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Crimes of the Powerful (CRIM30005)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject analyses the crimes and harms of the powerful. The subject examines the relationship between government, business and law both theoretically and through a series of case studies to explore why business harms and crimes are so difficult to tackle. These case studies of corporate and white-collar crime include complex financial fraud, industrial disasters, professional misconduct, tax avoidance and corruption in the context of business. This theoretical and case study material is used to demonstrate the challenges associated with deciding whether harmful behaviour by the powerful should be defined as crime and the difficulties inherent in using criminal law to curb such activities. Students will explore a range of criminological theories that can help explain the harms perpetuated by the powerful as well as the techniques employed by the state in regulating white-collar and corporate misconduct.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- have an understanding of the problems of definition of the various forms of business, occupational or corporate criminality.
- have an appreciation of the importance of corporate criminality in the context of the social and political life.
- have an understanding of the forms of individual business or occupational crime, including such forms of financial crime as complex financial fraud
- have learned some of the problems which concern the regulation of white collar crime, including the features of law which cause particular problems in the control of corporate misconduct
- communicate effectively in oral and written formats.
Last updated: 19 September 2024