FACULTY FOCUS
campusreview.com.au
Dun dun!
TV crime comes to the
University of South Australia.
By Nicole Madigan
C
rime shows – be they fiction or
based on true events – are some
of the world’s most popular
television programs, frequently devoured by
a wide range of audiences.
There is no shortage of options when it
comes to choosing your favourite series,
but now there’s a new kid on the block,
designed to provide a genuine insight into
how a crime is investigated.
The University of South Australia’s online
education arm, UniSA Online, will soon
launch Westside Justice, an in‑house
feature film starring local Australian actors
and produced by academics from the
university’s online criminal justice degree.
The film has been designed to give
students an insight into what it takes to
investigate and assemble the physical
evidence required to get a conviction.
“The film offers that single crime event
which can be examined from multiple
criminal justice perspectives and which
transposes theory, law and good practice
into something concrete for students,” says
online course facilitator and former police
officer, Bec Medhurst.
“It’s a way of introducing criminal
investigation techniques and approaches
for students who may pursue various roles
in criminal justice. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy a
good whodunnit film?”
Medhurst says the film is anchored to
the course, ‘Policing Investigations and
Intelligence’, with students ‘riding along’
with detectives in the initial stages of a
criminal investigation to get a taste of
what’s involved.
“The film has been scripted to prompt and
demonstrate suspect, victim and witness
interviewing; crime scene investigation;
intelligence processes; arrest procedures;
evidence collection and management; and
simple forensic procedures,” she says.
The full film is divided into a series of
shorter scenes that follow the learning
topics over the 10-week course.
“When the film is viewed as a full-length
feature, it’s just a good film.
“When paired with educational narrative,
activities, discussions and assessments,
the film brings criminal investigation and
intelligence to life for students.”
Medhurst says fictional television crime
shows offer abridged and filtered versions
of real-life crime.
“Well, TV crime is faster, louder, snappier,
and, when it wants to be, intrinsically
satisfying. Perhaps because you guessed
who the perpetrator was, or you never
saw that ‘twist’ coming, but mainly
because you’re not the one standing in
the rain wondering where you left the keys
to your police car. You’re toasty warm and
safe at home watching it all happen.”
And while Medhurst says they do a pretty
good job, real life crime is less predictable.
“Real life crime can be hot, cold, smelly,
scary and many other things.
“Our film is similar to TV in some ways
– we don’t highlight unfruitful leads or red
herrings. Students will, however, engage in
the reading, thinking and writing that goes
hand in hand with investigation work.
“We did have some fun with a few TV
crime stereotypes, though ... and we’ve
planted a crime twist or two.
“As for ‘real’ crime investigations? They
can be both unexciting and extremely
exciting. In fact, toggling between mundane
and extreme excitement can happen in a
single moment, and it frequently does.
“The film scenes are written in a way that
means they can be repurposed for different
activities and assessments in courses across
the degree, and student feedback has been
extremely positive.”
Medhurst says students will gain
an understanding of how theory, law,
policy and procedure meld together in
professional practice, and how the sum
of the investigation and intelligence tasks
progress criminal investigations.
“There are some reflective moments
and lighter moments in the film, which
humanises investigators and, I hope,
demystifies some of the aura surrounding
crime investigation.
“The film characters are earnest yet
fallible, and there are moments when
departure from the correct procedure can
derail the entire investigation.
“Those moments become powerful
teaching and learning opportunities.”
Medhurst says the changing nature
of policing and the closer alignment
of immigration, border protection, law
enforcement and domestic security
through the new Home Affairs portfolio has
expanded the required skills and knowledge
base for careers in the sector.
“People working in this sector need a
broad understanding of the different roles
and responsibilities of all of these agencies,
and how they all work together,” she says.
“Our online degree provides students
with a 360-degree view of the criminal
justice sector, including everything from law
enforcement to the courts and corrections.
And it includes learning on the latest trends
in cybercrime, counter-terrorism, police
investigations and intelligence and applied
criminology.
“It makes sense that in teaching the
latest challenges for people working in
law enforcement and the criminal justice
system, we use all the best tools to make
that learning thorough, relevant and
memorable.
“We believe Westside Justice will be a
real asset to learning for our online students
around Australia.” ■
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