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Overview

Course Overview

This course is for students who wish to undertake an in-depth examination of restorative justice and therapeutic justice theory and practice within the criminal justice system.
Restorative justice has been advanced within criminal justice as an alternative way of defining and responding to crime in which those most affected by an offence – the victim, the offender, and the community – come together to work out how to repair the harm caused and deal with the aftermath of the offending. As such, it is an approach to justice that can be distinguished in many ways from the traditional responses to crime – retributive and rehabilitative. The course examines the core values of restorative justice and key restorative processes; charts the history and development of restorative justice; considers some of the critical issues within the theory and practice of restorative justice, including the meaning(s) of restoration, the relationship of restorative justice to indigenous justice, its relationship to punishment and reintegrative shaming, and explores the role(s) of the victim, the offender and the community – the key stakeholders in restorative justice. The course also explores and assesses the use of restorative justice in a variety of criminal justice contexts in Aotearoa, including youth offending, family violence and sexual violence, and within and as an alternative to prison.
Therapeutic justice views the law as a healing agent and seeks to reshape the use of the law to minimise anti-therapeutic consequences and promote therapeutic consequences. In recent years, Aotearoa has expanded the use of specialist, solution-focused courts underpinned by therapeutic justice values. The course examines the core values and development of therapeutic justice, and assesses the use of specialist courts in Aotearoa, including Ngā Kōti Rangatahi (The Rangatahi Courts), Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua (The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court) and recent developments in the District Court - Te Ao Mārama.
The course content focuses on the criminal justice system in Aotearoa, with discussion of overseas examples where appropriate. The course adopts a discussion-based approach to learning. The course content is taught intensively over five days in Semester One. In Semester Two, each student will give an oral presentation to the class on the individual research topic on which they are writing their research paper, with discussion and feedback. The oral presentations take place over three days in Semester Two. 

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 20-point course. There will be around 48 hours of class time for this course. As a general guide, you should expect a workload of three hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 200 hours. 

As the learning in the course is through seminars, you will need to do the set course readings in advance of the seminars, which are run intensively over five days in Semester One, in order to properly prepare for the class and small group discussions. In Semester Two, students will each present on their individual research topic on which they are writing their research paper. The oral presentations will take place over three days in Semester Two. Students should work on their seminar research papers steadily throughout the academic year. 


Additional Advice on Prerequisites

To complete this course students must enrol in LAWHONS 753 A and B

Locations and Semesters Offered

Location
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Campus Experience

Attendance at seminars is required to complete the course. 

Seminars will not be recorded. 

The teaching in Semester One is taught intensively over five days. In Semester Two, each student will give an oral presentation to the class on the individual research topic on which they are writing their research paper, with discussion and feedback. The oral presentations will take place over three days in Semester Two. 

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

The topics for the course, and the process of teaching and learning in the course, always takes into account the feedback of students, both during and after the course.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.