Course Title: Juvenile Justice

Part A: Course Overview

Course ID: 032649

Course Title: Juvenile Justice

Credit Points: 8


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

HWSS2070

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

365H Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Face-to-Face

HWSS2153

City Campus

Undergraduate

365H Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Face-to-Face or Internet

HWSS2154

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Face-to-Face or Internet

HWSS2155

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Face-to-Face or Internet


Course Coordinator: Dr Marg Liddell

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99252506

Course Coordinator Email: marg.liddell@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 37.4.33


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

There are no pre-requisites

Capabilities

At the completion of this course you will have the following capabilities and will be:

How will these capabilities be achieved?
Knowledgable and creative
Through you demonstrating knowledge of:
• the juvenile justice system including the role of the juvenile justice worker both at the community and institutional level
• of the legislative framework(s) that are relevant to and impact upon juvenile justice work
• of sentencing principles and the dual track system for young people aged 18 to 21

Knowledgable and creative
Through you demonstrating knowledge of:
• the juvenile justice system including the role of the juvenile justice worker both at the community and institutional level
• of the legislative framework(s) that are relevant to and impact upon juvenile justice work
• of sentencing principles and the dual track system for young people aged 18 to 21


An effective problem solver Through you:
• -demonstrating the capacity to formulate workable plans and solutions for adolescents who are at risk of entering the juvenile justice system or are currently on juvenile justice orders
• developing strategies for engaging young people at risk of entering or in the juvenile justice system

Committed to ethical practice and social responsibility
By you developing an understanding of:
• the importance of confidentiality
• -the worker/client boundaries and ethical practice

Able to use effective communication
Through:
• respectful and accurate talking with and listening to young people and their families/significant others:
• developing report writing skills appropriate for juvenile justice work
• enabling young people to be involved in decisions that affect their lives

Able to integrate and organise information in useful and useable knowledge
By you being able to:
• relate theory to practice in the juvenile justice field
• organise and manage information in a timely manner
• assess situations with a view to identifying information sources and services that may be required by a juvenile justice client



Course Description

What is this course about?
This course is designed to provide you with an introduction to juvenile justice issues from a national and international perspective, and to highlight issues that specifically relate to juvenile justice in Victoria. It is also designed to assist you to be both a thoughtful and practical professional working with young people and the juvenile justice system. The course will:
a) Assist you to understand some of the basis ethical and theoretical underpinnings of the current system such as the welfare and justice models.
(b) Help you to understand the historical evolution of the system as it is today and help you identify and practice some basic skills needed for good practice with young people.
(c) Help you identify and assess the various explanations of delinquency and offending behaviour .
(d) Help you identify the key legal principles at work in the juvenile justice system, including the link between child protection, juvenile justice and the adult criminal justice system .
(e) Help you to engage thoughtfully in discussions about the legal and moral status of young people in relation to various ideas about justice.
(f) Help you to understand the importance of adopting a holistic approach to working with young people including developing effective interventions and the utilisation of community networks to reduce the likelihood of young people re-entering the juvenile justice system.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

What can I expect to learn by studying this course?
This course will enable you to:
(a) Identify and reflect on the various ideas about "justice" in the contemporary juvenile justice system
(b) Identify and assess the value of various explanations of young peoples delinquent and offending behaviour and assess the notion of children and young people being "victims" and or "threats"
(c) Identify the key historical factors that have shaped the current juvenile justice system
(d) Develop an understanding of the ’philosophical underpinnings’ of the Children and Young Persons Act 1989, especially minimising intervention into the lives of young offenders; the hierarchy of sentencing; and the separation of ‘needs and deeds’
(e) identify the features of effective assessment and interventions when working with young people and translate this information into relevant written documentation, such as (i) Pre Sentence Reports and (ii) Client Assessment Plans
(f) Have an understanding of strategies to assist young people to develop pathways out of the juvenile justice system


This course will enable you to:

• identify and reflect on the various ideas about "justice" in the contemporary juvenile justice system

• identify and assess the value of various explanations of young peoples delinquent and offending behaviour and assess the notion of children and young people being "victims" and or "threats"

• identify the key historical factors that have shaped the current juvenile justice system

• develop an understanding of the ’philosophical underpinnings’ of the Children and Young Persons Act 1989, especially minimising intervention into the lives of young offenders; the hierarchy of sentencing; and the separation of ‘needs and deeds’

• identify key linkages between juvenile justice and child protection systems

• develop and practice basic skills to enable you to have an understanding of the nature of juvenile justice work

• identify the features of effective assessment and interventions when working with young people and translate this information into relevant written documentation, such as (i) Pre Sentence Reports and (ii) Client Assessment Plans

• to have an understanding of strategies to assist young people to develop pathways out of the juvenile justice system


Overview of Learning Activities

What opportunities does the course provide for me to learn? What will I be expected to do?
The topics outlined in the study guide will be delivered over weekly program. This will generally comprise of:
• Lecture
• Videos
• Formal presentations
• Panel discussions
• Debates
• Role plays
• Case studies/scenarios and
• Plays performed by lecturers and studnets


Overview of Learning Resources

What will I need to access and read for this course?
There is no prescribed text for this course. Selected readings however have been digitalised and are available through the library. Further information on reading will be available during the first class and in Section B


Overview of Assessment

How will I demonstrate my learning in this course?
Assessment tasks that you will be required to undertake will come from a number of areas. These will be chosen from:
• Visit and documentation related to a Children’s Court.
• A presentation
• A Pre Sentence Report
• A Client Assessment and Plan
• An essay
• A journal
The format for all assessment tasks will be discussed in the first class and will be available in section B of this course guide.