Professor Tim Prenzler joined the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2015 as the inaugural Program Coordinator of the Bachelor of Criminology and Justice. He was previously a foundation member of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University, where he held numerous Program Coordinator positions and was Head of School for a period. At Griffith, he was also a foundation member of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security, where he was Coordinator of the Integrity Systems Program.
At UniSC, Tim is an Executive Member of the Branch Committee of the National Tertiary Education Union and a member of the School of Law and Society’s Research Committee, Teaching and Learning Committee, and External Industry Advisory Committee. He was previously a member of the University's Research Committee and the University Council.
His research interests include crime and corruption prevention, police and security officer safety, security industry regulation, gender equity in policing, and restorative justice and mediation. He has developed and taught courses in introductory criminology, policing, crime prevention, and criminal justice ethics and accountability.
Tim has been involved in research projects attracting $18 million in funding and has also worked extensively on a pro bono basis with numerous criminal justice agencies on applied research projects. He has published over 100 journal articles and 70 book chapters. His books include Gender Inclusive Policing: Challenges and Achievements (2023, Routledge), Police Early Intervention Systems: integrating Officer Performance, Integrity and Welfare (2023, Springer, with Louise Porter), Regulating the Security Industry: Global Perspectives (2018, Routledge, with Mahesh Nalla), Understanding Crime Prevention: The Case Study Approach (2017, Australian Academic Press), Civilian Oversight of Police: Advancing Accountability in Law Enforcement (2016, Taylor & Francis, with Garth den Heyer), Contemporary Police Practice (2015, Oxford University Press, with Jacki Drew), 100 Hundred Years of Women Police in Australia (2015, Australian Academic Press), Understanding and Preventing Corruption (2013, Palgrave, with Adam Graycar), Police Corruption: Preventing Misconduct and Maintaining Integrity (2009, Taylor & Francis), and The Law of Private Security in Australia (2009, Thomson Lawbook, with Rick Sarre).
Tim is a member of Transparency International's Network of Experts, a member of The Centre for Public Integrity Research Advisory Committee, and an Assessor for the Australian Research Council. He is also a member of the advisory boards of Policing and Society: An International Journal of Research & Policy; Security Journal; Salus: An International Journal of Law Enforcement and Public Safety; Police Practice and Research: An International Journal; and the International Journal of Police Science & Management.
Professional memberships
- Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology
- Australasian Council of Women and Policing
- Australian Institute of Policing
- Australian & New Zealand Society of Evidence Based Policing
Awards
- Australian & New Zealand Society of Criminology Excellence & Innovation in Teaching Award, 2020; USC Bachelor of Criminology & Justice Team; with Lara Christensen, Nadine McKillop, Sue Rayment-McHugh & Mary Riley
- Australian & New Zealand Society of Criminology David Biles Correctional Research Award, 2020, with Lara Christensen, Nadine McKillop & Sue Rayment-McHugh
- University of the Sunshine Coast Vice-Chancellor & President’s Award for Excellence in Learning & Teaching, 2019, Bachelor of Criminology & Justice Team; with Lara Christensen, Nadine McKillop, Sue Rayment-McHugh & Mary Riley
- Award for Excellence, Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, Highly Commended, 2017, Emerald Literati Network, with Louise Porter
- Award for Excellence, Best paper, Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, 2016, Emerald Literati Network, with Frederic Lemieux & Samantha Bricknell
- Adam Sutton Crime Prevention Research Award, 2015, Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology
- Adam Sutton Crime Prevention Research Award, 2013, Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology
- Best Health and Safety Initiative, Smoke-less Campus, 2009, Griffith University, with Jing Sun & Project Management Team
- Award for Excellence, Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, Highly Commended, 2007, Emerald Literati Network
- Award for Excellence, for The Law of Private Security in Australia, 2006, Australian Security Industry Association Ltd (ASIAL), with Rick Sarre,
- Faculty of Arts Teaching and Learning Citation, Online Crime Prevention Interactive Learning Tool, 2006, Griffith University, with G Collom, A Groessler, K Saunders, M Bahramshahi, A Lindsay, R. Draper, E Cadzow
- Excellence in Policing Award, Most Significant Contribution to Advancing the Status of Women in Policing, 2002, Australasian Council of Women & Policing
- Anne Hawke Prize for Research, 2001, University of South Australia, with Rick Sarre
Potential research projects for HDR and Honours students
- Impacts of police integrity management strategies
- Issues in security industry regulation
- Gender equity programs in policing
- Effective crime prevention strategies
- Issues in public sector ethics
Research areas
- situational crime prevention
- police integrity management
- security industry regulation
- gender in policing
- corruption prevention
Teaching areas
- Nature and Causes of Crime
- Policing
- Crime Prevention
- Professional Ethics and Integrity Management
Professor Tim Prenzler is an expert on police integrity matters, with a specialist interest in complaint reduction strategies, covert tactics against corruption, early intervention systems, and use of force minimisation. He has also researched extensively on effective regulatory strategies for the security industry, successful crime prevention programs, and the history and integration of women police.