Sentencing, Imprisonment and Social Inequality
UndergraduateLTU-LST2SCR2023
Course information for 2023 intake View information for 2025 course intake
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Sentencing, Imprisonment and Social Inequality
About this subject
- Identify key aims and processes involved in sentencing in contemporary Australia.
- Assess the impact of legal, social, economic and political factors upon sentencing and correctional practices.
- Assess the extent to which imprisonment and community corrections achieve sentencing aims, reduce crime and enhance community safety.
- Communicate in a clear, well informed and critically engaged manner about sentencing and corrections.
- • Sentencing.
- • Courts.
- • Imprisonment.
- • Social inequality.
- • Abolition.
This subject explores the processes, practices and complexities involved in sentencing and imprisoning people in contemporary Australia and how these reflect and reproduce forms of social inequality. The aims of sentencing, the technical processes involved, and public perceptions of them are considered and assessed, as well as technological innovations and human experiences in the courtroom. Varying types of sanctions are examined with particular attention paid to current issues in imprisonment, including high rates of remand, prison architecture, and private interests in prison operations and expansion. The subject places Australian penal cultures in international context, and assesses the extent to which imprisonment can reduce cycles of crime and social disadvantage, and enhance community safety.
- One group presentation and peer marking exercise (equivalent to 800 words). (20%)
- Online Quizzes (equivalent to 800 words). (20%)
- Two in-class case study exercises (equivalent to 800 words). (20%)
- One 1600 word research essay. (40%)
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:
Elective
- LAT-ART-DEG-2023 - Bachelor of Arts
Others
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed LST2PIC (Punishment In Context), or LST3PIC (Punishment In Context) are ineligible to enrol in this subject.
Pre-requisites: Students must be admitted into AB002O and have completed 15 credit points of LST coded subjects.
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
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG