Development, Developmental Disability and Offending
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 12 hours
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.
2026 teaching periods
| Hawthorn Higher Ed. Semester 2 |
||
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Aims and objectives
This unit provides students with a comprehensive understanding of age-related issues (from childhood, adolescence, adulthood and ageing), as well as an overview of the influence developmental disabilities, such as Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD that are important to the assessment and management of offenders’ behaviour. The unit will enable students to recognise and evaluate the role of these different phenomena that influence offending behaviour according to disability status, and help students develop their skills in responding effectively to the needs of clients accordingly.
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Assess developmental factors that influence offending behaviour throughout the lifespan.
2. Explain the impact of developmental disability on risk for offending behaviour.
3. Compare the impact of developmental disabilities on offending trajectory, compared to typical lifespan development.
4. Evaluate current methods of assessment and management of offenders with developmental disabilities.
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Assess developmental factors that influence offending behaviour throughout the lifespan.
2. Explain the impact of developmental disability on risk for offending behaviour.
3. Compare the impact of developmental disabilities on offending trajectory, compared to typical lifespan development.
4. Evaluate current methods of assessment and management of offenders with developmental disabilities.
Courses with unit
Outcome unit:GD-FBS Graduate Diploma of Forensic Behavioural Science,
MA-FBS Master of Forensic Behavioural Science.
Non-outcome Unit:
GC-FBS Graduate Certificate in Forensic Behavioural Science
GD-FMHN Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
This unit will involve up to 150 hours of work including:
| Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
| Face to Face Contact Optional Workshop |
12 (1.5 days in week 5) |
1 |
12 |
| Online Contact | N/A | ||
| Specified Learning Activities Discussion boards, Readings | 4 | 12 | 48 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities Independent study, Assessment preparation | 7 | 12 | 84 |
| TOTAL | 144 hours/ 12.5cp |
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Case vignette | Individual | 20% | 1, 2 |
| 6 Topic Quizzes | Individual | 40% | 2, 3 |
| Case analysis | Individual | 40% | 1, 2, 4 |
General skills outcomes
During this unit students will receive feedback on the following key generic skills:
• Analysis Skills.
• Communication Skills.
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems.
• Ability to work independently.
• Analysis Skills.
• Communication Skills.
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems.
• Ability to work independently.
Content
- Offending trajectory across the lifespan.
- Intellectual disability.
- Dual disability.
- Acquired Brain Injury.
- Autism spectrum disorder.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
- Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and other disorders.
Study resources
- References.
References
Alexander, R. T., et al. (2010). "Personality disorders in offenders with intellectual disability: a comparison of clinical, forensic and outcome variables and implications for service provision." Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 54(7): 650-658.
Baldry, E., et al. (2011). People with mental and cognitive disabilities: pathways into prison. National Legal Aid Conference. Darwin: 19.
Cockram, J., et al. (1998). "People with an intellectual disability and the criminal justice system: The family perspective." Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 23(1): 41-56.
Gray, N. S., et al. (2007). "Predicting future reconviction in offenders with intellectual disabilities: The predictive efficacy of VRAG, PCL-SV, and the HCR-20." Psychological Assessment 19(4): 474-479.
Hayes, S. C. (2005). "Diagnosing intellectual disability in a forensic sample: Gender and age effects on the relationship between cognitive and adaptive functioning." Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 30(2): 97-103.
Hayes, S. C. (2007). "Women with learning disabilities who offend: What do we know?" British Journal of Learning Disabilities 35(3): 187-191.
Holland, S. and P. Persson (2011). "Intellectual disability in the Victorian prison system: Characteristics of prisoners with an intellectual disability released from prison in 2003-2006." Psychology, Crime & Law 17(1): 25-41.
Mela M. (2016) Medico-Legal Interventions in Management of Offenders with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). In: Nelson M., Trussler M. (eds) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Adults: Ethical and Legal Perspectives. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 63. Springer, Cham
Lindsay, W., et al. (2011). "The sexual and physical abuse histories of offenders with intellectual disability." Journal of Intellectual Disability Research:
Lindsay, W. R., et al. (2007). "Trends and challenges in forensic research on offenders with intellectual disability." Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 32(2): 55-61.
