Professor Stephen Tomsen

Professor Stephen Tomsen

Professor of Criminology,
Criminology & Policing

Biography

Stephen Tomsen is Professor of Criminology in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Western Sydney. Previously he was Associate Dean / Research, University of Newcastle, Deputy Director of the Sydney Institute of Criminology, and he held visiting fellowships and professorships in the United Kingdom (Birkbeck College, Keele University, and the University of Manchester), the University of Washington (UW/Seattle), Leiden University, and in the Netherlands Ministry of Justice (Den Haag). He was a member of the sociology group at Macquarie University in the 1980s, and he was a pioneering figure in the international development of nightlife ethnographies, queer criminology, and crime and masculinity studies - which all developed as new academic fields in the 1990s and 2000s. He is also well known for his research on violence, victims, gender/sexuality, drinking/drug use and public order.

In the mid-1970s, he was first involved in LGBT activism, and in 1978 supported the first Mardi Gras protest and subsequent demonstrations outside the former Darlinghurst Police Station. in 2018 he was awarded a life membership of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras recognising more than forty years of social activism and contributions to the LGBT community.

Professor Tomsen has delivered papers at national and international conferences and meetings on these topics, and with more than 100 refereed publications his output includes eight books/research monographs and dozens of articles and papers. In 2016 he completed a co-edited book on Australian Violence (Federation Press, 2016). His solo and joint career research earnings have come from first tier external sources (Australian Research Council; Criminology Research Council; Law Foundation of NSW/Law Institute of Victoria; NSW Attorney General’s Crime Prevention Division; National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund). Professor Tomsen has been a Visiting Professor at the International Institute for the Sociology of Law (Onati/Spain), is a member of the editorial boards of the International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy; Current Issues in Criminal Justice and The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology (to 2013).

At WSU he has overseen the development of the very successful Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology and Criminal Justice) and Bachelor of Criminology degrees. He was an ERA 2 and ERA 3 national assessor in four Australian research codes and he has assessed ARC Laureate, Discovery, Future Fellow, DECRA and Linkage applications across a range of fields. He has supervised numerous Honours, Masters and PhD research theses to completion as both principal and co-supervisor.  Past topics have included violence, policing and private security; prisons and prison officers; drinking and drug ab(use); violence against women, men and sexual minorities; white collar crime; community policing; urban order and crime prevention; hate crime and social prejudice; legal inequality; masculinity and youth; social movements, gender and sexuality; gender, professionalism and workplace relations. These theses used a range of qualitative, mixed methods and ethnographic approaches. 

 

This information has been contributed by Professor Tomsen.

Qualifications

  • PhD Macquarie University
  • BA Macquarie University

Professional Memberships

  • Visiting Professor, International Institute for the Sociology of Law, Onati, Basque region, Spain (2013 - 2014)
  • Visiting Professor, Department of Criminology, University of Manchester (2015 - 2018)
  • Advisory Board, Sydney Institute of Criminology (2010 - 2023)
  • Winner, ACON President's Award (2023 - 2023)

Awards

  • BA Hons 1; PhD 1990-01-01

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

  • Criminology & Policing

Contact

Email: S.Tomsen@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9772 6649
Mobile:
Location:

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Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

  • 102199 Violence, Culture and Criminal Justice, 2018
  • 102199 Violence, Culture and Criminal Justice, 2019
  • 102199 Violence, Culture and Criminal Justice, 2020
  • 102199 Violence, Culture and Criminal Justice, 2021
  • 102200 Global Criminology and Human Rights, 2019

Publications

Books

  • Stubbs, J. and Tomsen, S. (2016), 'Australian Violence: Crime, Criminal Justice and Beyond', : The Federation Press 9781862879805.
  • Tomsen, S. (2009), 'Violence, Prejudice and Sexuality (Routledge Advances in Criminology)', : Routledge 9780415956550.
  • Tomsen, S. and Markwell, K. (2009), 'When the Glitter Settles: Safety and Hostility at and around Gay and Lesbian Public Events', : Australian Institute of Criminology 9781921532276.
  • Noone, M. and Tomsen, S. (2006), 'Lawyers in Conflict: Australian Lawyers and Legal Aid', : Federation Press 9781862876163.
  • Tomsen, S. (2002), 'Hatred, Murder and Male Honour: Anti-Homosexual Homicides in New South Wales, 1980-2000', : Australian Institute of Criminology 9780642242648.

