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Sydney Institute of Criminology

An internationally recognised research centre

Our experts are pioneering a multidisciplinary, critical approach to criminology, criminal law and criminal justice.

The Sydney Institute of Criminology is an internationally recognised research centre of criminological, criminal law and criminal justice expertise. Positioned within the University of Sydney Law School, the institute’s members are strategically positioned to apply their collective crimino-legal experience in the critical analysis of contemporary practice and policy, with a particular focus on progressing social justice and law reform.

The institute represents a matrix of excellence in research, teaching and industry engagement.

Excellence in research

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.

For examples of crime and criminal justice research at the University of Sydney, read some past research briefs here.

Excellence in teaching

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.

Excellence in professional and industry engagement

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.

History of the institute: 50 years of innovation

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)

Our people

Dr Carolyn McKay, Co-Director
Dr Andrew Dyer, Co-Director
Associate Professor 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

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 newsletter

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

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

Seminars and events

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.

Visit our events calendar for all upcoming events.

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.

Student internships

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).

2022-2023 Criminal Law CPD series

Gain access to on-demand recordings and earn your CPD compulsory units for the year

The 2022-23 Criminal Law CPD series, presented by the Sydney Institute of Criminology is an innovative educational program made up of 7 recorded webinars delivered by eminent speakers from the University of Sydney and the legal profession.

A new webinar will be released each month from September 2022 - March 2023.

Quizzes will be included to test your comprehension of the material being discussed.

Register now for the full series or individual webinars and enjoy the flexibility of watching at your own pace from any location at any time.

Program schedule (release dates)

Should Deceptive Sex Always Be Rape? | 29 September 2022
The Role of the Crown Prosecutor in NSW | 20 October 2022
The Reliability and Credibility of Eyewitnesses | 24 November 2022
Ethical Practice for Junior Criminal Law Barristers | 15 December 2022
Myths, Misconceptions and Mixed Messages: An Early Look at the New Tendency and Coincidence Evidence Provisions | 19 January 2023
Advocacy in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal | 9 February 2023
The Work of the Mental Health Review Tribunal | 9 March 2023

View series flyer

Registration:

Full series (7 webinars) = $300
Individual webinar(s) = $50

*University of Sydney Alumni are eligible to receive a 10% discount.

Find out more and register

CPD accreditation:

Information for lawyers and barristers: If this educational activity is relevant to your professional development and practice of the law, then you should claim 1.5 MCLE/CPD points per seminar attended or 10.5 points for the full series.

For further enquiries:

T +61 2 9351 0248
E law.events@sydney.edu.au

2021-2022 Criminal Law CPD series

Webinars are currently available to purchase for on-demand viewing

Presented by the Sydney Institute of Criminology, the 2021-22 Criminal Law CPD series is made up of 7 recorded webinars and features experts from Sydney Law School.

Topics include:

criminal behaviour in the digital age
consent and culpability in sex cases involving adults
irreducible life sentences
preventive detention
neurotechnology and the criminal law.

Program schedule:

A Reasonable Balance: The NSW and Queensland Law Reform Commissions’ Reports about Consent and Culpability in Sex Cases Involving Adults
Irreducible life sentences, the High Court of Australia and charters of rights
The Commonwealth Parliament and Preventive Detention: the High Court’s Decision in Benbrika v Minister for Home Affairs [2020] HCA 4
Virtual Courts, Technology and Cross-Examination (professional skills, practice management and business skills, ethics, substantive law)
Focusing on the AUDIO in Audio Visual Links (professional skills, practice management and business skills, ethics, substantive law)
Criminal Behaviour in the Digital Age (professional skills)
Neurotechnology and the Criminal Law.

You can register for the full series or individual webinar(s) and watch at your own pace.

Registration:

Full series (7 webinars) = $300
Individual webinar(s) = $50

*University of Sydney Alumni are eligible to receive a 10% discount.

CPD accreditation:

All webinars are substantive law unless indicated in the program schedule above.

For further enquiries:

T +61 2 9351 0248
E law.events@sydney.edu.au

Our leadership team

Dr Carolyn McKay, Co-Director

Areas of interest

Crime and criminal justice
Technologies in justice / digital criminology
Prisons and penology
Visual criminology
Surveillance and policing
Interdisciplinary research methodologies.

Visit Dr McKay's academic profile.

Dr Andrew Dyer, Co-Director

Areas of interest

Criminal law doctrine and theory
Human rights law
Sentencing
Judges, judicial reasoning and judicial law-making.

Visit Dr Dyer's academic profile.

Associate Professor Helen Paterson, Deputy Director

Areas of interest

Social and cognitive psychology in legal settings
Trauma, memory and psychological wellbeing
Techniques in capturing eyewitness evidence
Detection of deception

Visit Associate Professor Paterson's academic profile.

Dr Allan McCay, Deputy Director

Areas of interest

Neuroethics, neurolaw, behavioural genetics and crime
Legal and ethical issues relating to emerging technologies
Criminal responsibility and free will
Artificial intelligence and brain-computer interfaces

Visit Dr McCay's profile.

Master of Criminology

Study with us

Courses_

2022-2023 Criminal Law CPD series

The 2022-23 Criminal Law CPD series is an innovative educational program made up of 7 recorded webinars delivered by eminent speakers from the University of Sydney and the legal profession.

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