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Mental Health, Psychology and the Criminal Justice System
UndergraduateGRF-CCJ1102025
Previously GRF-CCJ10
Investigate how police, courts, and corrections interact with people with mental disorders. You’ll use psychological theory to explore mental health issues that youth, Indigenous people, and women face in the system. Learn the symptoms. Build resilience.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 25 May 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 2 June 2025,
- 1 Dec 2025
- Price from
- $2,124
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Mental Health, Psychology and the Criminal Justice System
About this subject
After successfully completing this subject you should be able to:
- Recognise and describe the nature, symptoms, and prevalence of mental disorders in the criminal justice system
- Navigate the criminal justice system policy settings and processes that affect professional practices and interactions with individuals with mental disorders
- Reflect on the unique difficulties and problems for an individual with a mental disorder as they progress through the criminal justice system
- Appraise the competing views and multiple goals within the criminal justice system regarding individuals with mental disorders and their circumstances
- Critique the effectiveness of existing criminal justice system processes, practices, and ethical considerations for engaging with diverse populations and their unique needs
- Develop skills relevant to professional practice within the criminal justice system to provide meaningful contributions and improved outcomes for individuals with mental disorders
- Why should criminal justice professionals care about mental disorders?
- Introduction to mental disorders
- Substance use and mental disorders
- Criminal justice professionals - building resilience
- First responders and people with mental disorders
- Legal/pretrial and people with mental disorders
- Corrections and people with mental disorders
- Rehabilitation and people with mental disorders
- Specific populations - young people and mental disorders
- Specific populations - Indigenous populations and mental disorders
- Specific populations - women and mental disorders
- Bringing it all together
This subject provides an overview of the various areas within the criminal justice system in which frontline workers come across people with mental disorders. It examines the way in which the criminal justice system (including police, court, and correctional staff) deals with individuals with mental disorders. In particular, the subject focuses on the identification and treatment of individuals with mental disorders; relevant processes and decision-making in different elements of the criminal justice system; examining contemporary approaches to definitions, diagnostic tools, notions of criminal responsibility and fitness to stand trial; and the use of psychological knowledge, theory, and research to guide reflective practice and build personal, professional resilience.
- Online quiz (30%)
- Case Study (40%)
- Reflective Practice (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
Learn more about Griffith University.
Explore Griffith courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 18
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 21
Entry requirements
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
GRF-CCJ10 (Not currently available)
Others
Students who have completed more than 2 OUA units (GPA 4.0+) and are planning on completing the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice are strongly encouraged to enrol in the course. Part of this process will involve registering your study plan with Griffith University, which will help to ensure that you are studying the required units.
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.
Student feedback
17 student respondents between 19 Aug 2024 - 11 Mar 2025.
100%of students felt the study load was manageable
94%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
UndergraduateGRF-CCJ-DEG
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