Chapters in Books

  • Fileborn, B., Wadds, P. and Tomsen, S. (2020), 'Gender, transgression and sexual violence at Australian music festivals', Gendered Violence at International Festivals: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, Routledge 9780367362546.
  • Tomsen, S. and Messerschmidt, J. (2020), 'Masculinities and interpersonal violence', The Emerald Handbook of Feminism, Criminology and Social Change, Emerald Publishing 9781787699564.
  • Lee, M., Tomsen, S. and Wadds, P. (2020), 'Locking-out uncertainty : conflict and risk in Sydney's night-time economy', Criminal Justice, Risk and the Revolt against Uncertainty, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030379476.
  • Tomsen, S. (2018), 'Queer criminology', Wiley Blackwell Encylopedia of Sociology, Wiley & Sons 9781119429319.
  • Messerschmidt, J. and Tomsen, S. (2018), 'Masculinities and crime', Routledge Handbook of Critical Criminology, Routledge 9781138656192.
  • Tomsen, S. and Hobbs, D. (2017), 'Crime and masculinity in popular culture', Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Oxford University Press 9780190264079.
  • Tomsen, S. and Salter, M. (2017), 'Sexuality, victims and crime', Victims, Crime and Society: An Introduction, Sage 9781446255902.
  • Messerschmidt, J. and Tomsen, S. (2017), 'Masculinities, structure and hegemony', Routledge Companion to Criminological Theory and Concepts, Routledge 9781138818996.
  • Tomsen, S. (2017), 'Hate crime', The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory, John Wiley & Sons 9781118430866.
  • Dwyer, A. and Tomsen, S. (2016), 'The past is the past? : the impossibility of erasure of historical LGBTIQ policing', Queering Criminology, Palgrave Macmillan 9781137513335.
  • Messerschmidt, J. and Tomsen, S. (2016), 'Masculinities, crime, and criminal justice', Oxford Handbooks Online, Oxford University Press 9780199935383.
  • Stubbs, J. and Tomsen, S. (2016), 'Australian violence : then and now', Australian Violence: Crime, Criminal Justice and Beyond, Federation Press 9781862879805.
  • Tomsen, S. and Wadds, P. (2016), 'Nightlife ethnography, violence, policing and security', Australian Violence: Crime, Criminal Justice and Beyond, Federation Press 9781862879805.
  • Messerschmidt, J. and Tomsen, S. (2015), 'Masculinities and crime', Sisters in Crime Revisited: Bringing Gender into Criminology, Oxford University Press 9780199311187.
  • Miller, P., Pennay, A., Droste, N., Jenkinson, R., Quinn, B., Chikritzhs, T., Tomsen, S., Wadds, P., Jones, S., Palmer, D., Barrie, L., Lam, T., Gilmore, W. and Lubman, D. (2014), 'Patron offending and intoxication in night-time entertainment districts (POINTED)', Stemming the Tide of Alcohol: Liquor Licensing and the Public Interest, Foundation of Alcohol Research and Education 9780734049315.
  • Tomsen, S. (2013), 'Violenza omofoba e maschilita in Australia', Uomini Contro le Donne? Le Radici della Violenza Maschile, UTET Universita 9788860084019.
  • Tomsen, S. (2011), 'The Collective Remembering of the Stories of Qualitative Criminology', Qualitative Criminology: Stories from the Field, Federation Press 9781876067243.
  • Tomsen, S. and Messerschmidt, J. (2011), 'Masculinities', The Routledge Handbook of Critical Criminology, Routledge 9780415779678.
  • Tomsen, S. (2009), 'Sexual grievances, HIV transmission and law: the unintended effects of social movement mobilisation around sexuality and justice', The Criminalisation Of HIV Transmission In Australia: Legality, Morality And Reality, NAPWA 9780646521770.
  • Tomsen, S. (2008), 'Introduction', Crime, Criminal Justice and Masculinities: a Reader (The International Library of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Penology), Ashgate Press 9780754627401.
  • Tomsen, S. (2008), 'Masculinity, crime and criminalisation', The Critical Criminology Companion, Federation Press 9781876067236.
  • Tomsen, S. (2008), 'Masculine Conflict, Disengagement and the Contemporary Governance of Drinking-Related Violence and Disorder', Crime, Criminal Justice and Masculinities: a Reader (The International Library of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Penology), Ashgate Press 9780754627401.
  • Tomsen, S. (2003), ''A gross overreaction' : violence, honour and the sanctified heterosexual male body', Male Trouble: Looking at Australian Masculinities, Pluto Press 9781864031218.
  • Tomsen, S. (2002), 'A top night : social protest, masculinity and the culture of drinking violence', Violence, International Library of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Penology 9780754622307.
  • Tomsen , S. (2001), 'Queer and safe : combating violence with gentrified sexual identities', Queer City: Gay and Lesbian Politics in Sydney, Pluto Press Australia 9781864031928.

