Juvenile Justice - JURD7505

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
36 UOC completed in Juris Doctor Program (9150)
 
 
Excluded: LAWS8105
 
 
CSS Contribution Charge:Band 3 (more info)
 
 
Tuition Fee:See Tuition Fee Schedule
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description


Allegations that juvenile crime is out of control are frequently made - in the media, in private conversations and in statements made by politicians. The primary aim of this course is to explore the accuracy of these claims. What is the true nature and extent of juvenile offending? How do perceptions of juvenile crime influence the government of young offenders? Is juvenile crime prevention appropriate or effective? Can it be?


Recommended Prior Knowledge


None

Course Objectives


  • Provide a broad overview of the functioning of the juvenile justice system and its relationship to juvenile offending
  • Provide an understanding of the historical development of juvenile justice as a subset of the criminal justice system
  • Provide an understanding of specific aspects of juvenile justice including policing, community-based corrections and detention centres
  • Examine the broader political determinants surrounding the operation of the juvenile justice system and moral panics in relation to juvenile offending
  • Develop a critical understanding of the link between theory and juvenile justice policy, and to develop an appreciation of the multi-disciplinary nature of criminological explanation

Main Topics


  • Myths, perceptions and realities about the extent and nature of juvenile crime
  • Theories of juvenile offending
  • Juvenile crime prevention
  • NSW juvenile justice laws, policies and practices
  • Issues of gender, race and class
  • Juvenile justice and children's rights
  • The players: children and young people, police, lawyers, magistrates and the Department of Juvenile Justice
  • The future of juvenile justice

Assessment


Written assignment - Either one essay of 5,000 words, or two essays of 2,5000 words each
Note:  Additional forms of assessment (for example videos, plays, poems etc) are negotiable.
 

Course Texts


Prescribed
Cunneen, C. and White, R. (2011) Juvenile Justice: Youth and Crime in Australia, Fourth Edition, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Resources


Refer to Course Outline provided by lecturer at the beginning of session.