Breaking Cycles, Building Futures: Evidence‑Led Justice
At the Griffith Criminology Institute, our research explores the systems, behaviours and inequalities that shape crime and justice outcomes. Grounded in rigorous evidence and real‑world collaboration, we focus on creating safer, more equitable communities by understanding the root causes of harm and the pathways to prevention. Through interdisciplinary partnerships, our work turns research into impact—informing policy, guiding practice, and helping communities build stronger, fairer futures.
Key challenges
Today’s communities are grappling with complex issues of safety, justice, and equity that criminological research can help address.
Our research focuses on five key challenges:
Disrupting cycles of crime and systemic inequality
Crime often clusters within overlapping demographic, family, economic, social, and environmental factors, creating and reinforcing cycles of disadvantage and inequality. Our research focuses on understanding these complex patterns and developing innovative, strength-based prevention strategies to break these cycles and enhance life outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
Building safer and more resilient communities
In a rapidly changing world, new and traditional crime types, including cyber, technological, and environmental harms, pose evolving challenges to community safety. Our research focuses on understanding these diverse threats and partnering with criminal justice agencies and communities to develop innovative, evidence-based strategies that reduce harm and enhance collective resilience.
Advancing violence prevention through evidence and partnership
Violence impacts communities across all levels—international, national, local, and within families. Our research aims to deepen our understanding of the root causes and far-reaching consequences of violence, and to develop collaborative, evidence-based strategies that prevent violence and promote healing.
Addressing Indigenous justice disparities with self-determination and cultural respect
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to be significantly overrepresented in criminal justice systems nationally and globally. Our research is dedicated to understanding the complex causes and impacts of this disparity and advancing culturally respectful, community-driven strategies that strengthen self-determination and support positive justice outcomes for Indigenous communities.
Reimagining justice for equity, inclusion, and healing
Our research examines how justice systems operate locally, nationally, and internationally, with a focus on who has access to justice and innovative approaches that improve outcomes for victims, offenders, and communities. We investigate emerging challenges posed by technological and societal change to shape a more equitable, inclusive, and healing-centred justice landscape.
Griffith Experts
We are home to globally recognised experts in crime, justice, policy and policing.