Journal Articles

  • Tomsen, S. (2024), '[In Press] Masculinities and the lived understandings of bystander responses to everyday violence', International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, .
  • Tomsen, S. and Kirchengast, T. (2023), 'The Scott Johnson case : prosecuting anti-homosexual violence in New South Wales', Alternative Law Journal, vol 48, no 1 , pp 55 - 60.
  • Wadds, P., Fileborn, B. and Tomsen, S. (2022), 'Carnival, sexual violence and harm at Australian music festivals', The British Journal of Criminology, vol 62, no 1 , pp 1 - 17.
  • Dertadian, G. and Tomsen, S. (2021), 'The experience of safety, harassment and social exclusion among male clients of Sydney's medically supervised injecting centre', International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, vol 10, no 4 .
  • Dertadian, G. and Tomsen, S. (2020), 'The case for a second safe injecting facility (SIF) in Sydney', Current Issues in Criminal Justice, vol 32, no 2 , pp 180 - 192.
  • Fileborn, B., Wadds, P. and Tomsen, S. (2020), 'Sexual harassment and violence at Australian music festivals : reporting practices and experiences of festival attendees', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, vol 53, no 2 , pp 194 - 212.
  • Tomsen, S. and Kirchengast, T. (2019), 'Victimhood, truth and criminal justice failure in relation to anti-homosexual violence and killings in New South Wales', Current Issues in Criminal Justice, vol 31, no 2 , pp 181 - 193.
  • Tomsen, S. and Gadd, D. (2019), 'Beyond honour and achieved hegemony : violence and the everyday masculinities of young men', International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, vol 8, no 2 , pp 17 - 30.
  • Tomsen, S. (2018), 'Homicides with direct and indirect links to the night-time economy', Drug and Alcohol Review, vol 37, no 6 , pp 794 - 801.
  • Pennay, A., Peacock, A., Droste, N., Miller, P., Bruno, R., Wadds, P., Tomsen, S. and Lubman, D. (2018), 'What do we know about alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) use in Australia? : expanding local evidence', Public Health Research and Practice, vol 28, no 3 .
  • Tomsen, S. (2017), 'Masculinity and homophobic violence in Australia's recent past', Sexuality and Culture, vol 21, no 3 , pp 813 - 829.
  • Miller, P., Chikritzhs, T., Droste, N., Pennay, A. and Tomsen, S. (2017), 'The need for accuracy and validity in research on nightlife and drinking : a commentary on Devilly et al. and recommendations for future research', International Journal of Drug Policy, vol 50 , pp 36 - 40.
  • Tomsen, S. and Payne, J. (2016), 'Homicide and the night-time economy', Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, vol 521 , pp 1 - 15.
  • Tomsen, S. (2014), 'A dangerous proximity : the night-time economy and the city's early morning', Lo Squaderno: Explorations in Space and Society, vol 32 , pp 36 - 40.
  • Miller, P., Pennay, A., Droste, N., Butler, E., Jenkinson, R., Hyder, S., Quinn, B., Chikritzhs, T., Tomsen, S., Wadds, P., Jones, S., Palmer, D., Barrie, L., Lam, T., Gilmore, W. and Lubman, D. (2014), 'A comparative study of blood alcohol concentrations in Australian night-time entertainment districts', Drug and Alcohol Review, vol 33, no 4 , pp 338 - 345.
  • Tomsen, S. (2014), 'Identity wars : crime, safety and conflict in Sydney's night-time economy', Etnografia e Ricerca Qualitativa, vol 3 , pp 463 - 480.
  • Miller, P., Pennay, A., Jenkinson, R., Droste, N., Chikritzhs, T., Tomsen, S., Wadds, P., Jones, S., Palmer, D., Barrie, L. and Lubman, D. (2013), 'Patron offending and intoxication in night time entertainment districts (POINTED) : a study protocol', International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, vol 2, no 1 , pp 69 - 76.
  • Salter, M. and Tomsen, S. (2012), 'Violence and carceral masculinities in Felony Fights', British Journal of Criminology, vol 52, no 2 , pp 309 - 323.
  • Tomsen, S. and Crofts, T. (2012), 'Social and cultural meanings of legal responses to homicide among men : masculine honour, sexual advances and accidents', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, vol 45, no 3 , pp 423 - 437.
  • Markwell, K. and Tomsen, S. (2010), 'Safety and hostility at special events : lessons from Australian gay and lesbian festivals', Event Management, vol 14, no 3 , pp 225 - 238.
  • Tomsen, S. and Markwell, K. (2009), 'Violence, cultural display and the suspension of sexual prejudice', Sexuality and Culture, vol 13, no 4 , pp 201 - 217.
  • Tomsen, S. (2008), 'Legal Services and Neo-Liberalism in an Unequal Legal Order', Flinders Journal of Law Reform, vol 10, no 3 , pp 609 - 620.
  • Tomsen, S. (2006), 'Homophobic Violence, Cultural Essentialism and Shifting Sexual Identities', Social & Legal Studies, vol 15, no 3 , pp 289 - 407.
  • Tomsen, S. (2005), ''Boozers and Bouncers' Masculine Conflict, Disengagement and the Contemporary Governance of Drinking-Related Violence and Disorder', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, vol 38, no 3 , pp 283 - 297.
  • Tomsen, S. (2002), 'Victims, Perpetrators and Fatal Scenarios: Research on Anti-Homosexual Homicides', International Review of Victimology, vol 9, no 3 , pp 253 - 272.
  • Tomsen, S. (2002), 'Hate crimes and masculine offending', Gay and Lesbian Law Journal, vol 10 , pp 26 - 42.
  • Noone, M. and Tomsen, S. (2001), 'Service beyond self-interest? : Australian lawyers, legal aid and professionalism', International Journal of the Legal Profession, vol 8, no 3 , pp 251 - 273.
  • Tomsen, S. and Mason, G. (2001), 'Engendering homophobia : violence, sexuality and gender conformity', Journal of Sociology, vol 37, no 3 , pp 257 - 273.