Vanny, K., et al. (2009). "Mental illness and intellectual disability in Magistrates Courts in New South Wales, Australia." Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 53(3): 289-297.
Willner, P. (2011). "Assessment of capacity to participate in court proceedings: A selective critique and some recommendations." Psychology, Crime & Law 17(2): 117-131.
Bjørkly, S. (2009). "Risk and dynamics of violence in Asperger's syndrome: A systematic review of the literature." Aggression and Violent Behavior 14(5): 306-312.
Bogacki, D. F., et al. (2005). "Assessing high-risk behavior in the developmentally disabled: Measurement and forensic implications." Journal of Psychiatry & Law 33(2): 207-226.
Novaco, R. W. and J. L. Taylor (2008). "Anger and assaultiveness of male forensic patients with developmental disabilities: Links to volatile parents." Aggressive Behavior 34(4): 380-393.
Turygin, N., et al. (2014). "Prevalence of co-occurring disorders in a sample of adults with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities who reside in a residential treatment setting." Research in Developmental Disabilities 35(7): 1802-1808.
Einat, T. and A. Einat (2008). "Learning disabilities and delinquency: A study of Israeli prison inmates." International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 52(4): 416-434.
Schlack, R. and F. Petermann (2013). "Prevalence and gender patterns of mental health problems in German youth with experience of violence: the KiGGS study." BMC Public Health 13(1): 1-14.
Baldry, E., et al. (2011). People with mental and cognitive disabilities: pathways into prison. National Legal Aid Conference. Darwin: 19.
Cockram, J., et al. (1998). "People with an intellectual disability and the criminal justice system: The family perspective." Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 23(1): 41-56.
Gray, N. S., et al. (2007). "Predicting future reconviction in offenders with intellectual disabilities: The predictive efficacy of VRAG, PCL-SV, and the HCR-20." Psychological Assessment 19(4): 474-479.
Hayes, S. C. (2005). "Diagnosing intellectual disability in a forensic sample: Gender and age effects on the relationship between cognitive and adaptive functioning." Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 30(2): 97-103.
Hayes, S. C. (2007). "Women with learning disabilities who offend: What do we know?" British Journal of Learning Disabilities 35(3): 187-191.
Holland, S. and P. Persson (2011). "Intellectual disability in the Victorian prison system: Characteristics of prisoners with an intellectual disability released from prison in 2003-2006." Psychology, Crime & Law 17(1): 25-41.
Mela M. (2016) Medico-Legal Interventions in Management of Offenders with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). In: Nelson M., Trussler M. (eds) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Adults: Ethical and Legal Perspectives. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 63. Springer, Cham
Lindsay, W., et al. (2011). "The sexual and physical abuse histories of offenders with intellectual disability." Journal of Intellectual Disability Research:
Lindsay, W. R., et al. (2007). "Trends and challenges in forensic research on offenders with intellectual disability." Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 32(2): 55-61.
Vanny, K., et al. (2009). "Mental illness and intellectual disability in Magistrates Courts in New South Wales, Australia." Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 53(3): 289-297.
Willner, P. (2011). "Assessment of capacity to participate in court proceedings: A selective critique and some recommendations." Psychology, Crime & Law 17(2): 117-131.
Bjørkly, S. (2009). "Risk and dynamics of violence in Asperger's syndrome: A systematic review of the literature." Aggression and Violent Behavior 14(5): 306-312.
Bogacki, D. F., et al. (2005). "Assessing high-risk behavior in the developmentally disabled: Measurement and forensic implications." Journal of Psychiatry & Law 33(2): 207-226.
Novaco, R. W. and J. L. Taylor (2008). "Anger and assaultiveness of male forensic patients with developmental disabilities: Links to volatile parents." Aggressive Behavior 34(4): 380-393.
Turygin, N., et al. (2014). "Prevalence of co-occurring disorders in a sample of adults with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities who reside in a residential treatment setting." Research in Developmental Disabilities 35(7): 1802-1808.
Einat, T. and A. Einat (2008). "Learning disabilities and delinquency: A study of Israeli prison inmates." International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 52(4): 416-434.
Schlack, R. and F. Petermann (2013). "Prevalence and gender patterns of mental health problems in German youth with experience of violence: the KiGGS study." BMC Public Health 13(1): 1-14.