Criminal Justice Systems

This unit explores the concepts of crime and criminality, recognising that societal understandings of these concepts shape the construction and operation of criminal justice systems. It examines the multiple ways in which ideas about crime and criminality are produced and circulated within society, including representations found in media narratives, case law produced by the courts, statistics produced by government bodies, speeches made by politicians and expert analysis produced by academics. Through this exploration, students will come to understand that the concepts of crime and criminality are not fixed, but complex and contested. The unit also highlights how these varied and nuanced understandings are closely connected to the systems used to address crime. In doing so, it fosters a deeper appreciation of the complexity of the Australian criminal justice systems.