This course provides a topic-specific understanding of responses to crime and deviance by a range of government and non-government agencies - for example: criminal justice, academia and business and industry. Our aim is to focus on crimes of contemporary national interest and the list of topics will vary each year depending on current political and criminal justice priorities. Students will be exposed to some of the factors that influence responses to crime such as official statistics and a discussion regarding the use, abuse and misuse of data. Finally, students are expected to engage critically with a range of contemporary techniques employed to respond to serious crime, including police practices and current techniques to control crime.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. explain the main approaches to understanding and responding to serious crimes of national interest;
2. identify the main theoretical approaches to the study of crime and deviance;
3. demonstrate the ability to investigate the literature and apply a problem-solving approach to a highly publicized crime event;
4. compare the main assumptions about offenders in serious and repeated crimes;
5. respond to and critique peer work.

Required Resources

All readings for the course will be provided via Wattle.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals etc.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction and overview: The importance of both research and policy to inform understandings of crime and crime prevention
2	Using criminal justice data: The uses and misuses of official data sources
3	Working with government and non-government agencies: Researchers' perspectives
4	Evidence-based policy: Practitioner perspectives
5	Police: Future challenges and responses
6	Prisons and corrections: 'Smart' prisons and alternatives to prison
7	Indigenous justice: Changing the deficit discourse
8	Transnational crimes
9	Emerging security threats: Grievance-fuelled violence and hate crimes
10	Technology-facilitated crime
11	Digital criminal justice
12	Where to next? Alumni perspectives

Tutorial Registration

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.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Class participation	15 %	LO2
Learning journal	20 %	LO4
Research proposal outline and peer review	25 %	LO 1 2 3 5
Research proposal: Response to tender	40 %	LO 1 2 3 4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using 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. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Please see assessment (Task 1) above

Assessment Task 1

Class participation

Class participation is assessed across the course and is worth 15% of your overall grade. Students are expected to demonstrate that they have read/watched/listened to and understood the required materials for each class. Students are also expected to work collaboratively in both small groups and whole-class discussion to analyse and discuss issues raised in the course. Students are required to engage in discussion and argument with respect to relevant issues. Students are expected to come prepared and participate within this collaborative environment, identifying issues for analysis, presenting ideas, facilitating discussion, and resolving problems. Students are also expected to listen attentively to guest lecturers and ask relevant and thoughtful questions of them. 

Students are encouraged to discuss how their participation is progressing with the course convenor.

Assessment Task 2

Learning journal

The learning journal is a series of reflections authored to demonstrate your understanding of the topic and content covered in the relevant week(s). There are four reflections and each is worth 5%. The reflection may include some personal opinion but should largely comprise of factual statements regarding the subject matter and reference reliable evidence to develop an argument, perspective, or idea. The purpose of the learning journal is to demonstrate the degree to which you understand the content (including the lecture/ workshop discussions and readings), your engagement with reliable evidence, and your ability to link main themes or concepts in your discussion on the topic.

Requirements:

·      You are expected to submit the learning journal (via Turnitin links provided on the Wattle page) by 11:59pm on Friday of weeks 3 (based on week 2), 6 (based on week 5), 8(based on week 7), and 10 (based on week 9) of the semester.

·      Word length: 300-500 words per submission.

·      APA referencing and reference list is required (where appropriate).

You may wish to consider the following structure:

Introduction

·     A sentence to introduce the focus of your reflection

·     Mention the key themes you will consider

Body

·     Summarise the content and key information from the topic

·     Engage evidence to discuss a theme or idea in more detail

·     Critically discuss evidence and link your chosen themes

Conclusion

·     A sentence or two to bring your discussion to a close and reinforce your main points or ideas

References

·     Please provide references in APA format (where applicable). For an example of a learning journal and more information, please follow the link:

https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/writing-assessment/reflective-writing/learning-journals

Please note that late submissions will not be accepted.

Assessment Task 3

Research proposal outline and peer review

Research proposal outline (15%)

You are to submit a detailed outline of your research proposal (Assessment task 4) of between 500-700 words. You can use dot points if you wish. You should follow the structure for your outline as detailed under Assessment task 4 below. This includes:

1.    Executive summary

2.    Details of the research to be undertaken

3.    Policy relevance and justification

4.    A reference list of any material you have drawn from or cited in your outline

 

Peer review component (10%)

Once you have submitted your research proposal outline, an anonymised version will be randomly assigned to another student in the course who will provide feedback on the outline. This feedback will be a written response of 250 words, submitted via Turnitin, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal from a policy maker’s perspective (i.e. the agency who have sent out the tender for research). You may also provide any suggestions for improving the research proposal.

Please note that late submissions of either component will not be accepted.

Assessment Task 4

Research proposal: Response to tender

You are a criminology researcher and have been tasked to write a response of 2, 500 words to a government agency or NGO request to tender for research to be undertaken to better understand a highly topical crime event (of your choosing) that has occurred within Australia in the last five years. Your response should include:

• a review of the relevant literature related to your crime event;
• an analysis of the problem you are attempting to solve, and a detailed outline of the methodology you will use to investigate the problem. This includes providing a description of any data you will draw on, as well as a brief discussion of the strengths and limitations of the data; and,
• why carrying out your proposed research is important/ has relevance to policy.

Below is an example of the way you might structure your response. However, please feel free to create your own structure for the response to tender, as long as it contains the elements set out in the dot points above. 

 

Example structure for response to tender

 

1.    Executive summary

2.    Details of the research to be undertaken

a.    Introduction

b.    Aims

c.    Methodology

3.    Policy relevance and justification

a.    Why is the proposed research important?

4.    References

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

No hard copy submission for CRIM3001.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students