Sydney Institute of Criminology

Established more than 50 years ago, the institute draws upon a rich archive of criminological research and long-term relationships with key stakeholders from criminal justice agencies, law enforcement, law reform, the legal profession and judiciary. Such a deep knowledge bank provides a platform for the institute to be a hub for 21st century research in some of today's most pressing issues, including:

• technologies in criminal procedure
• technologies in policing and law enforcement
• technologies as emergent conduits for crime and anti-social behaviour
• policing, crime prevention and public safety initiatives
• hate crime and cyber-racism
• wrongful convictions and corrections and punishment

Members of the institute contribute diverse and comprehensive perspectives founded upon their academic and professional engagement with multiple disciplines: law, sociology, psychology, gender studies and visual media. Such multidisciplinary capabilities ensure original and innovative research and thorough and rigorous approaches to criminal justice research, practice, policy and debate. 

Our strong commitment to research and social justice values underpins the teaching of criminology and related legal subjects such as criminal law and procedure, evidence and punishment. Criminology, offered to undergraduate and postgraduate students, is taught using innovative methods that connect criminological theories with the real world. Higher degree research candidates have the opportunity to be supervised by our team of outstanding scholars. The institute also provides mentorship to criminology/criminal law students.

Through our interdisciplinary criminological research, we seek to have real-world impact and influence by engaging with criminal justice agencies, legal professionals, the judiciary and law reform bodies. The institute aims to serve industry and the broader community via the Hate Crime Network resources, our weekly CrimNet newsletter and our series of public seminars.

In 2016 the Sydney Institute of Criminology celebrated 50 years of innovative and critical criminological, criminal law and criminal justice research, teaching and community engagement.

For more information on the events and celebrations around the 50th anniversary, please download the following documents:

• Sydney Institute of Criminology: Celebrating 50 years (PDF 293KB)
• History of events at the institute (PDF 801KB)
• Key office holders at the institute (PDF 92KB)

• Dr Carolyn McKay, Co-Director
• Andrew Dyer, Co-Director
• Dr Helen Paterson, Deputy Director
• Dr Allan McCay, Deputy Director
• Ross Abbs
  
• Associate Professor Jane Andrew
• Jenny Bargen 
• Dr Louise Boon-Kuo
• Dr Marlee Bower
• Emeritus Professor Terry Carney
• Professor Judy Cashmore AO
• Dr Louise Cauchi
• Honorary Professor Duncan Chappell
• Dr Jason Chin
• Associate Professor Garner Clancey
• Graeme Coss
• Nicholas Cowdery AO QC
• Professor Thomas Crofts
• Associate Professor Salim Farrar
• Dr Elaine Fishwick
• Professor Susan Goodwin
• Dr Rosemary Grey
• Professor David Hamer
• Associate Professor Tyrone Kirchengast
• Professor Murray Lee
• Professor Arlie Loughnan
• Dr Roman Marchant
• Associate Professor Greg Martin
• Professor Gail Mason
• Dr Tanya Mitchell
• Dr Juliette Overland
• Dr Estrella Pearce
• Professor Kane Race
• Dr Rebecca Scott Bray
• Professor Rita Shackel
• Dr Celine Van Golde
• Dr Nicole Watson
• Dr Don Weatherburn
• Dr Scarlet Wilcock
• Associate Professor Megan Williams
• Dr Christopher Rudge
• Dr Sarah Wayland

Associate members

• Dr Justin Ellis
• Pei Kong
• Siobhan Lawler
  
• Brenda Lin
• Dr Alice Orchiston
• Sarah Napier
• Professor Julie Stubbs
• Linda Wilkin
• Dr Robyn Holder

Current Issues in Criminal Justice is our prestigious peer-reviewed international journal that provides a forum for contemporary academic debate from leading experts.

In addition, institute members publish and present their research outputs in high-quality international journals, research monographs, texts and conference proceedings and contribute to media analysis of current crimino-legal matters.

CrimNet is a fortnightly electronic criminal justice e-newsletter, sponsored by the Sydney Institute of Criminology. It provides regular communication between criminal justice professionals, academics and students in Australia and overseas.

Subscribe to the CrimNet newsletter.

If you would like to advertise a publication, event or job opportunity in CrimNet, please email us at law.criminology@sydney.edu.au. 

CrimNet digest

• 9 December 2020
• 25 November 2020
• 11 November 2020
• 28 October 2020
• 14 October 2020
• 30 September 2020
• 16 September 2020
• 2 September 2020
• 19 August 2020
• 5 August 2020
• 23 July 2020
• 8 July 2020
• 24 June 2020
• 10 June 2020
• 20 May 2020
• 6 May 2020
• 22 April 2020
• 8 April 2020
• 26 February 2020
• 12 February 2020
• 29 January 2020

To access previous editions of CrimNet contact the Sydney Institute of Criminology.

A primary objective of the institute is to lead, stimulate and contribute to public debate and education. It continues its proud tradition of hosting seminars and events involving an array of world renowned and local experts. Sponsored seminar series and the Professional Development Program contribute to the institute's calendar of events.

If you would like to receive information on jobs, events, reports and research in criminology, criminal law and criminal justice, sign up to CrimNet by emailing us at law.criminology@sydney.edu.au. 

Upcoming events and seminars

Visit our events calendar for all upcoming events. 

Types of events

Sponsored seminars

We value the contributions and commitment of our partner organisations that support our public seminars and events.

• Beyond Punishment, Corrective Services NSW: Since 2002 Corrective Services NSW has sponsored the Beyond Punishment seminar series established as a forum for research presentations, lectures, panel discussions and formal networking. This program focuses on key issues relevant to criminal justice and the correctional systems.
• Juvenile Justice Seminar Series: We are pleased to announce the renewal of the Juvenile Justice seminar program sponsored by Juvenile Justice NSW. The seminar series began in 2010 and is a key element of Juvenile Justice’s community engagement program, which aims to better educate the public on aspects of the juvenile justice system. 

Centre for Continuing Education

The Centre for Continuing Education and the Sydney Institute of Criminology hold courses throughout the year aimed at criminal justice practitioners, students and others. The Centre for Continuing Education courses focus on delivering practical and applied learning opportunities. 

Publicising events

Other organisations are encouraged to submit information about upcoming criminology events, so that we may publicise them through CrimNet. 

Internships are offered periodically and will be advertised in the law student newsletter. For more information on internships, visit Resources - Sydney Law Students (in Canvas).