Course Title: Criminal law

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2012

Course Code: LAW5194

Course Title: Criminal law

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6106 - Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice

Course Contact : Doug Cole

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5424

Course Contact Email:doug.cole@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 51

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

Pre-requisites:  VU20111 Legal Process

Course Description

The purpose of this module is to provide detailed examination and analysis skills of criminal law as might be relevant to a person working in a legal office, for a legal aid provider or government department or in a criminal justice context and incorporates a study of criminal procedure, substantive aspects of criminal offences as defined in legislation and at common law and evaluation of law reform issues.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VU20118 Criminal law


Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

Learning Outcome 1 - Analyse, assess and define the concept of crime and analyse the purposes of criminal law in society.
Assessment criteria
1.1 Define the concept of crime.
1.2 Compare and contrast the sources of criminal law, using relevant case material.
1.3 Analyse and define the concepts of ‘mens rea’ and ‘actus reus’.
1.4 Assess and outline the particular purposes of criminal law, with specific reference to retribution, deterrence, reformation and rehabilitation and certainty.

Learning Outcome 2 - Outline the pre-trial and trial procedures in a criminal matter and discuss the possible penalties for a criminal offence.
Assessment criteria
2.1 Analyse and illustrate diagrammatically the preliminary and trial procedures in Victoria with particular reference to:
• summary offences, indictable offences and indictable offences triable summarily
• the Victorian court hierarchy in the criminal justice system
• the mention system
• the committal process
• arraignment
• the procedure in relation to a jury trial
• the procedure in the Magistrates’ Court following a not guilty plea
2.2 Define the concept of ‘bail’, the process of a bail application, and the conditions under which bail may be granted according to the Bail Act 1977 (Vic).
2.3 Analyse, and illustrate diagrammatically, the sentencing procedures followed in the Victorian criminal justice system, using relevant cases examples and with reference to:
• the sentencing hearing
• dismissals
• discharges
• adjournments
• intellectually disabled offenders
• victim impact statements
2.4 Evaluate the various penalties available for particular criminal offences.
2.5 Examine reforms to evidence and criminal procedure in Victoria with reference to:
• Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic)
• Evidence Act 2008 (Vic)
2.6 Analyse Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) with reference to criminal law issues.

Learning Outcome 3 - Analyse the key elements of the criminal offences of murder and manslaughter, and assess the available defences to such prosecutions.
Assessment criteria
3.1 Define and analyse the concept of ‘homicide’, making reference to:
• who may be the victim of homicide
• infanticide
• child destruction
• murder, manslaughter and culpable driving
• concealment of birth
• the meaning of ‘death’
3.2 Distinguish homicides which are defined in legislation from those defined at common law.
3.3 Analyse and define the specific elements of the criminal offence of murder.
3.4 Apply the analysis in 3.3 to a given case study and determine whether the offence of murder is substantiated.
3.5 Assess the elements that constitute the offence of manslaughter.
3.6 Apply the analysis in 3.5 to a given case study and determine whether the offence of manslaughter is substantiated.
3.7 Assess current issues in the context of homicide, including the controversy in relation to euthanasia.
3.8 Access changes to abortion laws in Victoria with reference to Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 (Vic)

Learning Outcome 4 - Determine and assess the elements of offences against the person other than homicide.
Assessment criteria
4.1 Demonstrate the key elements of criminal assault and other offences involving violence.
4.2 Apply the elements in 4.1 to a given case study and determine whether an ‘assault’ has been substantiated.
4.3 Assess current issues in offences against the person including domestic violence, assistance for victims of crime and stalking
4.4 Determine the key elements that comprise sexual offences.
4.5 Apply the elements in 4.4 to a given case study and determine whether a ‘sexual offence’ has been substantiated.
4.6 Examine current issues in the context of sexual offences including inter alia sentencing practice for rape offences, jury direction in rape cases and refer to the sexual history of the complainant.

Learning Outcome 5 - Evaluate and assess the available defences to particular offences.
Assessment criteria
5.1 Define the concept of ‘defensive homicide’ on a charge of murder and determine the circumstances under which defensive homicide is available as a defence.
5.2 Define the concept of ‘self-defence’ and determine the circumstances under which self defence may be applied.
5.3 Assess the defences of duress, marital coercion, sudden or extraordinary emergency, superior orders and necessity with reference to availability, elements, particular issues in relation to the offence of murder, relevant cases and Crimes (Homicide) Act 2005.
5.4 Analyse the circumstances in which impaired or altered mental states may negate criminal responsibility.
5.5 Determine the application of selected defences to case studies.

Learning Outcome 6 - Analyse the law relating to the types of participation in crime and attempts.
Assessment criteria
6.1 Analyse the culpability of the participants in a given crime, using relevant culpability case examples.
6.2 Analyse and assess the concept of ‘attempt’ in criminal law, with reference to actus reus, voluntary desistance, mens rea, legal and factual impossibility and the statutory provisions.

