This course is designed to introduce students to critical issues in criminal justice. Using a combination of readings, lectures, discussions and media, students will be familiarised with the basic characteristics of the criminal justice system and asked to use this knowledge to critically analyse various aspects of that system and to consider possible alternative systems of justice.
After an introduction to the course and a brief overview of the justice system, we will consider ten big questions about the criminal justice system:
- Why are crime rates falling around the world?
- Why is New Zealand's recidivism rate so high?
- Why is New Zealand bringing back three-strikes legislation?
- What role should victims play in criminal justice in New Zealand?
- Should New Zealand establish a separate justice system for Māori?
- Would more risk assessment improve New Zealand's criminal justice system?
- Should New Zealand decriminalise drugs?
- Should New Zealand expand its use of problem-solving courts?
- Should New Zealand introduce sentencing guidelines?
- Should New Zealand introduce corporal punishment (in place of prisons)?
The course employs an international, comparative approach and students will be exposed to materials from New Zealand, the US, the UK, Australia and elsewhere, and expected to relate them to each other.