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This course will examine issues of critical importance to the nature and quality of criminal justice. It will consider the political, societal and cultural influences on the emergence of these issues, and evaluate the resilience of criminal justice systems in responding to these issues.
This course will identify and discuss the sources of some of the influences that shape criminal justice theory, policy and practice in New Zealand, including political agendas and contemporary societal opinion. The main focus will be on specific contemporary issues in criminal justice. These specific issues will vary from year to year, depending on what is currently topical. In 2021 the course will be structured around the issues and solutions identified by Te Uepū Hāpai i te Ora (Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group), including: the impact of the current system on Maori and victims; on-going challenged in developing effective responses to sexual and family violence; and, the possibilities of alternatives to the current prosecutorial and dispositive approaches.
Deeper understanding of traditional and contemporary realities of Māori society e.g tikanga and kawa te reo Māori, as related to the contemporary operation of the Aotearoa New Zealand criminal justice system;Development of a sophisticated ability to discuss and apply the principles and values of justice and fairness as they relate to criminal offending and societal responses in Aotearoa New Zealand;Developing further skills in the critical analysis of the proposed reforms of, and alternatives to, the existing criminal justice system, with a focus on prosecution and punishment.
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Subject to the approval of the Head of Department of Law.
Students must attend one activity from each section.
For further information see Faculty of Law Head of Department
Oral Presentation: 20% (in week 12)Reflective journal: 30% (due a week after the end of the course – based on responses to readings; seminar discussions and assessment)Essay: 50% (5,000 words – on a topic that will also be the basis of the oral presentation).
No prescribed textbooks, but there will be assigned readings for each week.
Domestic fee $1,990.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Faculty of Law .