Program Overview

Introduction to JST337 Crimes of the Powerful

This subject introduces students to criminological debate and theory on crimes of the powerful. It examines the role of power in the criminal justice system and in wider society, questioning definitions of crime and harm using case studies to illustrate these debates.

Subject Overview

The subject takes a national and international approach to understanding power and the crimes of the powerful, covering issues such as white collar crime, industrial harms, environmental harms, state crime, genocide, war, torture, incarceration, and immigration detention. It also explores responses to these types of crime and harm, including international criminal justice, and critically analyses the relationship between power and crime on a local and global level.

Availability

The subject is available in Session 1, with on-campus offerings at the Bathurst and Port Macquarie campuses, as well as online through the Bathurst campus.

Subject Information

Grading System

The subject uses an HD/FL grading system.

Duration

The subject is one session in duration.

School

The subject is part of the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security.

Assumed Knowledge

Students are assumed to have prior knowledge of JST2XX.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Explain and critically analyse the role of power in society and the criminal justice system
• Critically engage with key theories of power, control, and harm
• Demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach to understanding power and crimes of the powerful
• Critically discuss key topics in the subject and analyse how these topics illustrate issues of crime, harm, and power
• Articulate their understanding clearly and cogently
• Use the work of major theorists and authors to inform their understanding
• Demonstrate a growing professional awareness by being professional in all communications and conduct with academic staff and other students, and through presentation of assignments

Syllabus

The subject covers the following topics:

• Theories of power, critical criminology, global criminology
• Definitions of crimes of the powerful and harm
• Corporate and white collar crime
• Industrial harms, workplace rights
• Environmental law and environmental harms
• State crime: international obligations, protests, resistance, and riots, war, genocide, torture
• Immigration detention, 'crimmigration', incarceration, rendition
• International law and international criminal courts
• International law enforcement
• Responding to state crime: truth and reconciliation, recognition
• Regulation of the powerful