Law and Behaviour
PostgraduateGRF-CCJ7072025
Scrutinise the areas in which the criminal justice system and psychological theories of behaviour intersect. Study the roles of various actors in courts, such as judges, juries, expert witnesses, eyewitnesses, victims and defendants.
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 3 Mar 2025
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Law and Behaviour
About this subject
After successfully completing this subject you should be able to:
- have an understanding of the issues surrounding courts, its legal players and the criminal justice system
- engage in interdisciplinary approaches and increased familiarity with literatures including criminology, socio-legal studies and psychology
- be able to research and write an independent piece of work
- reflect and evaluate your position on the court system and the different actors involved.
- Introduction: Courts, Law and Society
- Law in Everyday Life
- Language and Law
- Legal Players, the 'Haves' and 'Have Nots'
- Decision Makers I: Judges
- Decision Makers II: Juries
- Witnesses
- Victims
- Alternative Courts I: Indigenous Justice
- Alternative Courts II: Mental Health Cts
- Miscarriages of Justice & Wrongful Convict
This subject examines the areas in which the criminal justice system and psychological theories of behaviour interact. Topics include the reliability of eyewitness testimony, truthfulness and credibility of witnesses, questioning child victims of sexual assault, the social dynamics of juries and the role of expert testimony.
In this subject, we study the roles of various actors that interact in the courtroom, such as judges, juries, expert witnesses, eyewitnesses, victims and defendants. The subject introduces interdisciplinary literatures: criminology, law and society/socio-legal studies, and psychology. Topics include the social dynamics of juries, judicial discretion, the validity of forensic science and the role of expert testimony, the reliability of eyewitness testimony, an examination of mental health courts and indigenous justice, and the prevalence of wrongful convictions.
- Topic summary (30%)
- Major essay (50%)
- Weekly Reflections (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- GRF-MCJ-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Elective
- GRF-FMH-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health
- GRF-FMH-MAS-2025 - Master of Forensic Mental Health
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice
PostgraduateGRF-MCJ-GCE
Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health
PostgraduateGRF-FMH-GCE
Master of Forensic Mental Health
PostgraduateGRF-FMH-MAS