How our research develops real-world responses to crime

The Crime and Criminology group brings together researchers from several disciplines to investigate constructions of crime, causes of crime, diverse harms associated with crime and responses to crime in its various forms. Our goal is to understand crime and criminal behaviour, to develop solutions to real-world problems.

Our research areas

Our researchers have expertise in a wide range of areas and are engaged in diverse projects covering many aspects of criminology. Led by our group convenors, we integrate research under three domains:

Crime and justice

We focus on constructions of crime and criminal behaviour across diverse crime types, to better understand how these relate to questions of justice.

Offenders and victims

Our research considers the causes and diverse harms associated with crime for individuals, communities and society.

Governance and regulation

We address the ways in which crime is framed within and beyond the criminal justice system, and approaches to preventing and responding to crime.

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Our researchers

Our members span from early to mid and senior career researchers. They bring a range of disciplinary expertise based on decades of combined experience.

Professor Chad Whelan is the group co-convener and a professor in criminology in the School of Humanities and Social Science. His research spans many areas of criminology, with a particular interest in organised crime, terrorism, cyber-crime and security, and multi-agency responses to such problems across organisational boundaries and professional disciplines.

Dr Imogen Richards is the group co-convenor. She isa lecturer in criminology at Deakin and a research fellow at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation. Her research explores the political economy of terrorism and counterterrorism, new media in the context of criminological debate and the performance of security in response to social crisis.

Meet our researchers

Alexander Baird, Senior Research Assistant

Professor David Bright, Professor of Criminology

Associate Professor Clare Farmer, Associate Professor in Criminology

Dr Diarmaid Harkin, Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Professor Andrew Hope, Head of School

Dr Mary Iliadis, Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Dr Chris Linke, Associate Lecturer, Criminology

Dr Monique Mann, Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Dr James Martin, Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Dr Imogen Richards, Lecturer in Criminology

Dr Emma Ryan, Lecturer in Criminology

Associate Professor Danielle Tyson, Associate Professor in Criminology

Professor Reece Walters, Professor of Criminology

Dr Ian Warren, Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Professor Chad Whelan, Professor of Criminology

Dr Mark Wood, Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Featured projects

Our partnerships with government, community and industry allow us to deliver research with impact. We lead bold initiatives that seek solutions beyond traditional research and organisational boundaries.

The Australian carbon market as state-corporate crime

The Australian carbon market as state-corporate crime

The Australian Government’s Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan envisages that 10-20% of greenhouse gas emission reductions will be from carbon offsets traded in international and Australian markets. Our work explores the possibility that the Australian Clean Energy Regulator paradoxically operates to increase carbon emissions, accelerate planetary ecocide and misappropriates public funds.

A systematic review of research and policy on police-perpetrated domestic violence

A systematic review of research and policy on police-perpetrated domestic violence

There is an urgent need to examine the issue police-perpetrated domestic violence in Australia, along with the implementation of stronger policies to protect victims, ensure perpetrator accountability, and to address existing [police] cultural impediments. Our research is a first step, conducting a systematic review of existing national and international research and policies on this issue.

Our partnerships

Our research impact extends beyond academia because of our applied focus and experience in research translation. Our partnerships with experts outside of criminology underpin our work and are essential to our success. Our researchers often consult with organisations such as community legal centres and the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

Contact us

Get in touch to learn more about working or studying with the Crime and Criminology group.

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