Overview

This subject provides students with an overview of policing in a criminological context. Students will gain an understanding of the breadth of the field of policing, including historical, international and methodologies, as well as a critical engagement with policing practices. In addition an appreciation of the importance of theoretical models when applying a critical analysis to policing.

Requisites

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Explain how current Australian and international police systems developed from past events and speculate about the future of policing
  • Describe and analyse practices, processes and procedures of police forces in relation training and strategies of law enforcement
  • Evaluate different approaches, both applied and theoretical, to policing crime
  • Analyse policing systems for effectiveness and responsiveness across a diverse Australian community
  • Apply social scientific research methods to evaluate police procedures and policies, and demonstrate the extent to which they use evidence-based practices

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various
2.00 12 weeks 24
Unspecified Activities
Various
7.50 12 weeks 90
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Class
3.00 12 weeks 36
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
EssayIndividual 40% 1,2,3,4,5 
PosterIndividual/Group 30% 1,2,3,4 
QuizzesIndividual 30% 2,3,4 
EssayIndividual 40% 1,2,3,4,5 
PosterIndividual/Group 30% 1,2,3,4 
QuizzesIndividual 30% 2,3,4 

Content

  • The modern history of policing
  • The training & culture of police
  • Policing strategies
  • Policing strategies & use of force
  • Police corruption
  • Police response to dissent
  • Police, race & culture
  • The paramilitarisation of the police

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.