Police, Courts and Corrections
Undergraduate
GRF-CCJ112 2025Previously GRF-CCJ12
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Get an overview of the criminal justice system, from police investigations all the way through to sentencing and rehabilitation. Understand how criminal trials proceed, and the key players involved. Analyse less traditional approaches to justice.
Enrol today with instant approval and no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 25 May 2025
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $2,124
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Police, Courts and Corrections
About this subject
After successfully completing this subject you should be able to:
- Define and reflect upon conceptualisations of "justice".
- Identify and define the aims, functions and processes of the criminal justice system and the roles of its key actors.
- Describe the processes by which alleged offenders are investigated, brought to trial, sentenced and punished.
- Describe and critique the contemporary practices of the criminal justice system and its actors in relation to issues such as powers, discretion, accountability, misconduct, fairness and efficacy.
- Develop skills in oral and written communication.
- Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
- Justice and discretion
- Inequality
- Policing
- Police powers
- Investigation
- Courts
- Pre-trial
- The criminal trial
- Punishment and sentencing
- Corrections
- Rehabilitation, restoration, and prevention
Police, Courts and Corrections explains the processes that govern the way crimes are investigated, tried, and punished. The course begins with an overview of the aims and functions of the criminal justice system with consideration for the laws and justice principles that underpin it. It then examines the roles and functions of the police, courts and corrective services and the process through which a criminal case progresses through the system, concluding with some reflections on alternatives to traditional practice. Throughout this course, consideration is given to understanding the powers, responsibilities and accountabilities of key criminal justice actors as well as the application of justice principles within the system. The course particularly references the Queensland criminal justice system, however general principles are common to all Australian systems.
- Reflective Presentation (30%)
- Incident Report (30%)
- Final Exam (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
Learn more about Griffith University.
Explore Griffith courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 18
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 20
Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
GRF-CCJ12 (Not currently available)
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
9 student respondents between 19 Feb - 15 Sept 2024.
100%of students felt the study load was manageable
100%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
Why study a single subject?
Bite sized study
Try studying a particular area to see if online study suits you, or upskill in just a few months with a single subject that you’re interested in.
Pursue a dream
With thousands of single subjects to choose from, you can find topics that get you on the path to your higher education goals fast.
Gain Uni credit
Most single subjects are part of a full degree. That means if you’re keen to keep learning, you can gain credit for the subjects you’ve successfully completed.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Undergraduate
GRF-CCJ-DEGSingle subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.