This unit is divided into three parts. The first introduces students to a range of criminological theories and concepts that they will use throughout their degree. The second part of the unit examines a range of crime patterns associated with gender, youth and Indigenousness as well as the distinctive differences between rural versus urban patterns of crime. Part 2 also explores the victims of crime and the criminalisation and decriminalisation of certain sex crimes (i.e. prostitution). Part 3 concludes the foundation unit with a sample of pressing contemporary issues facing policy makers, such as: the threat of terrorism and the rise of cyber, internet and corporate crime.