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

    Justice and Forensic Science
  • Unit Code

    CRI3108
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

In this unit, students develop an elementary understanding of forensic science from a justice perspective. Students are introduced to some of the major disciplines, emerging issues and historical manifestations of forensic science. Students also examine the impact of forensic science within the justice system.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded JUS3105

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically discuss the impact of forensic science on the laws of evidence, civil and criminal procedure and the standard of proof.
  2. Critically evaluate the past and future impact of forensic science in justice environments.
  3. Critique the research that informs forensic science practice and procedure.
  4. Explain the principle disciplines that inform forensic science and how they differ from main stream science.

Unit Content

  1. Ballistics, toolmarks and impressions.
  2. D.N.A.
  3. Expert witnesses and forensic evidence.
  4. Fingerprints.
  5. Forensic anthropology and odontology.
  6. Forensic botany, palynology and geology.
  7. Forensic chemistry and toxicology and pharmacology.
  8. Forensic crash reconstruction & forensic fire reconstruction.
  9. Forensic entomology.
  10. Forensic materials.
  11. Forensic pathology.
  12. Forensic science and crime scenes.
  13. Issues in forensic science.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On-campus students are required to attend a three-hour seminar each week. The seminars are delivered by an instructor with relevant industry knowledge and experience. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the concepts, theories and issues relevant to forensic science. Seminar activities and a full-day problem-based case study assessment (held during the semester) are used to encourage students to apply their learning and improve their critical thinking skills, oral communication skills and teamwork skills. Other assessment methods also provide students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their content knowledge, critical thinking and 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 concepts, theories and issues relevant to forensic science. Online activities and a full-day problem-based case study assessment (held during the semester) are used to encourage students to apply their learning and improve their critical thinking skills, oral communication skills and teamwork skills. An alternative assessment is provided to off-campus students who cannot attend the full-day exercise. Other assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their content knowledge, critical thinking and 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
TestOnline Test20%
EssayCritical Essay50%
EssayShort essay30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline Test20%
EssayCritical Essay50%
EssayShort essay30%

Text References

  • ^ Saferstein, R. (2001). Criminalistics : An introduction to forensic science. Sydney : Prentice Hall.
  • American Psychological Society (2001). Publication manual of the American psychological association (5th ed.). Washington D.C.
  • Brown, M. & Wilson, P. (1992). Justice and nightmares: Successes and failures of forensic science in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney: New South Wales Evidence Act, 1905.

Journal References

  • Criminal Law Journal
  • The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
  • FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
  • Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine
  • Journal of Criminal Justice
  • Journal of Forensic Sciences
  • Science & Journal
  • The Forensic Examiner
  • Canadian Journal of Forensic Science
  • British Journal of Forensic Practice
  • Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences
  • Criminology Australia

^ 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.

CRI3108|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

    Justice and Forensic Science
  • Unit Code

    CRI3108
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

In this unit, students develop an elementary understanding of forensic science from a justice perspective. Students are introduced to some of the major disciplines, emerging issues and historical manifestations of forensic science. Students also examine the impact of forensic science within the justice system.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded JUS3105

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically discuss the impact of forensic science on the laws of evidence, civil and criminal procedure and the standard of proof.
  2. Critically evaluate the past and future impact of forensic science in justice environments.
  3. Critique the research that informs forensic science practice and procedure.
  4. Explain the principle disciplines that inform forensic science and how they differ from main stream science.

Unit Content

  1. Ballistics, toolmarks and impressions.
  2. D.N.A.
  3. Expert witnesses and forensic evidence.
  4. Fingerprints.
  5. Forensic anthropology and odontology.
  6. Forensic botany, palynology and geology.
  7. Forensic chemistry and toxicology and pharmacology.
  8. Forensic crash reconstruction & forensic fire reconstruction.
  9. Forensic entomology.
  10. Forensic materials.
  11. Forensic pathology.
  12. Forensic science and crime scenes.
  13. Issues in forensic science.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On-campus students are required to attend a three-hour seminar each week. The seminars are delivered by an instructor with relevant industry knowledge and experience. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the concepts, theories and issues relevant to forensic science. Seminar activities and a full-day problem-based case study assessment (held during the semester) are used to encourage students to apply their learning and improve their critical thinking skills, oral communication skills and teamwork skills. Other assessment methods also provide students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their content knowledge, critical thinking and 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 concepts, theories and issues relevant to forensic science. Online activities and a full-day problem-based case study assessment (held during the semester) are used to encourage students to apply their learning and improve their critical thinking skills, oral communication skills and teamwork skills. An alternative assessment is provided to off-campus students who cannot attend the full-day exercise. Other assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their content knowledge, critical thinking and 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
TestOnline Test20%
EssayCritical Essay50%
EssayShort essay30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline Test20%
EssayCritical Essay50%
EssayShort essay30%

Text References

  • ^ Saferstein, R. (2001). Criminalistics : An introduction to forensic science. Sydney : Prentice Hall.
  • American Psychological Society (2001). Publication manual of the American psychological association (5th ed.). Washington D.C.
  • Brown, M. & Wilson, P. (1992). Justice and nightmares: Successes and failures of forensic science in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney: New South Wales Evidence Act, 1905.

Journal References

  • Criminal Law Journal
  • The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
  • FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
  • Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine
  • Journal of Criminal Justice
  • Journal of Forensic Sciences
  • Science & Journal
  • The Forensic Examiner
  • Canadian Journal of Forensic Science
  • British Journal of Forensic Practice
  • Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences
  • Criminology Australia

^ 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.

CRI3108|1|2