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Introduction to LAWS1300 Criminal Justice

The unit LAWS1300 Criminal Justice aims to develop in students a critical understanding of substantive criminal law, including what makes an accused guilty or not guilty of a crime. Students will learn the principles of criminal responsibility and the defences available to an accused, and then apply that knowledge to a range of crimes including murder, assault, and property offences.

General Information

• Unit convenor and teaching staff: Convenor Amira Aftab
• Credit points: 10
• Prerequisites: LAW115 or LAWS1000
• Corequisites: None
• Co-badged status: None
• Unit description: This unit aims to develop in students a critical understanding of substantive criminal law. Students will learn the principles of criminal responsibility and the defences available to an accused, and then apply that knowledge to a range of crimes.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

• Apply principles of statutory interpretation and problem-solving methods to criminal justice scenarios
• Explain general doctrines of criminal responsibility and outline elements of offences and defences
• Research, analyse, synthesise, interpret, and derive legal principles from legislation, case law, and parliamentary debate governing the administration of criminal justice
• Identify how the criminal law of NSW has been shaped by historical, social, political, and philosophical factors
• Communicate, interact, and collaborate professionally and effectively in verbal and non-verbal contexts across diverse settings
• Work independently, meet deadlines, and take initiative

General Assessment Information

All written assessments submitted electronically must be submitted through the link provided in iLearn. This unit will utilise Turnitin plagiarism detection software.

Late Submission Policy

A maximum penalty of five percentage points of the total possible marks will be applied per day to late submissions, for up to a maximum of seven calendar days.

Special Consideration

Students should submit applications for Special Consideration electronically via the Service Connect Portal, along with the supporting documentation.

Assessment Tasks

• Exam: 40%, no hurdle, due in the University Exam Period
• Professional Skills: 20%, no hurdle, due ongoing
• Practice-Based Task: 40%, no hurdle, due on 11/04/2025

Exam

An invigilated exam held in the formal examination period, covering any or all topics and materials covered in the unit.

Professional Skills

Students will engage in classroom activities, including mooting, presentations, structured discussion, and problem-solving, to develop skills in oral advocacy, legal analysis, critical reasoning, teamwork, and team leadership.

Practice-Based Task

An assessment on professional skills and knowledge relevant to the unit, which could be a legal or policy brief, a report, an essay, a law reform proposal, legal pleadings, or other related professional tasks.

Delivery and Resources

Delivery

This unit is delivered via weekly live and pre-recorded lectures and a weekly in-person tutorial.

Resources

The required textbook is Roderick Howie, Paul Sattler, and Marissa Hood, Hayes & Eburn Criminal Law and Procedure in New South Wales (LexisNexis Butterworths, 7th ed, 2022). Additional readings will be accessible through iLearn.

Unit Schedule

The unit schedule includes:

• Week 1: Introduction to criminal justice
• Week 2: Principles of criminal responsibility
• Week 3: Murder
• Week 4: Involuntary manslaughter
• Week 5: Voluntary manslaughter
• Week 6: Assault
• Week 7: Defences I
• Week 8: Defences II
• Week 9: Summary offences
• Week 10: Property offences
• Week 11: Sexual assault
• Week 12: Extended criminal liability
• Week 13: Drug offences

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

• Academic Appeals Policy
• Academic Integrity Policy
• Academic Progression Policy
• Assessment Policy
• Fitness to Practice Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
• Special Consideration Policy

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, academic integrity is at the core of learning, teaching, and research. The university recognises that meeting the expectations required to complete assessments can be challenging and offers a range of resources and services to help students reach their potential.