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Unit outline_

REHB3062: Public Offenders: Criminality and Rehab

Semester 2, 2021 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit introduces students to issues relating to the rehabilitation of public offenders including adults (males and females) and youth offenders. Students will study the major theories of criminality and community attitudes impacting on government approaches to rehabilitation and incarceration policy. The unit will examine the different approaches and policies to the incarceration of adult males and females and young people and the goals of these approaches. Special attention will be paid to examining the nature of the objectives and desired outcomes of incarceration. Students will analyse the roles and functions of personnel employed within the prison system, including that of custodial personnel and professional workers. In particular the unit will look at the various health issues associated with public offender rehabilitation, including substance dependence, mental illness and physical health conditions and social disadvantage, the health services available within the prisons and the role played by the various health professionals employed to deal with such problems. Students will also be introduced to the probation and parole system and to the various alternative to full­time incarceration, including community service, day release, work release, and weekend detention. They will examine the aims and objectives of these alternatives and the roles and functions of professional workers (including health workers) employed to administer these programs.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Participation Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
REHB3051
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jill Clancy, jill.clancy@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small continuous assessment hurdle task Tutorial discussion groups
Online discussions
30% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment Short essay
Short essay
25% Week 07 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment hurdle task Major essay
Major essay
45% Week 13 2000-2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Tutorial written task submitted on discussion board weekly (30%)

Short essay week 7 (25%)

Major essay week 13 (45%)

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

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

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:

Essay submitted late will incur a late penalty of 5% of the total marks per 24 hour period

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 01 Introductory to unit content and overview of assessment requirements Online class (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 Classical criminal theory Online class (2 hr) LO1
Week 03 Rational Choice and Situational Assessment or Routine Activity Theory Online class (2 hr) LO1
Week 04 Positivist criminal theory, psycho/biological approaches – biological determinism Online class (2 hr) LO1
Week 05 1. Sociologically based criminal theory; 2. Matza and Sykes on delinquency and drift Online class (2 hr) LO1
Week 06 Critical Theory and Postmodern Approaches to Crime Online class (2 hr) LO1
Week 08 Module 2 Introduction; Penal Theory and Practice Online class (2 hr) LO2
Week 09 Indigenous people crime and imprisonment Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 10 Special issues relating to female crime, youth and imprisonment Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 11 Issues relating to mental illness, intellectual disability and illicit substance use and the criminal justice system Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 12 Crime and terrorism Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 13 Revision Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

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. acquire an understanding and knowledge of a range of theories of criminality, including the theories (liberal theories) that form the basis for the operation of criminal law and those (following positivist approaches) that serve as a basis for rehabilitation/corrective approaches and programs
  • LO2. develop a practical knowledge of the range of programs that serve as the basis for rehabilitation/correction for those who have been found guilty of criminal offences, including probation and parole, community service orders, work release programs, and other options to those of full time incarceration
  • LO3. acquire an understanding of the special problems and needs of minority groups and crime and penal approaches to them. including Indigenous groups, women and crime, approaches to female crime, and approaches to crime by children and adolescents.

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.

Unit of Study Survey feedback will be given.

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.