Availabilities:
| Location | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | ||
| Lismore | ||
| Online |
Unit description
Provides the student with an understanding of the principles of substantive Australian criminal law, including a detailed knowledge of the application of these principles in respect of major crimes and defences, as well as the doctrines of complicity and inchoate criminal liability.
Unit content
Part 1 - Introduction
Topic 1 General principles of criminal responsibility (includes issues concerning strict liability and mistake)
Part 2 - Offences
Topic 2 Unlawful killing (murder and manslaughter)
Topic 3 (Non sexual) offences against the person
Topic 4 Sexual offences
Topic 5 Property offences
Topic 6 Recent (serious) federal offences
Part 3 - Defences
Topic 7 Mental state defences (insanity, automatism and intoxication)
Topic 8 Partial defences (provocation and diminished responsibility)
Topic 9 Necessity-based defences (self-defence, duress and necessity)
Part 4 - Extending criminal responsibility
Topic 10 Complicity
Topic 11 Inchoate offences (attempt, conspiracy and incitement)
Learning outcomes
Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.
| On completion of this unit, students should be able to: | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the major principles of criminal responsibility |
| 2 | Identify the legal and policy issues in relation to substantive criminal law and critically evaluate police, prosecutorial, judicial and legislative decision-making |
| 3 | Recognise and analyse the general principles of criminal law theory and describe how power structures in society are reproduced in the criminal law and criminal justice system |
| 4 | Identify the definitions of the major crimes and defences found in Australian criminal law (including selected major recent offences under Federal law) and analyse the key substantive criminal law issues raised |
| 5 | Describe and critically evaluate how criminal liability is expanded through the doctrines of complicity in crime and inchoate offences |
| 6 | Develop and demonstrate advanced problem solving skills in relation to hypothetical criminal law fact scenarios |
| 7 | Demonstrate analytical and written skills in the presentation of argument in the field of substantive criminal law |
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the major principles of criminal responsibility
- Identify the legal and policy issues in relation to substantive criminal law and critically evaluate police, prosecutorial, judicial and legislative decision-making
- Recognise and analyse the general principles of criminal law theory and describe how power structures in society are reproduced in the criminal law and criminal justice system
- Identify the definitions of the major crimes and defences found in Australian criminal law (including selected major recent offences under Federal law) and analyse the key substantive criminal law issues raised
- Describe and critically evaluate how criminal liability is expanded through the doctrines of complicity in crime and inchoate offences
- Develop and demonstrate advanced problem solving skills in relation to hypothetical criminal law fact scenarios
- Demonstrate analytical and written skills in the presentation of argument in the field of substantive criminal law
Prescribed texts
- Bronitt, S & McSherry, B, 2017, Principles of Criminal Law, 4th edn, Lawbook Co., Sydney. ISBN: 9780455237909.
Teaching and assessment
| Teaching method |
| Tutorial on-site 2 hours (11 weeks) |
| Lecture online 2 hours (12 weeks) |
| Assessment | |
| Problem Question Assignment | 40% |
| Exam: open book | 60% |
| Teaching method |
| Tutorial on-site 2 hours (11 weeks) |
| Lecture online 2 hours (12 weeks) |
| Assessment | |
| Problem Question Assignment | 40% |
| Exam: open book | 60% |
| Teaching method |
| Tutorial online 2 hours (11 weeks) |
| Lecture online 2 hours (12 weeks) |
| Assessment | |
| Problem Question Assignment | 40% |
| Exam: open book | 60% |
Fee information
Domestic
Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees
International
Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.