Criminal Law and Procedure
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours face to face + blended
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
2023 teaching periods
Swinburne Online Teaching Period 2 |
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Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Corequisites
Concurrent Prerequisites :
A unit can be either completed prior to commencing study or taken at the same time.
Aims and objectives
This is a (Priestley 11) unit (VLAB required area of study) - completion is required for eligibility for admission to practice as a legal practitioner in Australia
This unit introduces students to criminal law and procedure. It commences with a discussion of the key principles of criminal law and then examines a variety of substantive offences including homicide and defences, non-fatal offences against the person, property offences, inchoate offences and participatory liability. This is followed by a broad discussion of defences. The second half of the unit explores the procedure relating to the criminal justice system including commencement of criminal proceedings, search, seizure, forensic procedures, police questioning, bail, the machinery of the prosecution, trial and sentencing.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
2. Evaluate, from a jurisprudential and normative perspective, the considerations which underpin criminal liability
3. Examine the operation and effectiveness of the criminal law system
4. Examine the criminal justice system, including defences to crime, and the extent to which it shapes individual behaviour and societal norms
Courses with unit
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
On Campus Class | 3 | 12 | 36 |
Online asynchronous lecture | 1 | 12 | 12 |
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 8.5 | 12 | 102 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Swinburne Online
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
Online Contact Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 11.5 | 12 | 138 |
Live Online Class (Synchronous Session) | 1 | 12 | 12 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
Types | Individual/Group Role | Weighting | Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) |
Assignment | Individual | 10-20% | 1,2,3,4 |
Examination | Individual | 50-70% | 1,2,3,4 |
Research Assignment | Individual | 20-40% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
• Definition of crime and the aims of the criminal law
• Elements of crime
• Sources of criminal liability
• Homicide and defences
• Non-fatal offences against the person
• Property offences
• Inchoate offences
• Participatory liability
• Defences
• Commencement of criminal proceedings
• Search, seizure, forensic procedures, police questioning
• Bail
• The machinery of prosecution
• Trial
• Sentencing
• Elements of crime
• Sources of criminal liability
• Homicide and defences
• Non-fatal offences against the person
• Property offences
• Inchoate offences
• Participatory liability
• Defences
• Commencement of criminal proceedings
• Search, seizure, forensic procedures, police questioning
• Bail
• The machinery of prosecution
• Trial
• Sentencing
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
Students are advised to check the unit outline in the relevant teaching period for appropriate textbooks and further reading.