Course Title: Provide Supervision of and Support to Adult Offenders within a Correction Framework

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: JUST5145

Course Title: Provide Supervision of and Support to Adult Offenders within a Correction Framework

School: 365T Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6077 - Advanced Diploma of Justice

Course Contact : Karen Linstrom

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925-4597

Course Contact Email:karen.linstrom@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 54

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

There are no pre-requisites for this course

Course Description

This course supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required for any job in the Justice environment that involves supervision and/or support of adult offenders in the correctional system.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBQU376 Provide Supervision of and Support to Adult Offenders within a Correction Framework

Element:

1. Examine the historical perspectives and practices that led to development of modern correctional systems.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 The origins of confinement as a form of punishment, is investigated.
1.2 The major theorists and their contributing philosophies, which underpin the evolution of punishment is reviewed.
1.3 The contribution of architecture in the development of offender management practices is analysed and evaluated.

Element:

2. Analyse the legislative requirements and accountability mechanisms within the Victorian correctional environment.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 The legislation pertinent to the Victorian Correctional System is investigated.
2.2 “Duty of Care” as it applies to the professional conduct of staff in the management of offenders is identified.
2.3 The development of accountability mechanisms of public and private providers of correctional facilities is investigated.

Element:

3. Evaluate the current management practices of Victorian Prisons

Performance Criteria:

3.1 The impact of Unit Management in the daily management of custodial offenders is reviewed.
3.2 The process of internal control via the prison disciplinary system is investigated, and the role of the Sentence Management Unit in prison placement is analysed.
3.3 The function of Victorian prisons and the use of the “Corridor System” of placement to match offence to program availability is outlined.
3.4 The impact of access to Bails and Fines and the Community Integration program in the re-integration of offenders into the community is outlined.
3.5 The impact of minority and disadvantaged groups within correctional facilities is investigated.
3.6 An analysis is conducted to make a comparison of the Victorian model with other Australian and overseas jurisdictions.

Element:

4.Evaluate the role and functions of Community Corrections.

Performance Criteria:

4.1 The range of sentencing options which are based on the concept of a graduated restriction of personal liberty is analysed.
4.2 The role of the COO in providing court advice and assessments is outlined.
4.3 The Parole reports and their impact on the decision-making process for the Adult Parole Board are examined.
4.4 An analysis on Case Management as it relates to the role of the Community Corrections Officer (CCO) is undertaken.
4.5 The function of the CCO in relation to the Fine Default Program, Home Detention, and the Extended Supervision Program is evaluated.
4.6 The processes involved in the preparation of Breach Reports and the role of the CCO’s as Prosecutors are applied.

Element:

5. Examine the role and function of the Adult Parole Board (APB).

Performance Criteria:

5.1 The legislative basis for the constitution, authority, lines of accountability and function of the APB is analysed.
5.2 The reflection community standards and expectations in the decision-making management of offenders eligible for parole are reviewed.
5.3 The processes for the preparation of Breach of Parole reports are evaluated.

Element:

6. Evaluate the psycho-social effects and responses in determining the correctional environment.

Performance Criteria:

6.1 The impact of society’s changing tolerances in determining sentencing options and correctional requirements is evaluated.
6.2 An analysis is conducted to examine the influence of the media in creating community attitudes.
6.3 The effects of institutionalization on staff and prisoners in custodial institutions are examined.
6.4 The relationship between educational and vocational training and employment for offenders is analysed.
6.5 The major mental health and medical issues addressed within a correctional environment is reviewed.
6.6 Overseas social trends which influence Australian correctional responses are investigated.

Element:

7. Examine offender management principles.

Performance Criteria:

7.1 Risk is determined using current assessment practices.
7.2 The development of risk assessment tools is determined.
7.3 The use of technology in managing offenders is investigated.
7.4 Application of programs targeted to specific offenders is examined.

Element:

8. Analyse problem oriented courts and their impact on correction services.

Performance Criteria:

8.1 The development of specialist courts is analysed.
8.2 The impact of problem oriented courts on correction services is investigated.

Element:

9. Review the planning and management of Victorian Correctional Systems.

Performance Criteria:

9.1 The corporate structure of Corrections Victoria is outlined, and the departmental aims and objectives are identified.
9.2 The issues relevant to the management of the custodial environment as opposed to community supervision are identified.
9.3 The relevance of statistical analysis in the management of offenders is outlined.
9.4 The impact of economical accountability on the management of Corrections Victoria is evaluated.

Learning Outcomes


See elements in part B of the course guide


Details of Learning Activities

All classroom-based classes will be comprised of a lecture period, followed by case studies in which students will be assessed on the application of theory or concept into practice.

There will be video-tape/DVD components to the course to illustrate major points by documentaries or real-life reflections.

An excursion to a prison may be possible during the semester, dependent on Corrections Victoria requirements on the day.


Teaching Schedule

Week One:  The Origins of the Prison. 

Week Two: The Origins of the Prison-from Bentham and Howard to the Modern Prison.

Week Three: The major Theories and Philosophies of the Purpose of Punishment. 

Week Four: Minimum Standards and "Duty of Care. 

Week Five: Accountability pathways-public and private providers and the role of the Commissioner’s Office.  

Week Six:  Reparation and Restorative Justice: The role and function of Community Corrections.  

Week Seven:  Keeping order inside: The Prison disciplinary system  

Week Eight: Sentence Calculations and the Sentence Management Unit

Week Nine:  Unit Management and Individual Management Planning.  

Week Ten: The Adult Parole Board 

Week Eleven: Mid Term Break

Week Twelve: Bail and  Fines 

Week Thirteen: The Management of Sex offenders. Students are warned that this can be a very confronting session.  If students have an issue they are encouraged to speak to the lecturer before class begins. 

Week Fourteen: the Impact of Institutionalization  

Week Fifteen: Special Purpose Courts 

Week Sixteen: Assessing and comparing Corrections and other Australian jurisdictions.  Major Essay due deadline

Week Seventeen: Correctional Trends overseas.  

Week Eighteen: Bringing it all together 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Students will receive handouts and other materials in class . There are no prescribed texts. However, students will have a Library computer lab session to become familiar with accessing print and electronic sources of information relevant to this course


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course will consists of:

  • Participation in weekly case studies 15% of total assessment
  • A mid-term and end of term exam, each worth 25% for a total of 50% of total assessment
  • A 2,500 word (minimum) essay from a topic list provided in class to APA reference standards 35% of total assessment


Assessment Tasks

Students will be required to actively participate in classroom activities with case studies (worth 15% of total assessment)

Students will submit two 2,000 word  ( minimum) essays; one for the first half of the term and the other on the last half of the term’s content. (Worth 35 % each of the total assessment-a total of 70% of the total assessment)

Student will also sit a mid-term and end of term exam. (worth 7.5% each for a total of 15%of assessment)

Students will be provided a detailed handout of each of the above assessments that includes the assessment outline, the assessment criteria and the due date by the second week of the semester.


Assessment Matrix

The assessment has been designed to cover all Learning Outcomes and will be graded in accordance with RMIT’s Mark Table 7 which is as follows:
HD 80-100, DI 70-79, CR 60-69, PA 50-59, NN 0-49

All written work must adhere to the following criteria:
1. Written reports, research projects or essays are to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and familiarity with the prescribed or negotiated topics
2. It is expected that all submitted work will be well written, with clear and consistent grammar, expression and punctuation. It must be well structured and cogently address the issues raised in the chosen topic in a logical, ordered and organised manner
3. The concepts must be well defined and demonstrate a critical analysis of the chosen topic
4. Written submissions must demonstrate appropriate preparation, reading and research
5. In-text references must follow the APA style of referencing. In addition, you must provide a bibliography with correct and comprehensive details in relation to texts, articles, research reports and other sources that you have used
6. Double or 1.5 spacing and a font size of 10-12 must be used

Other Information

Assessment Deadlines
Any due date for any assignment is to be considered a deadline. Students can submit work at any time prior to the submission date, but it must be into the Administration office by close of business of the day the submission is due.
Extensions will not be granted by teachers or Administrative staff.
In accordance with RMIT policy, students may apply for an extension where there have been unexpected or extenuating circumstances, e.g.
a) Hospital admission, serious injury, severe asthma, severe anxiety or depression. This does not include minor illness such as a cold, period pain or hay fever.
b) Loss or bereavement – e.g. death of a close family member, family/relationship breakdown.
c) Hardship/trauma – e.g. victim of crime, sudden loss of income or employment, severe disruption to domestic arrangements.

Students requiring extensions for 7 calendar days or less (from the original due date) must complete and lodge an Application for Extension of Submittable Work (7 Calendar Days or less) form and lodge it with the Program Coordinator/ Program Manager. The application must be lodged no later than one working day before the official due date. The student will be notified within no more than 2 working days of the date of lodgment as to whether the extension has been granted.

Students seeking an extension of more than 7 calendar days (from the original due date) must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form under the provisions of the Special Consideration Policy, preferably prior to, but no later than 2 working days after the official due date.

Assignments submitted late without approval of an extension will not be accepted or graded.

Students must keep a copy of their paper until the graded essay has been returned or marks have been posted.
Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person, without appropriate referencing as though it is one’s own. Plagiarism is not acceptable. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data, and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited.

You must acknowledge the use of another person’s work or ideas. If texts or ideas are reproduced they are to be clearly acknowledged in one of the conventional ways, such as by use of quotation marks, indentation for longer passages and clear citation of the source. Failure to separate one’s own contribution from that of another constitutes plagiarism – a form of cheating and may result in outright failure. Random checks will be made on students’ work.

Other Information: All email communications will be sent to your RMIT email address.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview