Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
An examination of the key issues of youth deviance, crime and justice in Australia, including representations of youth deviance and delinquency, factors influencing youth delinquency and the ways we (as a community) respond to delinquent youth.
This course is concerned with various aspects of deviant and criminal behaviour among young people and our responses to those behaviours. The course examines the social construction of youth and their control, particularly theﾠlaw and criminal justice system as modes of social control. The course considers theories of crime specifically in relation to youth, the extent of youth crime and deviance, and various issues related to specific groups of young people often labelled as deviant. The course draws on contemporary Australian and international research, and current issues and debatesﾠin juvenile justice.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course builds on criminological and sociological theories. While not compulsory, having completed CRIM1000, CRIM1019 and/or SOCY1050 is beneficial toﾠundertaking this course.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
2 units Level 1 SOCY or CRIM courses
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
CRIM1000, CRIM1019 and/or SOCY1050
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
SOCY2010
Course contact
School enquiries
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course is concerned with various aspects of deviant and criminal behaviour among young people and our responses to those behaviours. The course examines the social construction of youth and their control, particularly the ﾠlaw and criminal justice system as modes of social control. The course considers theories of crime specifically in relation to youth, the extent of youth crime and deviance, and various issues related to specific groups of young people often labelled as deviant. The course draws on contemporary Australian and international research, and current issues and debates ﾠin juvenile justice.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand the concepts of 'youth,' 'deviance,' 'crime,' and 'youth justice' from a sociological and historical perspective
LO2.
Understand the nature, extent, causes, and context of different forms of youth deviance and crime through the lens of criminological theories
LO3.
Critically evaluate law enforcement and criminal justice system responses to youth deviance and crime
LO4.
Critically examine and evaluate the effectiveness of current responses (e.g. diversion from prosecution, community corrections and custodial sentences) to youth crime
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notebook/ Logbook, Reflection |
Teams Discussions
|
10% |
27/02/2025 - 22/05/2025
Group discussion reflection tasks will be completed in class via the course Microsoft Teams page by the end of each weekly seminar (excluding week 7). Peer discussion reviews are due by the end of class in Weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12. |
| Quiz |
Quiz
|
25% |
10/04/2025
During class in week 7 |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Take Home Exercise
|
15% |
30/05/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Lit Review and Case Studies + Check-in Discussion
|
50% 40% final paper + 10% check-in discussion |
9/06/2025 2:00 pm
+ discussion booked at alloted time between 17 Apr 25 and 29 May 25 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Teams Discussions
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Notebook/ Logbook, Reflection
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
27/02/2025 - 22/05/2025
Group discussion reflection tasks will be completed in class via the course Microsoft Teams page by the end of each weekly seminar (excluding week 7). Peer discussion reviews are due by the end of class in Weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12.
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The seminar program is designed to encourage your active engagement with and critical reflection on the course content, including readings, in person and online lecture content. Seminars will include small-group and class discussion, role-play and problem-solving activities.
Throughout the semester, students will join groups of approximately 4-6 other students to form a discussion group. Within these discussion groups, students will be tasked with reflecting on various points from the discussions in the classroom and course content, and recording these reflections (as a group) within the course Microsoft Teams page during class time.
At 4 time points during the semester (due at end of class in weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12), students will be asked to review and rate the contributions of themselves and others in their group to these discussions. These reviews will be utilised in combination with the course coordinator's assessment of the discussions and reflections to provide each student with a mark out of 10 (2.5 marks per reflection review) - worth 10% of the final course grade.
If you are unable to attend a seminar due to illness/other unforeseen circumstances, please contact the course coordinator to determine how best to contribute
to the discussion for that week.
The use of AI: This assessment task requires you to draw on your engagement with and critical reflection of the verbal discussion in the seminars and related course content. As a result, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools is not always relevant or necessary. However, if students choose to use AI in completing any part of this assessment task, they must clearly acknowledge this and reference any use of AI in each instance and why they chose to use AI.
A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
As this is a group-based discussion activity, extensions are not permitted. If a student is unwell/unable to attend class due to other unforeseen circumstances, please contact the course coordinator prior to class to determine how best to participate in that week's reflection.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Quiz
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
10/04/2025
During class in week 7
- Other conditions
- Student specific, Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
The in class quiz will take place at the beginning of scheduled class time in week 7. It will start at the time class usually starts, and will have a time limit. It will comprise multiple choice and short answer items that will assess your comprehension of the readings and class material. The quiz is closed book and is to be done individually via the quiz paper supplied. It will assess your knowledge of material covered in lectures and required readings. Students are strongly advised to keep up with the course material and required readings before each class in order to perform well.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
You can request a deferred exam if you can provide evidence of unavoidable circumstances that prevented you from sitting your original exam at its scheduled date and time. Your application must include supporting evidence. The request will be assessed based on the evidence you provide when you apply.
An application on the basis of a Student Access Plan (SAP) or Extension Verification Letter (EVL) alone will not be accepted. If you are applying on medical grounds, a medical practitioner must assess your condition and provide a signed medical certificate that covers the day of the examination. You must obtain a medical certificate no later than two business days after the date of the original examination. Further details of acceptable evidence for deferred examination can be found here.
For information on eligibility and application instructions, please view the following page on myUQ: Deferring an exam - my.UQ - University of Queensland
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Take Home Exercise
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
30/05/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
The take home exercise will be made up of short answer questions. It will be posted to Blackboard at 2pm on 29 May, and will be due the following day by 2pm on 30 May. Students are welcome to submit any time before the due date. Submission will be via Turnitin.
