Outline

Overview

This unit examines key features and processes of criminal justice institutions, crime justice policy and practice, and addresses contemporary debates about crime in relation to substantive areas, such as gender, race, ethnicity, and youth offending.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Sociology and Criminology
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Sara Leon Spesny, sara.leonspesny@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Final exam Medium-answer and multiple-choice questions	30%	Formal exam period	1.5 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Participation Active participation in tutorials	10%	Ongoing	Ongoing from Week 2 to Week 13	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback Task Unit outline quiz: Multiple-choice questions	0%	Week 03 Due date: 09 Mar 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 25 May 2026	n/a	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Essay Long answer/essay	30%	Week 06 Due date: 30 Mar 2026 at 23:59	1500wd	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Crime policy evaluation Long answer/essay	30%	Week 11 Due date: 11 May 2026 at 23:59	1500wd	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

All assessment tasks must be submitted in this unit, including adequate tutorial participation. Note that ‘tutorial participation’ assesses ACTIVE participation during tutorial discussions and activities; and that the participation must be INFORMED by lecture and course readings content.

If an assessment task is not submitted a final grade of Absent Fail (AF) will be awarded for the unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction and overview; Defining crime: crime as a social construct	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Measuring crime: crime data, crime trends, and crime and the media	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Measuring crime: crime data, crime trends, and crime and the media	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Victims and offenders; and the nature and extent of crime	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Victims and offenders; and the nature and extent of crime	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Explaining and responding to crime: the role of theory	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Explaining and responding to crime: the role of theory	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Criminal responsibility	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Criminal responsibility	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Crime investigation: police as 'gatekeepers'	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Crime investigation: police as 'gatekeepers'	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Expanding crime investigation and policing	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Expanding crime investigation and policing	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	The Australian criminal courts: pre-trial and trial stages	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	The Australian criminal courts: pre-trial and trial stages	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Punishment, sentencing and the system of appeals	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Punishment, sentencing and the system of appeals	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Juvenile justice	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Juvenile justice	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	The criminalisation process and justice for whom? (Issues of race, ethnicity, age and gender)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	The criminalisation process and justice for whom? (Issues of race, ethnicity, age and gender)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Different approaches to delivering justice: Restorative Justice, Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Diverse Penal Systems	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Different approaches to delivering justice: Restorative Justice, Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Diverse Penal Systems	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Overview of the unit key themes and Final Exam Guidance	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Overview of the unit key themes and Final Exam Guidance	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

If a unit of study has a participation mark, your attendance may influence this mark.

For more information on attendance, see http://sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2014/345&RendNum=0.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Essential prescribed textbook:

Findlay, M, Odgers, S & Yeo S 2014, Australian Criminal Justice, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

You can purchase the textbook from several online retailers. The book is available as an eBook or a hard copy. See Canvas for details.

There are two types of readings for this unit, essential readings and suggested readings.

Essential readings must be read each week in preparation for the lecture, tutorial activities, and discussion. Demonstrating an understanding of these readings will help you to participate in tutorials and to improve your participation mark, and assist you with completing assessments. You MUST read essential readings.

Suggested readings are additional materials that will provide you with a more in-depth understanding of the weekly topic. These readings may assist you to prepare an assessment or maybe read for your own development and knowledge in a particular area.

The essential and suggested readings for each weekly lecture/tutorial are outlined in Canvas. All essential readings will be available electronically with the link in our Canvas class via “Reading list” tab.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Define the concepts central to crime and criminal justice.
LO2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding about the operation of the criminal justice institutions and contemporary criminal justice policy and practice via formal assessment tasks and peer group discussion.
LO3. Evaluate the ways criminal justice processes and crime policy impact social issues in substantive areas, such as those relating to gender, race, ethnicity, and youth offending.
LO4. Communicate knowledge and understanding of criminal justice institutions and crime policy in contemporary and historical perspective using oral, written and digital formats via assessment tasks, seminar discussions and tutorial participation.
LO5. Demonstrate an understanding of the content of the unit outline, demonstrating an ability to extract key information such as locating resources, learning objectives, assessment criteria, deadlines and expectations, enabling them to effectively plan and organise their studies empowering them to engage proactively in their university studies

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit receives excellent reviews, but we have made some minor adjustments to include a Final Exam to introduce a secure assessment to the unit.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

CRIM1002: Exploring Criminal Justice

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links