Forensic Psychology, Theory and Practice A
38.5 hours
One semester/teaching period
Hawthorn
Overview
This unit introduces the Australian legal system and clarifies the relationship between the law and other social institutions. Students will learn the role and discretion of the various players in the legal system and, in particular, the areas to which the forensic psychologist contributes.
Requisites
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-August-2027
31-October-2027
31-October-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-August-2027
Census date
31-August-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
21-September-2027
Results released date
07-December-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Analyse, appraise and explain the origins of criminal behaviour and methods for assessing risk of crime
- Design and implement interventions appropriate for individuals’ criminogenic needs, tailored to individual risk factors
- Develop competence in assessments within the criminal forensic psychology domain and understand the psychologists role in assisting courts in criminal matters
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class | 3.50Ìý | 11 weeks | 38.5 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 6.43Ìý | 15 weeks | 96.5 |
| On-campus Workshop | 15.00Ìý | 1 week | 15 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Presentation | ±õ²Ô»å¾±±¹¾±»å³Ü²¹±ôÌý | 20%Ìý | 1,2Ìý |
| Essay | ±õ²Ô»å¾±±¹¾±»å³Ü²¹±ôÌý | 80%Ìý | 3Ìý |
| Class Presentation | ±õ²Ô»å¾±±¹¾±»å³Ü²¹±ôÌý | 20%Ìý | 1,3Ìý |
| Essay | ±õ²Ô»å¾±±¹¾±»å³Ü²¹±ôÌý | 80%Ìý | 1,2,3Ìý |
| Reflective Essay | ±õ²Ô»å¾±±¹¾±»å³Ü²¹±ôÌý | 0%Ìý | 3Ìý |
Content
- Theories of crime and criminal behaviour (including developmental perspectives)
- Sexual offender assessment, treatment and management
- Violent offender assessment, treatment and management
- Report writing in the forensic context
- Sentencing
- Assessment and treatment of mentally disordered offenders
- Malingering and deception
- Special populations (Women and Indigenous Offenders)
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.