Course Title: Criminal Law in a Justice Environment
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2013
Course Code: JUST5149
Course Title: Criminal Law in a Justice Environment
School: 365T Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6077 - Advanced Diploma of Justice
Course Contact : Georgy Dumas
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254203
Course Contact Email:georgy.dumas@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 75
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
- VBQU367 Work in a Legal Environment
- VBQU368 Apply Investigative Processes in a Justice Environment
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop an in-depth knowledge of aspects of criminal law relevant to a person working in the justice field
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBQM390 Criminal Law in a Justice Environment |
Element: |
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of Federal and State drug laws |
Performance Criteria: |
-Describe the offence of Possession and possible penalties |
Element: |
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of rebuttable and irrebuttable |
Performance Criteria: |
-Identify and analyse the differences at law between rebuttable and irrebuttable presumptions. Rebuttable presumptions: • Presumption of innocence |
Element: |
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the concept of crime and the |
Performance Criteria: |
-Describe the concept of crime including: |
Element: |
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the concept of culpability of |
Performance Criteria: |
-Analyse and evaluate participation in crime, including: |
Element: |
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the elements of criminal assault |
Performance Criteria: |
-Identify and analyse the elements of criminal assault: |
Element: |
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the various elements to the |
Performance Criteria: |
-Define property as stipulated by the Crimes Act: |
Element: |
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the various road safety rules and |
Performance Criteria: |
-Describe the offence of Careless Driving and possible penalties |
Learning Outcomes
This course aims to enable students to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of:
- The concept of crime and the need for such a concept in our society
- Rebuttable and irrebutable presumptions at law and the defences to a crime
- The elements of criminal assault and sexual offences and their defences
- The concept of culpability of participants in a crime and to identify at what stage acts are sufficiently complete to be regarded as an attempt
- The various elements to the criminal offences of: theft; obtaining property by deception; obtaining financial advantage by deception; armed robbery; burglary and aggravated burglary and defences to these crimes
- The various road safety rules and regulations
- Federal and State drug laws
Details of Learning Activities
Students will be involved in weekly case studies and class discussion for each topic. Non-attendance in this subject will preclude students from successfully completing the course.
Students will have fortnightly "progression" exams to ensure they are keeping current with course content. There will also be an end of term exam.
Students will also be required to submit written research on concepts related to criminal law.
Teaching Schedule
WEEK 1: Orientation; Types of law/Crime; The concept of crime; Aims of Criminal Law
WEEK 2: Examine the elements of crime – The physical elements
WEEK 3: Induction Camp
WEEK 4: Examine the elements of crime – the mental elements
WEEK 5: Examine the general defences to crime; Elements towards mitigation and other pleas
WEEK 6: Assault; Indecent assault; Self defence; Family violence
WEEK 7: Theft; Defences
WEEK 8: Theft and associated matters; case study
WEEK 9: Burglary; Aggravated burglary; Attempt; Defences
WEEK 10: Obtaining property by deception; Obtaining financial advantage by deception
WEEK 11: Robbery and Armed Robbery; Blackmail; Attempt
WEEK 12: Elements of Sexual offences: Rape & Defences
WEEK 13: Elements of Sexual offences: Under age & Defences
WEEK 14: Family violence & Rape in Marriage; Victim impact statement
WEEK 15: Crime Scene Camp
WEEK 16: Road Safety Rules
WEEK 17: Drug laws
WEEK 18: Assessment week
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
To be advised
Assessment Tasks
Students will have fortnightly progression exams to assist with knowledge content to ensure they do not fall behind in currency and confidence with the course.
Students will be required to submit written results of research on topics related to concepts or outcomes on either the Summary Offences or Crimes Act.
Students will be assessed on active participation in weekly case studies.
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 University’s Mark Table 7 which is as follows:
HD 80 – 100
D 70 - 79
C 60 - 69
PA 50 - 59
NN 0 - 49
Other Information
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 either Arial or Times Roman. Do not submit double paged assessments.
Extensions
In accordance with RMIT policy, you may apply for an extension where there have been unexpected or extenuating circumstances, e.g.
• 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.
• Loss or bereavement – e.g. death of a close family member, family/relationship breakdown.
• Hardship/trauma – e.g. victim of crime, sudden loss of income or employment, severe disruption to domestic arrangements.
You must keep a copy of their assessment until the graded submission has been returned or marks have been posted.
All email communications will be sent to your RMIT student email address.
Applying for an Extension
Extension of time for assessment tasks may be granted where circumstances beyond your control prevent submission by the published due date. An application for extension of time must be lodged with your tutor or the course coordinator as early as possible, and no later than one working day before the due date for submission.
You can apply for extension using the University’s Extension Application Form – http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf – or by emailing your course coordinator or tutor directly.
An extension of up to seven calendar days may be granted if good reason can be demonstrated. Include supporting evidence (such as medical certificates) with your application.
Extensions beyond seven calendar days cannot be granted by course coordinators, tutors or the School. To apply for an extension of time greater than seven calendar days you must lodge an application for Special Consideration.
Applying for Special Consideration
If you are seeking an extension of more than seven calendar days (from the original due date) you must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form, preferably prior to, but no later than two working days after the official due date. Late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. For information about Special Consideration and how to apply, see: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration
Penalties for Late Submission
If you have not been granted an extension or special consideration, late submission will be penalised as follows:
Assessment tasks submitted after the due date of submission shall receive a penalty of five per cent of the grades available for that assessment per day for each working day late.
No assessment task shall be accepted more than three weeks after the due date.
Assessment Appeals
If you believe your assessment result or final result is wrong please contact the course coordinator and provide the reason why you think your result is incorrect. Valid reasons for seeking a review of results include:
• You believe an error has occurred in the calculation of the grade; or,
• You believe the assessment did not comply with criteria published in the Course Guide; or,
• You believe the assessment did not comply with University Policies on Assessment (i.e. an error in process has occurred).
• Full details of the procedure (including appeals procedure) can be located at this RMIT site: http://www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship through respecting the work of others whilst having the freedom to build new insights, new knowledge and ideas. RMIT University upholds the values of academic integrity as fundamental to the scholarship undertaken by all members of its community. Whenever you refer to another person’s research or ideas (either by directly quoting or paraphrasing them) you must acknowledge your source.
If you are even in doubt about how to properly cite a reference, consult your lecturer or the academic integrity website: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity
The RMIT library provides tools to assist with your referencing http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/info-trek/referencing
Plagiarism and Collusion
Plagiarism and collusion constitute extremely serious academic misconduct, and are forms of cheating. You are reminded that cheating, whether by fabrication, falsification of data, or plagiarism, is an offence subject to University disciplinary procedures. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your 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. Plagiarism is not acceptable.
Examples of plagiarism include:
• Copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
• Closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes without proper citation;
• Piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
• Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
• Copying designs or works of art and submitting them as your original work;
• Copying a whole or any part of another student’s work; and
• Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.
• Enabling Plagiarism: the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work is also an offence.
For further information, please see the RMIT Plagiarism Policy – http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=sg4yfqzod48g1 – and the RMIT Student Discipline Statute and Regulations - http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=11jgnnjgg70y
Plagiarism Software
The originality verification software Turnitin may be used in this course. For details, see: http://www.turnitin.com
Course Overview: Access Course Overview