Learning Outcome 7 - Analyse and evaluate the various elements to the criminal offence of theft, and discuss the available statutory defences.
Assessment criteria
7.1 Examine the historical background to the law of theft including larceny at common law and the reasons behind the introduction of the theft provisions of the Crimes Act.
7.2 Analyse and define ‘property’ as stipulated by the Crimes Act.
7.3 Assess and evaluate the concept of ‘belonging to another’ as stipulated by the Crimes Act
7.4 Analyse and evaluate the concept of ‘appropriates’ as defined by the Crimes Act, using relevant case examples.
7.5 Analyse and assess the concept of ‘intention of permanently depriving’ as defined by the Crimes Act, using specific case examples and including the presumption in relation to motor vehicles and aircraft.
7.6 Analyse the concept of appropriation of property ‘dishonestly’ as defined by the Crimes Act, using specific case examples with reference to claim of right, consent, unknown owner and willingness to pay.
7.7 Analyse the applications of theft provisions to case study materials

Learning Outcome 8 - Determine the elements of the crimes of obtaining property by deception, obtaining a financial advantage by deception robbery, burglary and blackmail as defined by the Crimes Act
Assessment criteria
8.1 Define the following criminal offences, S 81 obtaining property by deception and S 82 obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
8.2 Analyse the criminal offences of robbery, burglary and blackmail, with reference to S 75, 75 A robbery and armed robbery, S 76, 77 burglary and aggravated burglary and S 87 blackmail.
8.3 Analyse applications of sections of the Crimes Act given in 8.1 and 8.2 to case study material.

Learning Outcome 9 - Analyse and assess the key elements required for strict and absolute liability offences.
9.1 Distinguish between "mens rea offences, strict liability offences and offences of absolute liability and examine criteria for making the distinction
9.2 Examine the rationale for offences of strict or absolute liability and provide relevant examples of statutory provisions creating strict or absolute liability offences.
9.3 Examine the operation of the defence of mistake in relation to strict liability offences including the distinction between a mistake of fact and a mistake of law the onus of proof in relation to mistake.
9.4 Analyse strict and absolute liability offences with reference to case study material..


Details of Learning Activities

Students will study Criminal Law skills and theory in class sessions and through prescribed exercises and assessment work. These concepts will also be explored through the investigation of appropriate real world and simulated environments.


Teaching Schedule

Week beginning (subject to variation)

Topics Assessment
Week 1 – 6  Feb  Introduction - orientation week  
Week 2 – 13 Feb The concept of crime, classification of crimes, aims of punishment, “actus reus” and “mens rea”, onus and standard of proof  
Week 3 – 20 Feb  Criminal procedure, sentencing, appeals, bail  
Week 4 – 27 Feb  The elements of murder  
Week 5 – 5 Mar  Defences to murder  
Week 6 – 12 Mar  Manslaughter and other unlawful killing  
Week 7 – 19 Mar  Assault and related offences Short answer, multiple choice test (30%)
 Week 8 – 26 Mar  Sexual offences  
 Week 9.1 –   2 Apr  Theft  
    Mid-semester break (student vacation) 5 to 11 April  
 Week 9.2- 9 Apr Theft  
Week 10 - 16 Apr Other property offences  
 Week 11 - 23 Apr  Attempts, participants in crime Pre-seen case study test (30%)
Week 12 – 30 Apr  General defences  
 Week 13 – 7 May  General defences (continued)  
 Week 14 – 14 May  Mental impairment and related mental states  
 Week 15 – 21 May  Mistake, offences of strict or absolute liability  
 Week 16 – 28 May    Final Test Open Book (40%)


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

There is no prescribed text for this course. Students will be provided with information regarding reqired reading.


References

Clough,J. and Mulhern,N. Criminal Law (Butterworth's Tutorial Series), Butterworths.

Fisse, B. Howard’s Criminal Law LBC

Fox, R. Victorian Criminal Procedure. Monash Law Book Co-operative Co., Melbourne

Gillies, P. Criminal Law. LBC

Hazlehurst, K.M. Crime and Justice: An Australian Textbook in Criminology. LBC

Heilpern, D. and Yeo, S. Cases on Criminal Law. LBC.

Jacobs, J. Butterworths’ Student Companions - Criminal Law Butterworths.

Nash, Annotated Criminal Legislation Victoria, Butterworths.

Rush PD and Yeo SMH Criminal Law Sourcebook

Waller L, Williams C. R. (eds), Waller and Williams. Criminal Law Text and Cases, Butterworths.

Cole, D Criminal Law Learner’s Resource, Australian Training Products, Melbourne 


Other Resources

Online Resources

Australasian Legal Information Institute (www.austlii.edu.au)

CCH Online (www.cch.com.au)

LexisNexis Butterworths Online (www.butterworthsonline.com)

Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents (www.legislation.vic.gov.au)

Victorian Legislation
Bail Act 1977

Crimes Act 1958

Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997

Criminal Procedure Act 2009

County Court Act 1958

Magistrates’ Court Act 1971

Sentencing Act 1991

Summary Offences Act 1958


Overview of Assessment

Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of the requirements in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks, for example:

• Test/written examination
• case study analysis
• short answers questions
• written assignment
• oral presentations
• project (s)

Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment that learning outcomes have been achieved will be by:
Short answer/multiple choice test (closed book) 30%
Pre-seen case study test 30%
Final test (open book) 40%

To pass this course students must satisfactorily complete all assessment and have a total mark of not less than 50%.


Assessment Matrix

Learning outcome Written Test 1 Written Test 2 Written Test 3
Analyse, assess and define the concept of crime and analyse the purposes of criminal law in society X    
Outline the pre-trial and trial procedures in a criminal matter and discuss the possible penalties for a criminal offence X    
Analyse the key elements of the homicide offences and assess the available defences to such prosecutions X X X
Determine and assess the elements of offences against the person other than homicide     X
Evaluate and assess the available defences to particular offences     X
Analyse the law relating to the types of participation in crime and attempts     X
Analyse and evaluate the various elements to the criminal offence of theft, and discuss the available statutory defences     X
Determine the elements of the crimes of obtaining property by deception, obtaining a financial advantage by deception robbery, burglary and blackmail as defined by the Crimes Act     X
Analyse and assess the key elements required for strict and absolute liability offences     X

Course Overview: Access Course Overview