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Unit outline_

CRIM2604: Race, Law and Justice

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit will examine histories and continuing legacies of colonialism and racialisation and their interaction with legal systems and criminalisation. Topics covered could include dispossession and theft of sovereignty in settler colonial nations, structural racism and its relation to law, racialised policing and profiling, mass incarceration policies and movements by Indigenous peoples and people of colour to achieve social and legal justice.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Sociology and Criminology
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in Sociology or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Socio-Legal Studies or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Criminology
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
SLSS2604
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Dinesh Wadiwel, dinesh.wadiwel@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Take Home Exercise
Take Home Exercise
30% Formal exam period
Due date: 13 Nov 2022 at 23:59
1500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Participation Tutorial Participation
Tutorial Participation
10% Multiple weeks Tutorial Participation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Critical Analysis
Critical Analysis
20% Week 05
Due date: 04 Sep 2022 at 23:59
1000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Research Essay
Research Essay
40% Week 09
Due date: 02 Oct 2022 at 23:59
2000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Critical Analysis – Further details on this assessment in Canvas

Assessment criteria

Result code

Result name

Mark range

Description

HD

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by Faculty.

DI

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by Faculty.

CR

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by Faculty.

PS

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by Faculty.

FA

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

AF

Absent fail

0 - 49

When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.

CN

Cancelled

No mark

When your enrolment has been cancelled.

DC

Discontinued not to count as failure

No mark

When you discontinue a unit under special circumstances (outlined in clause 92 of the Coursework Policy), after the relevant census date.

DF

Discontinue – fail

No mark

When you discontinue a unit after the relevant census date but before the DF deadline, and you have not been granted a discontinuation under special circumstances.

FR

Failed requirements

No mark

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard, for units which are marked as either Satisfied requirements or Failed requirements.

SR

Satisfied requirements

No mark

When you meet the learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard, for units which are marked as either Satisfied requirements or Failed requirements.

WD

Withdrawn

No mark

When you discontinue a unit before the relevant census date. WD grades do not appear on your academic transcript

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:

As per Faculty / University policies.

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week -02 Colonialism and Settler Colonialism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Colonialism and Settler Colonialism Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week -03 The Biopolitics of Racism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
The Biopolitics of Racism Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week -04 Racism and Anti-Blackness Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Racism and Anti-Blackness Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week -05 Intersectionality Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Intersectionality Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 01 Introducing Race Law and Justice Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 06 Race, Property and the Law Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Race, Property and the Law Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Race, Environment and Animals Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Race, Environment and Animals Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 08 Incarceration and the Politics of Abolition Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Incarceration and the Politics of Abolition Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Justice Processes and Indigenous Methodologies Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Justice Processes and Indigenous Methodologies Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Child Removal and Protection Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Child Removal and Protection Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Resistance Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Resistance Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Sovereignty and Self Determination Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Sovereignty and Self Determination Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Policing and Race Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Policing and Race Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4

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.

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.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Recognise the historical, legal, political, social, economic and cultural considerations relevant to understanding racism and its effects
  • LO2. Form an appreciation of key theories that can be applied to understand the complex relationship between race, law and social and legal justice
  • LO3. Form an appreciation of the issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the struggle for social and legal justice.
  • LO4. Develop a critical stance on issues pertaining to race and its relationship to law and justice
  • LO5. Explore and evaluate social and legal justice approaches that respond to colonialism, settler colonialism and racism

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is a new unit of study.

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.