LAWGENRL 407 : Special Topic: Indigenous Peoples, Criminal Law and Justice

Law

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An examination of contemporary issues in criminal law and justice concerning Indigenous peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. Topics covered include: Indigenous peoples’ experiences of state criminal justice systems, efforts to incorporate Indigenous law and cultural practices into state criminal law and criminal justice systems, and Indigenous legal responses to wrongdoing.

Course Overview

This course is for students who have an interest in criminal law and justice issues concerning Indigenous peoples, including in how Indigenous peoples' own legal traditions respond to wrongdoing. The course will significantly advance the Māori and criminal justice issues briefly introduced in LAW201 Criminal Law, as well as offering a critical comparative perspective on the topic, with especial attention to experiences in the other “big four” settler-colonial jurisdictions: Canada, Australia and the United States.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: LAW 201

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain and critically evaluate key issues in criminal law and justice concerning Indigenous peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  2. Analyse and interpret criminal law of particular relevance to Indigenous peoples (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 4.1 and 6.2)
  3. Critically analyse how the criminal law and criminal justice processes and responses frame Indigenous peoples and their claims, including the influence of colonial narratives (Capability 2.2, 2.3, 3.1 and 4.1)
  4. Understand and apply Indigenous peoples' own legal responses to wrongdoing in order to reach reasoned solutions to topical issues in criminal law and justice (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.3, 3.3, 4.2, 6.1 and 6.3)
  5. Develop and demonstrate legal research and analytical skills in preparing written tasks and in reading and analysing the material discussed in lectures and the prescribed course readings (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  6. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills through participating in class discussions andcompleting written tasks (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reflection on a prescribed reading 10% Individual Coursework
Essay 30% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 60% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Reflection on a prescribed reading
Essay
Final Exam
Reflection on a prescribed reading (10%)
Students will write a 750 word reflection on, or response to, a prescribed reading for the course. The reflection is due in week 3 of Semester 2. It is an opportunity for students to receive early feedback on their learning.

Essay (30%)
Students will write a 2,250 word (including footnotes) essay on a topic covered in lectures. The essay is due in week 9 of Semester 2.

Final examination (60%)
The final examination will be a 2 hour open book exam on cross-cutting themes covered in the course.

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15-point course. There will be around 36 hours of lectures in 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 150 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at lectures for the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes 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.

All prescribed readings for the course are available through the Reading List tab on Canvas. There is no set textbook for the course. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching 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.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

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 against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, 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 http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser 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 https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

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.

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 https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course 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.

Published on 30/10/2021 04:42 p.m.