]

• 'Tutorial Presentation' (20%) [Learning Outcomes 2, 3 & 6]

• One 2000 word 'Synthesis Examination' (45%) [Learning Outcomes 1 - 6]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

The workload will be one 2-hour workshop (interactive lecture) and one 1-hour student-led tutorial per week (total of three contact hours per week) with the expectation of a further 7 non-contact hours per week of independent study.

 

This includes:

• Two 'Core Readings' on each topic to be completed weekly

• Periodic practical exercises in advance of tutorials

• 4000-words approximately in assessed written work

• A compulsory oral presentation

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must have completed SOCY1002 or SOCY1004.

Prescribed Texts

A reading brick will be available.

Assumed Knowledge

Students should have a basic grasp of either Sociology and/or Socio-Legal Studies. The themes covered in SOCY3016 are from a distinctively sociological perspective. Thus, students are recommended to familiarise themselves with concepts such as 'Risk Society', 'Securitization', 'Policing', 'Social Control', 'Governance', and 'Consumerism'.

Majors

Minors

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Students continuing in their current program of study will have their tuition fees indexed annually from the year in which you commenced your program. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Student Contribution Band:
1
Unit value:
6 units

If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.  Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee Description
1994-2003 $1164
2014 $2478
2013 $2472
2012 $2472
2011 $2424
2010 $2358
2009 $2286
2008 $2286
2007 $2286
2006 $2286
2005 $2286
2004 $1926
International fee paying students
Year Fee
1994-2003 $2574
2014 $3246
2013 $3240
2012 $3240
2011 $3240
2010 $3240
2009 $3240
2008 $3240
2007 $3132
2006 $3132
2005 $3132
2004 $2916
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

Second Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
8242 21 Jul 2014 01 Aug 2014 31 Aug 2014 30 Oct 2014 In Person N/A

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