Corrections: Systems and Practice
Overview
This unit aims to provide students with an analytical overview of criminology and corrections. Students will gain a critical understanding of the breadth of the field of corrections and criminology as well as evaluate how theoretical models are used in the development of research and programming within corrections. This course will explore the high imprisonment rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons including the underlying factors that contribute to higher rates of offending and the structural bias or discriminatory practices within the justice system itself.
Requisites
100 credit points
HAY340 - Corrections: Systems and Practice; SHAY340 - Corrections: Systems and Practice
08-June-2025
02-November-2025
08-February-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Analyse the principles of corrections within the criminal justice system using a range of standpoints
- Critically examine the theories and principles of criminology related to corrections
- Critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of correctional practice for those populations overrepresented in corrections
- Critique corrective service actions privileging the voices of those overrepresented in corrections
- Evaluate the various research methods and ethics employed by corrections agents
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 7.50 | 12 weeks | 90 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Class | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Individual | 25% | 1,2 |
| Case Study | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Essay | Individual | 45% | 2,3,4,5 |
Content
- History of corrections in Australia including on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- The history of native policing and the application of Indigenous laws in past and present societies
- The organisational structure and systems of corrections
- Corrections, the law, and the constitution
- The role of corrections in modern society
- Correctional issues in Australia, including Aboriginal deaths in custody.Â
- Correctional training and performance
- Corrections and statistics
- Professional standards and ethics, including cultural competencies needed to work with diverse populations.
- Ongoing and emerging local and global debated in prison systems
- The future of corrections in Australia
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.