This unit contains mature or sensitive content and may not be suitable for some students.
Prisons and Punishment
UndergraduateUNE-CRIM3242025
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
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 16 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Prisons and Punishment
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- demonstrate coherent knowledge of key institutions and policies of punishment in the Criminal Justice System, with an ability to communicate this to others;
- review and critically analyse the social forces that transform policies and institutions of punishment in the Criminal Justice System;
- independently apply theoretical and conceptual knowledge to address complex issues relating to penology; and
- demonstrate autonomy, analysis and judgement through research abilities and the effective communication of this in oral and written tasks.
- Topics will be available to enrolled students in the subjects Learning Management System site approximately one week prior to the commencement of the teaching period.
Government sanctioned prisons have long been a solution to problems in society and confinement of adults for serious offences is accepted as a reasonable punishment for breaking the law. This subject provides you with an introduction to penology and the sociology of punishment. You will begin by studying the philosophical and sociological theories of punishment and the history of prisons and punishment. You will also consider penal policy making, exploring why it is that some modes of punishment are prioritised over others. The subject concludes by examining debates in penal reform, paying particular attention to specific issues such as the privatisation of prisons, indigenous incarceration, women in prison, prisoner health including mental illness, human rights and the impact of incarceration upon individuals and society.
Assessment 1: Written Assessment - 2250 words. Relates to Learning Outcomes 1-4;
Assessment 2: Presentation - 1000 words (equivalent). Relates to Learning Outcome 4;
Assessment 3: Online Quiz - 1500 words. Relates to Learning Outcomes 1-3- Oral Presentation (20%)
- Online Quiz (30%)
- Written Assessment (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The University of New England is the only Australian public university to be awarded the maximum 5 stars for Overall Experience by the Good Universities Guide, 13 years in a row. UNE has delivered distance education since 1955—that’s longer than any other Australian university. Perhaps that’s why students continue to rate UNE so highly for student satisfaction and teaching quality. With over 170 degrees offered online, and more than 22,000 students, UNE is an expert in online education.
Learn more about UNE.
Explore UNE courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 36
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Elective
- UNE-CRM-DEG-2025 - Bachelor of Criminology
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
one of
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Others
Candidature in Bachelor of Criminology.
To enrol in this subject you will need to pass the Prerequisite/s. Please note as UNE results are released after the close of enrolment date, your enrolment into this subject will be withdrawn if you do not pass the prerequisite subject/s.
Additional requirements
- Equipment requirements - Headphones or speakers (required to listen to lectures and other media). Headset, including microphone (highly recommended). Webcam (may be required for participation in virtual classrooms and/or media presentations).
- Software requirements - It is essential for students to have reliable internet access in order to participate in and complete your units, regardless of whether they contain an on campus attendance or intensive school component. For additional information please visit UNE Hardware Requirements: https://www.une.edu.au/current-students/support/it-services/hardware
- Other requirements -
Textbook requirements:
Textbook information is not available until approximately 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the Teaching period.
Students are expected to purchase prescribed material.
Textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
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
UndergraduateUNE-CRM-DEG