Course Title: Provide Support/Supervision to Young Offenders within a Youth Justice Framework

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2011

Course Code: JUST5153

Course Title: Provide Support/Supervision to Young Offenders within a Youth Justice 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 99254597

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


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Dr Marg Liddell 
Phone: +61 3 99252506 
Email: marg.liddell@rmit.edu.au
Location: Building 37.4.33

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

  • Work in a Legal Environment
  • Apply Investigative Processes in a Criminal Justice Context
  • Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
  • Work with Culturally Diverse Clients in a Justice Environment

Course Description

This course covers the knowledge and skills required to apply Juvenile (Youth) law, procedures and structures within a Youth Justice context.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBQU386 Provide Support/Supervision to Young Offenders within a Youth Justice Framework

Element:

1. Investigate the main causes of offending behaviour within a Youth context.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 The causes of youth crime are analyzed.
1.2 The responses to offending behavior are evaluated.
1.3 Strategies to deal with offending behavior are formulated.

.

Element:

2. Analyse the extent, patterns and trends in Juvenile offending.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Statistics of offending behaviour, in a historical and current context are examined.
2.2 Patterns and trends of offending behaviour within a State and Commonwealth context are examined.
2.3 An analysis on State and Commonwealth statistics, and trends and patterns, is conducted to identify its implications on youth policy formation.

Element:

3. Develop and implement Crime Prevention Strategies within a context of youth offending

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Factors that impact on offending behaviors are evaluated.
3.2 Strategies to minimize and overcome these factors are developed.
3.3 Crime prevention strategies within a context of youth offending are developed and applied.

Element:

4. Review the Legislative framework and Court processes in the Youth Justice context.

Performance Criteria:

4.1 The main aims and legal provisions of key legislation in the youth justice system are examined.
4.2 The structure, composition and role of youth justice services in Victoria are investigated.
4.3 Service provision in Victoria is reviewed in relation to other states.
4.4 Political legal and economic issues affecting service delivery are analyzed.
4.5 The role and function of the Children’s Court is evaluated.
4.6 The role and function of the Youth Parole Board is examined.

Element:

5. Analyse and evaluate current sentencing policies in a Youth Justice context.

Performance Criteria:

5.1 The role of sentencing within the criminal process is examined.
5.2 The factors contributing to sentencing policies and practices are evaluated.
5.3 Current sentencing philosophy and practice are investigated.
5.4 Treatment programs for young offenders are investigated.
5.5 Alternative sentencing models, including family and community models are examined.

Element:

6. Analyse practice standards and procedures associated with Youth Justice

Performance Criteria:

6.1 Key practice standards within the youth justice system are reviewed.
6.2 The application of these key practice standards within the youth justice system is evaluated.

Element:

7. Develop and design different workers’ roles in response to the needs of young offenders.

Performance Criteria:

7.1 The different work contexts relevant to working with young people are investigated.
7.2  Workers’ roles in responding to the needs of young people are identified.
7.3 Behaviours appropriate to working with young people who offend are examined.
7.4 State, legal and social obligations for the worker within the criminal justice system are examined.
7.5 The Client Assessment Plan (CAP) is applied.
7.6 The role of a youth justice worker within case management is identified.
7.7 The role of the worker in the court process is investigated.

Element:

8. Develop supervision and support strategies relevant to young people who offend.

Performance Criteria:

8.1 Assessment frameworks for the identification of support requirements are specified.
8.2 The young person’s role in the process is assessed.
8.3 Family factors associated with anti-social juvenile behavior are investigated.
8.4 Strategies for assisting and supervising young persons to develop family and community networks are formulated.
8.5 New directions in early intervention and treatment of abusive behaviors are reviewed.

Element:

9. Develop relevant programs and activities for young offenders.

Performance Criteria:

9.1 Program needs of young people who offend are formulated.
9.2 Empowerment and communication skills to assist young people to identify relevant programs and activities are investigated and implemented.
9.3 Specialist support and treatment programs for offenders are investigated.
9.4 Young people are assisted to access relevant programs and activities.
9.5 Strategies to enable young people to cope successfully with restraints associated with secure care are developed, implemented and monitored.


Learning Outcomes


See elements


Details of Learning Activities

• Identify and reflect on "justice" in the contemporary Youth Justice system

• Identify and assess children and young people as "victims" and/or "threats"

• Identify the key historical factors that have shaped the current Youth Justice system

•Develop an understanding of the ’philosophical underpinnings’ of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, especially minimising intervention into the lives of young offenders; the hierarchy of sentencing; and the separation of ‘needs and deeds’

• Identify key linkages between Youth Justice and child protection systems 

• Develop and practice basic skills relevant to Youth 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,
  (ii) Client Assessment Plan/VONIY (or alternative)

• To have an understanding of strategies to assist young people to develop pathways out of the Youth Justice system


Teaching Schedule

Week One 
-Children and young people’s rights
-Young people as ‘victims’ and ‘threats’

Week Two
-The Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 
-Jurisdiction of the Criminal Division at the Children’s Court
-Criminal Responsibility of Children

Week Three
-The legal foundations of Youth Justice: welfare vs. justice Models
-Theories of Punishment and sentencing principles in the justice model

Week Four
Sentencing in the Children’s Court 

Week Five
-No class; students will be required to attend a Children’s Court
Asessment One - Court Visit, Presentation & Group Report

Week Six
-The Youth Justice System: Commuity Based Units & Youth Justice Centres
Assessment Two - Pre Sentence Report.

SEMESTER BREAK 29 August -4th September inclusive

Week Seven
Profile of Young People in the Youth Justice System with the values of:
• Cultural diversity
• Violence
• Dual diagnosis
• Self harm
• Patterns of offending

PANEL PRESENTATIONS - HURDLE TASK!

Week Eight
The Child Protection System

PANEL PRESENTATIONS -HURDLE TASK!

Week Nine
Risk Assessment of young people who self harm; indicators and issues
Assessment Three- Complete a CAP/ VONIY assessment

PANEL PRESENTATIONS -HURDLE TASK!

Week Ten
-Working with trauma in young women and men
-Youth Parole Board and Treatment Models

Week Eleven
Working with young people in the Youth Justice system

Week Twelve
-A holistic approach to working with Youth Justice Clients
-Community Networking 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Cuneen, C. & White, R. (2011) Juvenile Justice: Youth and crime in Australia (4th Edn) South Melbourne: Oxford University Press


References

Please consult the Blackboard for digitised readings.


Other Resources

The University library provides extensive services, facilities and study space as well as comprehensive collections of books, periodicals and other course related materials, such as DVD’s, magazines, slides, films etc. Computer laboratories with access to a wide range of desktop publishing software are also available. The library also has an expanding virtual collection of electronic resources and networks, including product data, e-books, electronic journals and newspapers, web based tutorials, online reference and document delivery services.


Overview of Assessment

Assessable tasks for this course will include:

* Active participation in weekly Case Studies and Tutorials
* Indididual contribution to a group presentation on observed Youth Justice cases in court
* Completion of a Pre Sentence Report to industry standard
* Completion of a Client Assessment Plan (CAP) and Client Service Plan (CSP) to Industry standards


Assessment Tasks

1. Children’s Court group report and presentation (30%)

2. Pre Sentence Report (30%)

3. Client Assessment Plan + VONIY (40%)


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 in font style Aerial or Times New Roman.

Other Information

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 three working days 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. 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, which may result in course failure to University expulsion.

All email communications will be sent to your RMIT email address

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