Prisoners are among the most disadvantaged end-users of the legal system. The way we treat prisoners is contextualised by a variety of historical, social and economic factors. The way we treat prisoners is also contextualised by what we think we know, and what we’re told, about the place of punishment in a modern criminal justice system. Similarly, but often overlooked, the way prisoners are treated is sometimes reflected in the way we teach, train, recruit and support the uniformed and non-uniformed staff who work with and look over them. This course will consider the dilemmas of corrections in Australia and explore the ways in which reform in corrections can lead to improved socio-legal outcomes for prisoners.
The course will give students a better understanding of the theory and contemporary practice of reforming law in the corrections context, and they will participate in learning activities designed to develop understanding of the various reasons for reforming the law in this context. The divide between juvenile justice and adult corrections will be explored, as will pathways to prison (from the outside to the inside). The purpose of punishment and new wave emphasis on rehabilitation will be examined, as will the application of human rights in prisons and the importance of external oversight of the conditions of detention (inside).
The course will also examine the transition and reintegration of prisoners from places of detention to the community (from the inside to the outside). Justice reinvestment will be examined as an example of one framework designed to reform reliance on custodial arrangements.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
At the end of the course, students will:
- Have specialised knowledge and skills, especially with respect to research, in the area of corrections and law reform, especially insofar as reforming the law impacts on places of criminal detention in particular.
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in the area of law reform efforts in juvenile justice or adult corrections.
- Be able to analyse critically, reflect upon and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories as they apply in the area of juvenile justice, adult corrections and law reform.
- Be able to apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment, adaptability and responsibility as a learner.
Indicative Assessment
Class Participation (inclusive of online discussion 10%)
Short Essay (2,000 words 30%)
Research Project (4,000 words, 60%)
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
Intensive Delivery over 4 days
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
A full reading list will be provided in the Course Outline 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.
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. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 3
- 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 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $2958 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $4146 |
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.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Autumn Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1630 | 01 May 2015 | 01 May 2015 | 15 May 2015 | 04 Jul 2015 | In Person | N/A |
