The term targeted violence refers to violence that is predatory, goal-directed, and focused on specific victims. Targeted violence research investigates the impact of multiple factors on offenders, including; prior violence, criminality, mental health, environments, and communities Rather than searching for causality in simple terms, targeted violence research analyses seek to explain for whom and under what circumstances targeted violence seems like a viable option.

This course provides students with an overview of scientific perspectives of targeted violence, and outlines how targeted violence research can apply criminology and behavioural science principles to help the detection, assessment, and management of targeted violence.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. source relevant research publications on targeted violence, and interpret that information correctly;
2. use theory and understandings to analyse targeted violence across multiple levels;
3. explain key theoretical and practical issues in countering targeted violence; and
4. demonstrate an understanding of the conceptual and methodological issues involved in studying targeted violence as a concrete scientific subject.

Required Resources

See Session Reading Lists on Canvas.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, 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, focus group 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.

Other Information

Please note, that when indicated, written assessments which are 10% over/under the word count are penalised by 10% of the possible marks available.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture 1: What is Targeted Violence? This session, students will be introduced to the concept of targeted violence and how it is prevented and mitigated.
2	Lecture 2: Introduction to Prevention This session, the core prevention approaches will be discussed. Each of the approaches has a unique role in preventing acts of targeted violence, and it is the combination of these approaches that provides the most holistic form of prevention.
3	Lecture 3: Risk and Threat Assessment This session, students will be introduced to the practices of risk and threat assessment as a key tool in the prevention of targeted violence.Workshop A: Risk and Threat Assessment This workshop will focus on introducing students to the practical processes of undertaking risk and threat assessment protocols.
4	Hate Crime This session, students will be introduced to hate crime as a form of targeted violence. Workshop B: Social Network Analysis 1 This workshop will focus on helping students develop their social network analyses for their written assessment.
5	Domestic Violence This session, students will be introduced to domestic violence as a form of targeted violence.Workshop C: Social Network Analysis 2 This workshop will focus on helping students develop their social network analyses for their written assessment.
6	Stalking This session, students will be introduced to stalking as a form of targeted violence.Workshop D: Social Network Analysis 3 This workshop will focus on helping students develop their social network analyses for their written assessment.
7	Fixation This session, students will be introduced to fixation as a form of targeted violence.
8	Spree Killing This session, students will be introduced to spree killing as a form of targeted violence.
9	Lone Actor Terrorism This session, students will be introduced to lone actor terrorism as a form of targeted violence.
10	Workshop E: Implementing Prevention 1 This session, students will take part in a prevention workshop, focusing on risk assessment.
11	Workshop F: Implementing Prevention 2 This session, students will take part in the second prevention workshop, focusing on threat assessment.
12	Conclusion and Course Review This week, the exam content and preparation will be discussed and related back to the course content.

Tutorial Registration

Please register for workshops using My Timetable.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Online Quiz	10 %	08/08/2025	15/08/2025	1,2,3,4
Online Contribution	10 %	10/10/2025	17/10/2025	1,2,3,4
Written Assessment	40 %	15/09/2025	20/10/2025	1,2,3,4
Final Exam	40 %	*	*	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
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• 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 ‘Canvas’ 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.

Examination(s)

The final examination comprises an examination lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes (inclusive of reading time). 

The exam will run following the completion of all teaching sessions.

Assessment Task 1

Online Quiz

The quiz will be opened on Canvas at 00:01 on 4th August 2025.

You will need to submit your answers to the quiz by 23:59 on 8th August 2025.

The quiz is worth 10% of your final grade.

There are 10 questions about types of targeted violence we will have covered in the course up to and including Lecture 3.

All questions are multiple choice.

The quiz is timed. Once you open the quiz you will have 1 hour to submit your answers.

You are only able to make one attempt at this quiz. Once you submit your answers, you cannot retake the quiz.

When you have completed the quiz, make sure to click ‘submit’ or your answers will not be recorded.

IMPORTANT 

The CRIM2015 is not a group work task. Under no circumstances should you co-complete the CRIM2015 quiz with a friend or as a group. Studying together in advance of a quiz is perfectly acceptable, but undertaking a quiz or sharing the questions/answers with another student is not.  

Collusion is a serious offence under the ANU's Academic Legislation and evidence of such will be referred to the Academic Registrar for investigation. 

The link for the ANU policy on Collusion is below.

http://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/academic-integrity/plagiarism/collusion

Assessment Task 2

Online Contribution

Students are required to submit contributions to the submission area on Wattle.

The contributions will assess students’ knowledge of subjects presented in Weeks 4-9.

Students will be required to present a successful or unsuccessful prevention initiative, using relevant publications and theory (5% of total course grade). 

Contributions are to be composed of a real-life prevention initiative used in the targeted violence space. Cases can be drawn from lecture-based materials, as well as online/physical sources.

Discussions are to be 400 words long (no upper 10% leeway) and present an overview of the prevention initiative under scrutiny.

Contributions are to be submitted by 23:59 on the 6th October 2025.

Students are also required to critically assess one other student's contribution (5% of total course grade). Students will be randomly allocated a peer’s contribution to assess.

Peer Assessments will open at 00:01 on 7th October 2025.

Peer assessments are to be 400 words long (no upper 10% leeway). These assessments are to critique the effectiveness of the prevention initiative presented by your allocated peer, not the allocated peer’s analysis of the initiative. Critical assessments which critique their allocated peer’s analysis will receive 0%.

Peer assessments are to be structured as below:

• A descriptive overview of the allocated peer’s prevention initiative.
• A critical assessment of the effectiveness of the prevention initiative.
• A suggestion of two alternative prevention initiatives (and a brief description of the initiatives and their applicability to the case).

Peer assessments are to be submitted by 23:59 on 10th October 2025.

Marking Rubric will be available on the course Canvas site.

Assessment Task 3

Written Assessment

This assignment will require students to complete a network analysis of an incidence of targeted violence with a discussion of the implications of the analysis for prevention techniques (2000 words).

Critical Network Analysis

Select one of the three presented case studies of targeted violence.

Investigate the corresponding report of your chosen case study. The reports include timelines of the case, offender and victim contact with services, and details of the violent act. 

You are to use your report and other sources to formulate;

• a network analysis of the offender’s network prior to their offence,
• a brief timeline (500 words) of the case under scrutiny,
• a (1500 word) critical analysis of the prevention initiatives used in your case study.

Please note, that written assessments which are 10% over/under the word count are penalised by 10% of the possible marks available (i.e. submissions which are under 1800 words or over 2700 words will incur a 10% penalty).

Further information and marking rubric will be available on course Canvas site.

Assessment Task 4

Final Exam

The final examination will be an examination lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes (inclusive of reading time). 

The exam is comprised of a mix of question types.

The exam is designed to assess students understanding of knowledge, critical thinking, and application of theory.

The following includes a list of examination rules:

1. If the exam is run online, Protcor software will be used to capture student activity during the exam.
2. If the exam is run online, Students are only permitted one webpage open on their computer/laptop (exam page) during the exam.
3. No course materials (e.g. books, notes, etc.) are permitted in the exam.
4. If the exam is run online, Students must take the exam in a quiet room with no other persons present.
5. The use of an unannotated paper-based dictionary is permitted for candidates with prior written approval from the Convenor.

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

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

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

• Late submission is permitted. 
• Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof.
• Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.
• Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

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. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be returned on dates indicated. Delays may occur in exceptional circumstances.

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.

Resubmission of Assignments

Not Applicable.

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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students