The take home exercise will assess your knowledge of material covered throughout the course and required readings (textbook and additional required readings) over the course of the entire semester. Additional tips on preparing will be provided in class and on Blackboard.
This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Students who are unable to complete the exercise in the timeframe provided will be required to contact the course coordinator for an alternative (equivalent) set of questions to be completed in a 24 hour period (as specified).
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Lit Review and Case Studies + Check-in Discussion
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 50% 40% final paper + 10% check-in discussion
- Due date
9/06/2025 2:00 pm
+ discussion booked at alloted time between 17 Apr 25 and 29 May 25
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Part 1. Literature Review/Theoretical Discussion and Case Studies
Length: 2,000 words
The assessment is a research exercise designed to assess your substantive knowledge of content presented in the course, relevant academic literature, and your ability to present and develop a cogent argument as applied to a specific context.
The paper should be written in formal academic style and in correct, grammatical, and succinct English. The paper should be structured with an introduction that clearly sets out the thesis of the paper and previews its argument(s), a body that builds the argument(s), and a conclusion that integrates the argument(s) made and relates them back to the thesis and the question.
Students must answer the following hypothetical scenario:
You are working for the Department of Children, Youth Justice, and Multicultural Affairs and have been asked to advise on two cases involving young people. For each of the cases described, identify ‘risk’ and ‘protective’ factors for persistence or desistence from offending. Applying theories of juvenile delinquency (e.g., Moffitt’s Dual Taxonomy; Sampson and Laub’s Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control) discuss likely patterns of offending in each of these cases and appropriate approaches to intervention in the Queensland context.
The first component of this assessment piece requires you to review the relevant literature relating to the theory/theories of juvenile delinquency, including evidence providing empirical support for these theories. You are then to apply these theories to the cases that are provided and write a brief discussion about possible interventions and the evidence for the efficacy of these approaches.
THE CASES YOU MUST DISCUSS WILL BE POSTED ON BLACKBOARD.
Sources and Reference List
In order to pass the paper, you will need to review and reference a minimum of eight academic sources other than or in addition to the course readings to show your ability to identify relevant literature relating to your paper topic. Suitable sources include books, book chapters, and credible journal articles. Try to mainly use primary and secondary sources. You may use some tertiary sources in addition to your eight academic sources if necessary. These may include online statistics, newspaper articles, etc. Please remember: lecture slides, Wikipedia, and other university websites that offer theoretical definitions, etc. are NOT academic sources and should NOT be used as references.
Formatting
To avoid losing marks, essays must be:
- Typed (12 point font), double-spaced, and include a reference list
- 2,000 words long (+/- 10% acceptable)
- Properly formatted (e.g., page numbers, paragraphs, etc)
- Using appropriate in-text referencing (APA style)
- Proofread for language and presentation (e.g., grammar and spelling errors)
Part 2. Check-in Discussion (10%)
This part of the task is designed to ensure you:
- are on track to complete your paper, meeting the requirements;
- that you have considered learnings from the course and how they are relevant to this task;
- receive further feedback on your paper plans so that you can produce your best work possible.
For this assessment you will prepare a one-page plan of your paper (in dot points) and discuss it with the lecturer. You will bring your plan (either a hard copy, or on a device) to show the lecturer, who will ask you to explain your plan briefly and will ask questions/provide advice to assist you in completing your paper.
Use of AI
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. If AI is utilised in this assessment task, it must be referenced and clearly explained why its use was necessary. Students must complete an AI usage declaration and submit it with their assignment. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for the assignment.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Further, To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Hurdle requirements
Students must complete an AI declaration detail any useage of generative AI in their assignment (if AI was not used, write "I did not use AI in any way for this assessment"). Failure to include this declaration will result in a grade of zero for the assignment. Students must also use a minimum of eight academic sources - failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for this assignment.Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
The final grade is determined by adding together the sum of the individual assessment tasks. Grades are calculated based on the marks received.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Supplementary assessment is an additional opportunity to demonstrate that the learning requirements for an eligible course have been satisfied and that the graduate attributes for the course have been attained. Supplementary assessment may only be granted where Supplementary Assessment – procedures allow. A passing grade of 4 (or P) is the highest grade that can be awarded in a course where supplementary assessment has been granted. For further information on supplementary assessment please see my.UQ.
Additional assessment information
Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Modules https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/
School Guide for Written Assessments: School of Social Science Guide for Written Assessments
Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The marks and feedback for the final assessment item will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date at the end of semester.
Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/querying-result
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 1: Understanding Youth, Deviance, & Crime Introduction to course: themes; goals; structure; expectations Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 2: Representations of Youth Crime Extent and nature of youth crime in Australia; Understanding data sources; Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 3: Theories of youth crime Examine theories of youth crime Learning outcomes: L02 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 4: Gender, sexuality, & youth crime Examine theories of youth crime Learning outcomes: L02 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 5: Families, Schools, & Communities Family factors; Intergenerational issues; The role of education; Schools and social control Learning outcomes: L02 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 6: Peers & Delinquency Development of peer relations; The impact of peers; delinquent groups Learning outcomes: L02 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 8: Youth & Police Police discretion and strategies for policing young people Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Seminar |
Week 9: Youth, Law, & Courts Principles of youth justice; Ordinances related to children and juvenile offenders; Philosophy of sentencing for young offenders Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
Week 10: Youth Justice Youth Justice; conferencing. Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Seminar |
Week 11: Marginalised youth and trauma-informed approaches Culturally and socially marginalised youth; the importance of trauma-informed approaches Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Seminar |
Week 12: Issues and evaluations Issues in youth crime prevention and program evaluation Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
Multiple weeks |
Seminar |
Week 13: Review Review of course objectives; Revision of course content Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.