Sentencing and Criminal Justice

Undergraduate | 2026

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area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
LAWS 1024
Course ID icon
Course ID
207272
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
1
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
No
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
No
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
No
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

Sentencing is the process by which criminal penalties are imposed on an individual found guilty of a criminal offence. The type and severity of penalties available for imposition involve significant value judgments. The course will cover sentencing theory; the history of Australian sentencing; and current South Australian sentencing legislation, and the law and order policy informing it. It may include guest presenters. A selection of additional topics will be drawn from areas such as mandatory vs discretionary sentencing; plea 'bargaining'; the role of the victim in the criminal justice system and sentencing; therapeutic and restorative justice; principles for sentencing Aboriginal offenders; principles for sentencing juvenile offenders; media representations and reporting; sentencing and criminology theories; control orders and preventative detention.

Course learning outcomes

  • Analyse sentencing principles, undertake self-directed legal research using primary and secondary materials, and analyse and evaluate legal information relating to the theory and practice of sentencing and criminal justice
  • Apply sentencing principles to complex legal problems, and critique their operation from both a policy and theoretical perspective
  • Prepare persuasive written and oral arguments for a legal and lay audience on issues relating to the application of sentencing principles to the type of cases and scenarios that arise in criminal practice
  • Demonstrate awareness of principles of ethical professional judgment in the conduct of sentencing submissions, from both a prosecution and defence perspective
  • Analyse the impact of sentencing law from a policy perspective, with a focus on the impact of the law on those people who are vulnerable or outside mainstream culture, and advocating evidence-based law reform
  • Reflect on individual capacity to complete self-directed tasks
  • Extend their skills by utilising feedback and reflection to drive personal improvement

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A