Diversity and Crime: Equality in the Criminal Justice System

Contemporary societies comprise of diverse populations. Diversity can be the result of not only internal dimensions (such as ethnicity, gender, and age) but also different historical, social, and institutional processes with each population encountering unique risks and needs. One of the most consistent finding in criminology is that minority populations are over-represented at all stages of the criminal justice process both as victims and offenders. Hence, one of the critical issues in criminology today is addressing inequality within the criminal justice system and how to best cater to the needs of such diversity. In this course, students will be introduced to theoretical understanding of marginalisation and inequalities within the criminal justice system. Students will explore current responses to diverse populations and examine ways to reduce inequality within the criminal justice system. Diversity and Crime is a capstone unit for the Bachelor of Criminology.