Undergraduate GRF-HSY311-2018

A History of Crime and Punishment

Plunge into the history of crime, law and criminal justice. Dissect how attitudes to crime have shifted over the centuries. Follow the twists and turns of the witch-hunts in the Middle Ages. Look at executions in the eighteenth century and identification of criminals in the nineteenth century.

Duration

13 weeks

Student rating

3.31

Study method

100% online

Available loans

FEE-HELP
HECS-HELP

Assessments

100% online

Prior study

Not required

Study terms

26 Aug 2019

With a network of campuses across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from more than 122 countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

University ranking

Subject details

What you'll learn

At the completion of this subject you will be able to:

understand some major themes in the history of the crime and the law from the earliest times to the present;
engage systematically and critically with the complex relations between developments in the law and legal system and broader political, social economic and cultural change;
demonstrate a general capacity for research, analysis of evidence, reasoned argument, clear exposition, and sound judgement;
progress, through an informed and disciplined reflection on the past, to a richer and deeper understanding of the present.

Topics covered

- Anglo-Saxon Origins of English Criminal Law
- Legal Developments after the Norman Conquest of 1066
- Torture and the Emergence of the Jury Trial
- Social Control, Witches and Moral Panic in England during the 16th and 17th Centuries
- Crime and Criminals in the 18th Century
- The 'Bloody Code' and Capital Punishment in 18th Century Britain
- Crime and Convict Transportation
- Crime and Criminals in the 19th Century
- The Rise of the Prison
- Policing in the 19th Century
- Identifying Criminals in the 19th Century
Study resources
- Instructional methods
  - Chat Rooms
  - Discussion forum/Discussion Board
  - Online assignment submission
  - Overview Notes
- Online materials
  - Resources and Links
  - Printable format materials
  - Online Assessment

Entry requirements

Others

Note: Level 3 subjects normally assume a moderate level of prior knowledge in this area, eg from studying related Level 1 and 2 subjects or other relevant experience.

Special requirements

No special requirements

Description

This subject examines the incidence of crime, the development of the law and criminal justice processes in response to crime, and the means of punishment to deal with crime. Covering the period from the Middle Ages to the end of the nineteenth century, the focus will be mainly on Europe and the ways in which crime impacted on communities, how the meaning of criminality shifted over time, and the agencies for change in dealing with criminals.

Assessments

Essay 1 (30%)
Essay 2 (40%)
Online Discussion (30%)

Textbooks

Current study term (25 Aug 19 to 24 Nov 19)

Textbook information is pending.

Related degrees

undergraduate GRF-ART-DEG-2018

Bachelor of Arts

11 available majors

Major in Art History
Major in Chinese Language
Major in Creative Writing
Major in Criminal Justice
Major in History
Major in Journalism
Major in Literature
Major in Media Studies
Major in Public Relations
Major in Screen Culture
Major in Sociology