Police, Courts and Corrections
UndergraduateGRF-CCJ1122023
Previously GRF-CCJ12
Course information for 2023 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Get an overview of the criminal justice system, from police investigations all the way through to sentencing and rehabilitation. Understand how criminal trials proceed, and the key players involved. Analyse less traditional approaches to justice.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Police, Courts and Corrections
About this subject
After successfully completing this subject you should be able to:
- Define and reflect upon conceptualisations of "justice".
- Identify and define the aims, functions and processes of the criminal justice system and the roles of its key actors.
- Describe the processes by which alleged offenders are investigated, brought to trial, sentenced and punished.
- Describe and critique the contemporary practices of the criminal justice system and its actors in relation to issues such as powers, discretion, accountability, misconduct, fairness and efficacy.
- Develop skills in oral and written communication and in delivering and incorporating peer-feedback.
- Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
- Justice
- Inequality
- Policing
- Police powers
- Investigation
- Courts
- Pre-trial
- The criminal trial
- Punishment and sentencing
- Corrections
- Rehabilitation, restoration, and prevention
Police, Courts and Corrections explains the processes that govern the way crimes are investigated, tried, and punished. The course begins with an overview of the aims and functions of the criminal justice system with consideration for the laws and justice principles that underpin it. It then examines the roles and functions of the police, courts and corrective services and the process through which a criminal case progresses through the system, concluding with some reflections on alternatives to traditional practice. Throughout this course, consideration is given to understanding the powers, responsibilities and accountabilities of key criminal justice actors as well as the application of justice principles within the system. The course particularly references the Queensland criminal justice system, however general principles are common to all Australian systems.
- Reflective Presentation (25%)
- Incident Report (25%)
- Final Exam (30%)
- Collaborative Assessment (20%)
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.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 18
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 21
Entry requirements
No 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-CCJ12-Police, Courts and Criminal Law (no longer available)
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
6 student respondents between 19 Aug 2024 - 3 Mar 2025.
100%of students felt the study load was manageable
100%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
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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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