Conference Papers

  • Tomsen, S. (2012), 'Crime and the Night-Time Economy in Australia's Global City: Fear, Loathing and Neo-Liberal (Non) Governance', Australian and New Zealand Critical Criminology Conference, Cairns, Qld..
  • Tomsen, S. (2011), 'Felon Fights: Masculinity, Spectacle and Suffering', 4th Australian and New Zealand Critical Criminology Conference, University of Sydney.
  • Tomsen, S. (2009), 'Victimhood, 'Sexual Deceit' and the social origins of the Criminilisation of HIV transmission', 3rd Australian and New Zealand Critical Criminology Conference, .
  • Tomsen, S. (2007), 'Legal Services and Neo-Liberalism in an Unequal Legal Order', Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Conference, Adelaide Convention Centre.
  • Tomsen, S. and Mason, G. (2004), 'Rethinking Hatred and Studying the Contradictions of Sexual Prejudice', Proceedings of the Australian Sociological Association Conference, Beechworth Victoria.
  • Tomsen, S. (2004), 'Transcending the opposition between safety and pleasure in the Night-Time Economy', On the Bounce: the challenge of the Night-time economy, Newcastle.
  • Tomsen, S. (2001), 'Hate crimes and masculinity : new crimes, new responses and some familiar patterns', National Outlook Symposium on Crime in Australia, Canberra, A.C.T.

