Outline

Overview

This unit examines various perspectives on the recognition of victims of crime as participants in the criminal justice system. This unit examines the victim of crime as a dynamic agent of justice by considering the role of the victim in the development of criminal law, the removal and exclusion of the victim in criminal justice, the rise of the victim rights movement, the development of victim rights and human rights and the contemporary relocation of the victim in common law and statute and as a participant of the criminal trial. It encourages a critical appreciation of the criminal justice system by examining competing theories of victimisation and the attempt to place these theories into a particular policy context. Through a discrete examination of the needs of particular victim groups, law reform inquiries and commissions, and reforms to the criminal trial, this unit will challenge the major assumptions of the removal of the victim from the criminal justice system and will critically evaluate the often incomplete and fragmented way in which victims are granted a level of recognition in the modern justice system on a domestic and international basis.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	LAWS6356
Academic unit	Law
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Tyrone Kirchengast, tyrone.kirchengast@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Class Presentation (20%) Presentation of allocated topic	20%	Ongoing Closing date: 23 Sep 2023	Approximately 20 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research Essay (80%) Independent research including inter-disciplinary research	80%	Week 13 Due date: 23 Oct 2023 at 15:00 Closing date: 06 Nov 2023	7000 words / 8 weeks
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Class Presentation (20%) - structured

Each student will present a specific topic as identified in the unit readings. A sign-on sheet will be available on Canvas where you can allocate yourself to a topic. Students should summarise key issues raised across the set readings for each topic (at least prescribed readings, but also additional readings if you choose), give examples of latest issues, developments, problems, and controversies, present possible solutions, and facilitate class discussion by asking questions of other students. You will have 15 minutes, with 5 minutes for questions. You only need to lead discussion on one topic. Please note that PowerPoint, slides, video, handout, etc. are not required. You should not read from a prepared script, instead talking the class through the issues you identify, while allowing for questions. Assessment will be based on your demonstrated knowledge of the prescribed readings of the selected topic including your ability to raise interconnected issues in law and policy.

Research Essay (80%)

Students will select an essay question for assessment in this unit. Essay questions will be provided via Canvas prior to the commencement of the first class. The research essay requires that students undertake independent research, including inter-disciplinary research, on a topic or question relating to victimology and victim rights. The essay assesses the skills of independent research; critical reading and analysis; the development, expression and exploration of an argument identifying contested issues in law and policy; and written communication skills. Where relevant to the question selected, students are encouraged to explore issues raised across the unit to identify an area of further exploration. Please note that no empirical research that requires University ethics approval will be allowed, ie. research that involves primary data collection such as surveys, interviews, or direct contact with individual victims. A minimum of 10 scholarly references should support your essay. While interconnected issues may be explored, the essay must principally focus on victims of crime. Students must retain pre-submitted drafts of their assessments on file. The research essay has a limit of 7,000 words maximum (including references) and is due at 3pm on 23 October 2023 (Sydney, Australia time).

Word limit penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will include all footnotes and any bibliography (if required).

Use of editors or proof-readers: The use of assistance in preparing and editing assessment tasks in this unit of study is strictly prohibited. Assistance includes human and automated writing tools (not including spell checking). The use of Studiosity does not breach this rule but must be acknowledged.

Special consideration: Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternative tasks, as appropriate.

Assessment requirements to pass a unit of study: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (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	• Completely answers the question. • Contains striking originality of approach or analysis. • Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required). • Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed. • Is otherwise exceptional in some way.
Distinction	75 - 84	• Completely answers the question. • Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues. • Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument. • Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument. • Generally well expressed and free from errors. • Has a clear structure and is well articulated.
Credit	65 - 74	• Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question. • Contains no significant errors • Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues. • Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues. • Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.
Pass	50 - 64	• Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument. • Contains some significant errors. • Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues. • Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the question. • Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase. • Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis. • Adequate expression. • Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies in the degree or subject area.
Fail	0 - 49	• Does not answer the question. • Contains significant or numerous errors. • Few or no identifiable arguments. • Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant. • Lack of research or analysis. • Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure. • Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

For more information, please refer to sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission of a piece of assessment, without an approved extension, will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment per 24 hours or part thereof, after the due time on the due date. For example, a submission after 3pm but before the same time the following day will attract a 10% penalty.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Ongoing	Introduction to Victimology and Victims’ Rights	Seminar (3 hr)
	History and Scope of Victimology and Victims’ Rights	Seminar (2 hr)
	Rise of the Victim Rights Movement, the Contemporary Policy Setting and the Significance of Narrative Victimology	Seminar (2 hr)
	Compensation and Assistance	Seminar (2 hr)
	Victims and Law Reform: Victims and the Criminal Trial, Family Violence, Institutional Reponses to Sexual Violence, Consent in Sex Offences	Seminar (2 hr)
	Effect of Crime on Victims (GBLTI Rights, Victims and the New Technologies, Abuse of State Power)	Seminar (2 hr)
	Relocating the Victim in the Criminal Trial	Seminar (2 hr)
	Therapeutic, Restorative and Problem-Solving Justice	Seminar (2 hr)
	Legal and Non-Legal Representation for Victims of Crime	Seminar (2 hr)
	The Victim in International Law and Justice	Seminar (3 hr)
	Future Reforms and Directions	Seminar (2 hr)
	Review and Discussion	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: All students are required to attend 70% of classes (or as otherwise specified by the Unit Coordinator) to satisfy the pass requirements for each unit of study. Attendance requirements may be satisfied by in person attendance as specified by the Unit Coordinator. Failure to meet this requirement may result in a student being precluded from sitting the final assessment. 

Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, although you should confirm this with your lecturer, and a link to the library website where this is set out comprehensively is available at https://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/c.php?g=508212&p=3476376 

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library Reading List available on Canvas.

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. develop an appreciation of the theoretical context of victimology as a distinct discipline
LO2. develop knowledge of the detailed legal and policy framework regulating victim’s involvement in legal and cognate processes on a domestic and international basis
LO3. understand the sources of law and policy governing victim rights
LO4. to trace the legal, policy and theoretical shifts regarding victim rights and interests on a domestic and international basis
LO5. develop an appreciation of the role of the victim in the criminal trial
LO6. to appreciate victim rights movements and their role in policy and legal development and reform

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

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

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

LAWS6356: Critical Victimology

Semester 2b, 2023 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

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

Media

Student links

About us

Connect