Current, past and future research projects:

Terrorism and Political Violence:

• The life cycle of terrorist organizations: emergence, escalation, de-escalation, demise of terrorist campaigns (i.e. what factors are responsible for the changes in the intensity of terrorist struggles? How can governments influence the trajectories of terrorist violence?)
• “Home-grown” terrorism (i.e. what are the specific factors that have lead to the emergence of terrorist cells among the communities of second generation immigrants or converts in some Western countries? What are the social-psychological processes that contribute to radicalisation and decisions to engage in acts of terrorism? )
• Evolution of terrorist modus operandi (i.e. what factors drive terrorist organizations to change their operational preferences? what are the specific motivational drivers of terrorist groups to acquire or use chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons? What are the current state capabilities of non-state actors in this regard?)
• Analysis of the structure of terrorist and crime groups (what are the factors that influence the structure and size of these organisations? Is there a tendency of terrorist entities to adopt structural models of organized crime groups?)
• Monitoring and analysis of regional terrorist threats (i.e. South and Southeast Asia, North Caucasus)
• Role and limits of intelligence in counter-terrorism (i.e. human intelligence)
• Legal aspects of counterterrorism (e.g. interception of communications and electronic surveillance. How well do Australian laws, and those within the region, balance the needs of effective law enforcement with those of the protection of civil rights? )

Policing:

• International law enforcement co-operation (i.e. mutual legal assistance and transnational criminal investigation, governance and regulation)
• Financial based investigations and participatory law enforcement;
• Non lethal weapons and the mentally ill (i.e. research on the recent introduction of the Taser stunning device into Australia for use in responding in a non lethal way to violent and dangerous individuals, including the mentally ill.)
• Covert investigation law and intelligence management/knowledge-based policing
• Interception of communications : national and transnational developments examination of contemporary approaches to the issue and use of wiretap and surveillance warrants and the extent to which a proper  balance can be maintained between the protection of privacy and the need to obtain intelligence and evidence regarding serious criminal enterprises.
• Evolution of outlaw motorcycle gangs
• Illegal gambling

Peacekeeping and Conflict Management:

• Selection, training, and deployment of civilian police in peacekeeping missions
• Law enforcement challenges in post-conflict states
• Re-establishing correctional systems and services in failed state situations
• Role of conflict management in counter insurgency and counterterrorism

Prosecution Studies:

• Study of the problems associated with the investigation and prosecution of major art fraud and theft both nationally and internationally.
• Preventive detention and the assessment of dangerousness of offenders.
• Naming and shaming of juveniles in criminal proceedings (level of protection from identification and portrayal  in the media to be afforded young people in conflict with the law.)

Other themes:

• Human Security (i.e. impact of the concept of human security on international and domestic legal regimes for addressing human trafficking.)
• Workplace violence
• Comparative study of issues in crime and mental health (i.e. how do different criminal justice systems deal with mental health issues such as the insanity defence, fitness for trial, dangerousness, sentencing etc.)
• Money laundering and financial crime
• Cybercrime and cyberterrorism
• Hostage negotiation and crisis management
• Cost of crime
• Criminal justice system modelling
• Maritime crime