Other Publications

  • 2019, 'Safety, Sexual Harassment and Assault at Australian Music Festivals: Final Report', Report
  • 2018, 'Drug Toxicity Fatalities in Sydney, New South Wales, 2006-2015', Report
  • 2017, 'Scoping Report: Proposed Drug Consumption Rooms in Southwestern Sydney', Report
  • 2016, 'Homicide and the Night-time Economy: Report to the Criminology Research Council', Report
  • 2013, 'Alcohol and Energy Drinks in NSW: A Report Prepared for NSW Health', Report
  • 2012, 'Patron Offending and Intoxication in Night-time Entertainment Districts (POINTED) : Final Report', Report
  • 2009, 'When the Glitter Settles: Safety and Hostility at and Around Gay and Lesbian Public Events', Report
  • 2008, 'The City after Dark: Cultural Planning and Governance of the Night-time Economy in Parramatta', Report
  • 2007, 'Safety and Hostility at and around Gay and Lesbian Public Events: Interim Survey Report', Report
  • 2006, 'Masculinity and Public Drinking Violence: A Research Report to NSW Health and NSW Attorney General's Crime Prevention Division on Violence, Young Male Drinkers and Private Security', Report

Previous Projects

Title: Alcohol and Energy Drinks in NSW [via Deakin Uni, via Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre]
Funder:
  • Health Administration Corporation
Western Researchers: Stephen Tomsen
Years: 2012-08-01 - 2013-03-25
ID: P00021269
Title: The City after Dark: The Governance and Lived Experience of Urban Night-Time Culture
Funder:
  • Australian Research Council (ACRG)
Western Researchers: Deborah Stevenson, Stephen Tomsen and David Rowe
Years: 2008-01-01 - 2012-01-15
ID: P0015556
Title: The City After Dark: Cultural Planning and Governance of the 'Night-Time Economy' in Parramatta
Funder:
  • University of Western Sydney
  • City of Parramatta Council
Western Researchers: David Rowe, Deborah Stevenson and Stephen Tomsen
Years: 2007-02-20 - 2008-02-19
ID: P0015409
Title: Research on alcohol and homicides in Australia
Funder:
  • Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education Ltd
Western Researchers: Stephen Tomsen
Years: 2011-04-25 - 2013-01-31
ID: P00020235
Title: Violence and disengagement from violence in young men's lives
Funder:
  • Australian Research Council (ACRG)
Western Researchers: Stephen Tomsen
Years: 2012-07-01 - 2016-06-30
ID: P00020141
Title: Patron Offending and Intoxication in Night Time Entertainment Districts (POINTED) [via Deakin Uni]
Funder:
  • Department of Health (ACRG)
Western Researchers: Stephen Tomsen
Years: 2011-09-02 - 2012-12-02
ID: P00020655
Title: Homicide and the Night-Time Economy
Funder:
  • Criminology Research Council
Western Researchers: Stephen Tomsen
Years: 2011-09-08 - 2013-09-07
ID: P00019398

Supervision

Professor Tomsen is available to be a principal supervisor for doctoral projects

Previous Supervision

Thesis Title: Prescription Drug (Ab)Use: Discursive Constructions of the User/Addict
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Reimagining Disablist and Ableist Violence as Abjection
Field of Research: Criminology; Society And Culture, N.e.c.; Sociology
Thesis Title: Painkiller (Ab)use: The discursive construction and lived experience of non-medical consumption of pain medications
Field of Research: Criminology; Sociology; Social Work
Thesis Title: Under-utilising Youth Diversion: Exploring Criminal Justice Perspectives
Field of Research: Other Society And Culture
Thesis Title: Policing Nightlife: The Representation and Transformation of Security in Sydney's Night-Time Economy
Field of Research: Criminology
Thesis Title: Painkiller (Ab)use: The Discursive Construction and Lived Experience of Non-Medical Consumption of Pain Medications
Field of Research: Criminology; Sociology; Social Work; Health
Thesis Title: Fatal Relationships and Gendered Culpability: Gender and Responsibility in the Social Construction of Homicide
Field of Research: Other Society And Culture
Thesis Title: Under-utilising Youth Diversion: Exploring Criminal Justice Perspectives
Field of Research: Other Society And Culture
Thesis Title: Reimagining Disablist and Ableist Violence as Abjection
Field of Research: Criminology; Society And Culture, N.e.c.; Sociology; Human Welfare Studies And Services
Thesis Title: Understanding White Ribbon: Its Emergence and Limits in Countering Men's Violence in Australia
Field of Research: Studies In Human Society

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