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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.
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.
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
- Dr 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
- 17 June 2022
- 3 June 2022
- 18 May 2022
- 6 May 2022
- 31 March 2022
- 1 March 2022
- 10 February 2022
- 28 January 2022
- 12 November 2021
- 29 October 2021
- 13 October 2021
- 22 September 2021
- 31 August 2021
- 11 August 2021
- 23 July 2021
- 6 July 2021
- 17 June 2021
- 4 June 2021
- 25 May 2021
- 27 April 2021
- 9 April 2021
- 17 March 2021
- 17 February 2021
- 3 February 2021
To access previous editions of CrimNet please 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.
Visit our events calendar for all upcoming 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).
Gain access to on-demand recordings
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:
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.
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.
Dr 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 Dr 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.
Contact details
Address
-
Law School Building (F10) Eastern Avenue, Camperdown Campus The University of Sydney NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA
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