Contract Cheating: Will Students Pay for Serious Criminal Consequences?

Alternative Law Journal, 2017, DOI: 10.1177/1037969X17710627

UNSW Law Research Paper No. 17-73

13 Pages Posted: 20 Oct 2017 Last revised: 13 Jul 2018

See all articles by Alex Steel

Alex Steel

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - UNSW Law & Justice

Date Written: 2017

Abstract

There are increasing reports of university students contracting with third parties to write their essays and assignments. While getting caught is likely to mean the student faces disciplinary action within the university, the students and those offering the service may also be exposing themselves to criminal prosecution. This article looks at the range of offences that students and the contract cheating services could be committing – including fraud, forgery and conspiracy. The article also recommends specific statutory offences be introduced. Far from an entrepreneurial innovation, the activities can be construed as serious crimes.

Keywords: contract cheating; plagiarism; fraud; crime

JEL Classification: K14, I24

Suggested Citation

Steel, Alex, Contract Cheating: Will Students Pay for Serious Criminal Consequences? (2017). Alternative Law Journal, 2017, DOI: 10.1177/1037969X17710627, UNSW Law Research Paper No. 17-73, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3055471

Alex Steel (Contact Author)

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - UNSW Law & Justice ( email )

Kensington, New South Wales 2052
Australia

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