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.

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 weekly 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.

If you would like us to advertise a publication, event or job opportunity please send us an email.

Call for 2019 Special Issue Expressions of Interest 

Expressions of interest to guest edit a 2019 special issue of Current Issues in Criminal Justice are now open and close Friday 12 October 2018. 

CrimNet digest

• 3 May 2017
• 26 April 2017
• 19 April 2017
• 12 April 2017
• 5 April 2017
• 31 July 2018
• 10 August 2018
• 16 August 2018

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)

• Professor Arlie Loughnan, Co-Director
• Associate Professor Rita Shackel, Co-Director
• Dr Carolyn McKay, Deputy Director
• Andrew Dyer, Deputy Director
• Justin Ellis
• Ross Abbs
• Jenny Bargen (UTS)
• Associate Professor Jane Andrew
• Dr Louise Boon-Kuo
• Emeritus Professor Terry Carney
• Professor Judy Cashmore
• Honorary Professor Duncan Chappell
• Dr Garner Clancey
• Graeme Coss
• Nicholas Cowdery AM QC
• Professor Thomas Crofts
• Katherine Fallah
• Associate Professor Salim Farrar
• Dr Elaine Fishwick
• Associate Professor Susan Goodwin
• Professor David Hamer
• Dr Deirdre Howard-Wagner
• Professor Michael Humphrey
• Dr Tyrone Kirchengast
• John Kisch
• Miiko Kumar
• Professor Murray Lee
• Dr Roman Marchant
• Associate Professor Greg Martin
• Professor Gail Mason
• Allan McCay
• Megan McElhone
• Dr James Metzger
• Tanya Mitchell
• Pat O'Malley
• Dr Alice Orchiston
• Dr Juliette Overland
• Dr Helen Paterson
• Associate Professor Kane Race
• Kevin Schnepel
• Dr Rebecca Scott Bray
• Rachael Stanic
• Dr Celine Van Golde
• Dr Nicole Watson

Our research members

• Pota Forrest-Lawrence
• Pei Kong
• Tim Matthews
• Sarah Napier
• Ankit Thangasamy
• Hariett Westcott
• Linda Wilkin

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. 

October 2018

• 24 October, 6–7.30pm, 2018 Paul Byrne SC Memorial Lecture: Our First Nations People in Custody: A National Disgrace
  Speaker: Phillip Boulten SC

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).