Program Overview

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Course Overview

The Sentencing and Penal Policy course, LAWS 307, focuses on the administration, legal framework, and structure of sentences, as well as sentencing practices and the implementation of penal policy.

Course Details

• Academic Year: 2025
• Course Options:
  • Offering: 7 Jul to 9 Nov, 11:30am on Monday, 11:30am on Tuesday, 11:30am on Friday, Pipitea, Trimester 2, CRN 6037
• Fees:
  • Domestic students: NZ$962.40
  • International students: NZ$4,873.05
• Lecture Times:
  • Monday: 11:30am
  • Tuesday: 11:30am
  • Friday: 11:30am
• Campus: Pipitea
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.3 hours per week for 18 weeks
• Points: 15
• Availability: Limited entry

Entry Requirements

Prerequisites

• 60 LAWS 200-level points

Corequisites

• 60 further LAWS 200-level, LAWS 301

Restrictions

• CRIM 312

Course Structure

Taught By

• School of Law — Faculty of Law

Disclaimer

This course outline may be subject to change.

Key Dates

• Find important dates, including mid-trimester teaching breaks, on the University's key dates calendar.
• Assessment dates will be announced once the course has begun.

About This Course

This course explores the sentencing of offenders, including the purposes and principles of sentencing, different types of sentences, the sentencing process, and post-sentence supervision of offenders. It includes discussions on:

• Sentencing for serious non-fatal physical violence
• Sentencing for murder
• Sentencing and post-sentence responses to high-risk sexual and violent offenders
• The harm experienced by victims of offending and their role in the sentencing process
• The personal circumstances of offenders, including mental illness, drug and alcohol dependence, and experiences of abuse and neglect

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Discuss the nature and limitations of various justifications for punishment
2. Explain the types of sentences available and the process of arriving at a sentence
3. Critically evaluate the current approach to personal mitigation at sentencing and discuss law reform options
4. Critically evaluate the current sentencing and post-sentence responses to serious violent and sexual offenders and discuss law reform options

How This Course Is Taught

• A mix of lectures and discussion
• In-person attendance is strongly encouraged, but classes are recorded and released automatically for those unable to attend

Assessment

• In-person BYOD Test One (30%)
• Reflective Journal (20%)
• Writing Portfolio (50%)

Assessment Dates and Extensions

• Once enrolled, students can use the University's online learning environment to see due dates for assessments and information about extensions.

Mandatory Requirements

• Complete all pieces of assessment by the due dates.
• Achieve an overall pass mark of at least 50%.

Lecture Times and Rooms

• 7 July 2025 to 17 August 2025
• 1 September 2025 to 12 October 2025

What You'll Need to Get

Required Texts

• Course materials

Recommended Texts

• Adams on Criminal Law – Sentencing (available through Westlaw NZ)

Who to Contact

Dr. Danica McGovern

• Course Coordinator

Claire Tay

• Course Administrator