Faculty of Business and Law

School: Law and Justice

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Foundations of Criminal Law
  • Unit Code

    CRI2107
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit is designed to equip students with a practical understanding of the Criminal Law of Western Australia. Students will study various pieces of State legislation including the Criminal Code and case law relating to that legislation.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded JUS2204

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse the process of criminal law from a procedural justice perspective.
  2. Apply common legal defences to practical examples.
  3. Apply legal concepts relating to the Criminal Law.
  4. Explain the concepts of criminal responsibility.

Unit Content

  1. Accessories before and after the fact.
  2. Attempts to commit offences.
  3. Conspiracy to commit offences.
  4. Criminal responsibility including such matters as necessary, insanity, intoxication.
  5. Introductory and/or topical issues such as: the effect of codification; arrest and bail; effectiveness and desirability or otherwise of jury trials; classification of offences; punishment and sentencing.
  6. Parties to the offence.
  7. Principal offenders.
  8. Sentencing.
  9. Specific offences.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit is conducted in both the on-campus and off-campus modes. On-campus students are required to attend a three-hour seminar each week. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the criminal law and relevant legislation such as the WA Criminal Code. Seminar activities are used apply aspects of criminal law to problem-based scenarios. These activities encourage students to improve their communication skills, critical thinking skills and teamwork skills. Assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their content knowledge, critical thinking and develop their written communication skills. Off-campus students are provided with an electronic recorded seminar each week. All information is delivered to off-campus students via Blackboard. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the criminal law and relevant legislation such as the WA Criminal Code. Online activities are used apply aspects of criminal law to problem-based scenarios. These activities encourage students to improve their communication skills, critical thinking skills and teamwork skills. Assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their content knowledge, critical thinking and develop their written communication skills. Regular online access is essential.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Assignment ^Research Essay40%
Presentation ^Individual presentations10%
ExaminationFinal Examination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Assignment ^Research Essay40%
Presentation ^Individual presentation or contribution (participation) to be decided10%
ExaminationFinal Examination50%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • ^ The Criminal Code Western Australia (as amended). Perth: State Government Printers.
  • Kenny, R. (2008). An introduction to criminal law in Queensland and Western Australia (7th ed.). Sydney: Butterworths.
  • Colvin, E., & Linden-Laufer, S. (2005). Criminal law in Queensland and Western Australia: Cases and commentary (6th ed.). Sydney:Butterworths.

Journal References

  • Alternative Law Journal
  • Australian Law Journal

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CRI2107|1|1

Faculty of Business and Law

School: Law and Justice

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Foundations of Criminal Law
  • Unit Code

    CRI2107
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit is designed to equip students with a practical understanding of the Criminal Law of Western Australia. Students will study various pieces of State legislation including the Criminal Code and case law relating to that legislation.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded JUS2204

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse the process of criminal law from a procedural justice perspective.
  2. Apply common legal defences to practical examples.
  3. Apply legal concepts relating to the Criminal Law.
  4. Explain the concepts of criminal responsibility.

Unit Content

  1. Accessories before and after the fact.
  2. Attempts to commit offences.
  3. Conspiracy to commit offences.
  4. Criminal responsibility including such matters as necessary, insanity, intoxication.
  5. Introductory and/or topical issues such as: the effect of codification; arrest and bail; effectiveness and desirability or otherwise of jury trials; classification of offences; punishment and sentencing.
  6. Parties to the offence.
  7. Principal offenders.
  8. Sentencing.
  9. Specific offences.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit is conducted in both the on-campus and off-campus modes. On-campus students are required to attend a three-hour seminar each week. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the criminal law and relevant legislation such as the WA Criminal Code. Seminar activities are used apply aspects of criminal law to problem-based scenarios. These activities encourage students to improve their communication skills, critical thinking skills and teamwork skills. Assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their content knowledge, critical thinking and develop their written communication skills. Off-campus students are provided with an electronic recorded seminar each week. All information is delivered to off-campus students via Blackboard. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the criminal law and relevant legislation such as the WA Criminal Code. Online activities are used apply aspects of criminal law to problem-based scenarios. These activities encourage students to improve their communication skills, critical thinking skills and teamwork skills. Assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their content knowledge, critical thinking and develop their written communication skills. Regular online access is essential.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Assignment ^Research Essay40%
Presentation ^Individual presentations10%
ExaminationFinal Examination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Assignment ^Research Essay40%
Presentation ^Individual presentation or contribution (participation) to be decided10%
ExaminationFinal Examination50%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • ^ The Criminal Code Western Australia (as amended). Perth: State Government Printers.
  • Kenny, R. (2008). An introduction to criminal law in Queensland and Western Australia (7th ed.). Sydney: Butterworths.
  • Colvin, E., & Linden-Laufer, S. (2005). Criminal law in Queensland and Western Australia: Cases and commentary (6th ed.). Sydney:Butterworths.

Journal References

  • Alternative Law Journal
  • Australian Law Journal

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CRI2107|1|2