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POLICE, SOCIETY & DEMOCRACY

LST2POL

2016

Credit points: 15

This subject addresses La Trobe's Global Citizenship Essential. Global Citizenship is about learning to live in an interconnected world, including the social, environmental, political and economic challenges this brings.

Subject outline

This subject discusses the history, institutional configuration, role and performance of police in Australia's democratic political context, and offers points of comparisons to other countries (democratic or else) around the world. To these ends, we explore a variety of questions concerning the police and its role in our criminal justice system; the relevance of policing for a democratic society; police culture; the links between police and community; contemporary challenges of policing (including transnational criminal activity), among other relevant aspects of police and policing. After completing this course, students should be able to understand fundamental facts about police and policing, and critically evaluate the police's role in Australia and beyond.

School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Raul Sanchez-Urribarri

Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG

Exchange Students: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: 15 credit points of any first year Legal Studies or Politics subject and 15 credit points of any Humanities and Social Sciences subject, or subject coordinator's approval.

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: LST3POL

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Be familiar with the key theoretical underpinnings of police and policing, plus a survey of the current institutional framework in Victoria

Activities:
On-line teaching clips, workshop, quizzes and midterm examination
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Writing(Writing)
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

02. Discuss the contemporary challenges of policing in Australia and beyond

Activities:
Follow up, write and share with class a co-authored project focused on a specific challenge of policing, following the guidelines provided in class
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Writing(Writing)
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
Teamwork(Teamwork)

03. Understand and analyse the importance of police culture in police-society relations

Activities:
On-line teaching clips, workshop, quizzes & midterm examination
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Writing(Writing)

04. Critique police reform efforts in Victoria, Australia and internationally

Activities:
On-line teaching clips and activities / develop co-authored project focused on a specific challenge of policing
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Writing(Writing)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

05. Know the history of the police, with an emphasis on Victoria and other law enforcement agencies in Australia

Activities:
On-line teaching clips, workshop, quizzes, and midterm examination
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Writing(Writing)
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Blended

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information:

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Raul Sanchez-Urribarri

Class requirements

Lecture/WorkshopWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture/workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.

Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours scheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%ILO*
1,500 word Midterm Examination3001, 02, 03
1,500 word coauthored project about current policing challenges in Australia and globally3502
Online quizzes/activities (1000 word equivalent)2501, 04, 05
FInal Presentation of coauthored project1002