CRIM20006 Punishment and Social Control
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Not running in 2026.
- No final exam: all coursework
Is CRIM20006 hard?
CRIM20006: About average. Not running in 2026, so it isn't on the lists. Makes it easier: No final exam.
What you learn
Why and how society punishes: sentencing, prison life including for women and Indigenous prisoners, and key critical theorists.
After it you can
- Explain the main justifications for punishment
- Describe how the correctional system works
- Apply critical theory to punishment
What you need first
None
How it’s assessed
Assignments 40%, Reports and essays 60%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2015–2022)
- Reviewers from 2015 to 2022 were very positive: interesting, well organised and eye-opening, with many calling it one of their favourite criminology subjects.
- Most of the content centres on prisons and the criminal justice system, with theory such as Foucault mid-semester, so the title can feel broader than what is taught.
- Weekly effort is modest, but the two essays need a lot of reading and research beyond the given material. Several said marking is on the harsh side or curved, so high marks take work.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate CRIM20006
Quick answers
- When is CRIM20006 offered?
- Not running in 2026.
- What do I need before taking CRIM20006?
- No prerequisites.
- Does CRIM20006 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Assignments 40%, Reports and essays 60%.
- Is CRIM20006 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: Reviewers from 2015 to 2022 were very positive: interesting, well organised and eye-opening, with many calling it one of their favourite criminology subjects.
- What do students say about CRIM20006?
- Reviewers from 2015 to 2022 were very positive: interesting, well organised and eye-opening, with many calling it one of their favourite criminology subjects. Most of the content centres on prisons and the criminal justice system, with theory such as Foucault mid-semester, so the title can feel broader than what is taught. Weekly effort is modest, but the two essays need a lot of reading and research beyond the given material. Several said marking is on the harsh side or curved, so high marks take work.
- Can I take CRIM20006 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- Can I rate CRIM20006?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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