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MLJ703 - Criminal Law and Policy

Year:

2023 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Online
Trimester 2: Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Marilyn McMahon
Trimester 2: Marilyn McMahon
Cohort rule:

For M729 (Juris Doctor) students only

Prerequisite:

Nil

Corequisite:MLJ701
Incompatible with: Nil
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

Scheduled learning activities - online:

1 x 2.5 hour class (recordings provided) + 1.5 hour online seminar (live streamed and recordings provided)

Content

This unit examines criminal law within its social and historical context, exploring how different conceptions of agency and autonomy have influenced constructions of criminal responsibility as well as the elements of various criminal offences. A number of different offences are covered, and attention also is directed at alternative conceptions of these offences (what the law might be, particularly as addressed in contemporary law reform initiatives) as well as what the law currently is. Each topic is considered through an exposition of relevant principles or elements, followed by in-depth discussion of particularly significant law reform initiatives, policy debates and/or historical development.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Describe and analyse general principles of criminal responsibility and a range of statutory and common law offences and defences and distinguish them.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO2

Use a range of digital resources to research and obtain relevant information to inform well-reasoned arguments on criminal law policy matters.

GLO3: Digital literacy

ULO3

Evaluate selected aspects of criminal law to critique policy and legal reform issues, evidencing intellectual curiosity and independent thought.

GLO6: Self-management

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)		 Indicative due week
Assessment 1: (Individual) Multiple Choice Test   20% Week 5

Assessment 2: (Individual) Case study
 
Part A: Problem based written assignment 

Part B: Report (Research)

Part A: 1000 words

Part B: 1000 words

Part A: 10% 

Part B: 10% 

 Week 6
Examination 2 hours  60% End-of-unit assessment period

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: MLJ703 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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