Dr. Kathryn Benier

Biography

Kathryn Benier is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Monash University, where her research focuses on urban criminology and the neighborhood ecology of crime. Her work explores the impact of hate crime, immigration, and ethnic diversity on social relationships and a sense of belonging over time. She has a particular interest in family and domestic violence, emphasizing the geospatial distribution of offenses and their consequences for victimization. Kathryn is also engaged in quantitative methodology, extending new statistical techniques in the field of criminological research. She co-directs the International Network of Hate Studies and represents Victoria on the Management Committee of the Australian-New Zealand Society of Criminology. Before joining Monash University, she worked at the Australian Institute of Criminology and was part of Queensland Government’s Youth Justice Performance Reporting team. Kathryn completed her PhD at the University of Queensland, along with 1st Class Honours in Criminology and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Her research aligns with various UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the context of education and academic qualifications in criminology.

Research Interests