Dr Mark Brown

School of Law

Senior Lecturer

Mark Brown
Profile picture of Mark Brown
Mark.Brown@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6716

Full contact details

Dr Mark Brown
School of Law
EF11
Bartolome虂 House
Winter Street
葫芦影业
S3 7ND
Profile

I joined the School of Law in September 2014. Prior to that I spent four years developing a small law and justice consultancy focused on actors in the international sphere, based in Geneva, while also working as a Chamonix-based professional mountain guide.

My early career was spent in Australia where I was in the criminology program at the University of Melbourne until 2010. In 2011 I was a visiting professor at the Institute for Criminology and Criminal Law at the University of Lausanne. I retain a Senior Honorary Fellow position at Melbourne and have taught intensive masters modules on punishment and detention there and at the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney.

I have published extensively in the area of prisons and penal policy with a focus upon both contemporary and historical penality. In 2013 Ashgate published Penal Culture and Hyperincarceration: The Revival of the Prison (co-authored with colleagues from the University of New South Wales), a modern history of the prison in Australia since about 1970. In 2014 my book Penal Power and Colonial Rule, a study of colonial uses of law as a strategy of governance in British India, was published by Routledge. More recently I have published on postcolonial penalities, southern criminology and decolonising approaches in criminology.

I have worked on the Indian subcontinent in several capacities since 1999 when I held a visiting appointment at University of Delhi Law School. My research has taken me to Bhutan, India and Pakistan and I have spent a number of winter seasons in Kashmir and Nepal. In recent years I have been visiting and working with colleagues at Jigme Singye Wangchuck (JSW) School of Law in Thimphu, Bhutan, some of which has been funded by the UK鈥檚 Global Challenges Research Fund and the Leverhulme Foundation.

In my Geneva-based consultancy I was a senior advisor at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime and advised on criminal justice reform at DCAF. Currently, I advise the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on matters surrounding imprisonment and recidivism globally, as well as undertaking strategic evaluations of UNODC work both in Vienna and in the field, including in Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran, Kenya, and Pakistan.

I am currently working on a new book, tentatively titled Remaking Criminology. It develops my work on criminology and globalisation, postcolonialism and the southern criminological turn. My article on 鈥楶ostcolonial Penalities鈥 in India won the best article of 2017 prize in the journal Theoretical Criminology. I welcome applications from potential PhD scholars in these areas of work.

Qualifications
  • PhD, Victoria University of Wellington
Research interests
  • Prisons and Penal Policy
  • Penal History and Theory
  • Colonial and Post-colonial Law and Justice
  • Global Criminology
  • Transnational Organised Crime
  • Fragile and Post-conflict States
  • Sustainable Development Goal 16 - Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies
  • Programme Evaluation in International Development

I invite expressions of interest from students interested in working within any of the areas of my research interest noted above.

Publications

Books

  • Brown M (2014) . Abingdon: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Cunneen C, Baldry E, Brown D, Schwartz M, Steel A & Brown M (2013) Penal culture and hyperincarceration: The revival of the prison. Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2005) The New Punitiveness: Trends, Theories, Perspectives. Willan Pub. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M & Pratt J (2000) Dangerous Offenders: Punishment and Social Order. London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (1992) Decision Making in District Prisons Boards. Wellington: New Zealand Department of Justice. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM, Sanisoto B & Lungu O (1992) Cognitie Sociala (Social Cognition). Iasi, RO: Eurocart. RIS download Bibtex download

Edited books

  • (Ed.) (2008) . SAGE Publications Ltd. RIS download Bibtex download

Journal articles

  • Brown M, Jadhav VK, Raghavan V & Sinha M (2021) . Punishment and Society, 23(5), 675-696. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2021) . Critical Criminology, 29(3). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2018) . Law and Social Inquiry, 43(4), 1391-1426. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2018) . State Crime Journal, 7(2), 173-198. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2017) . Theoretical Criminology, 21(2), 186-208. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Carlen P (2014) . British Journal of Criminology, 54(4), 689-691. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Baldry E, Brown D, Brown M, Cunneen C, Schwartz M & Steel A (2011) . Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 44(1), 24-40. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2011) . Alternative Law Journal, 36(1), 10-15. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Baldry E, Brown M & Cunneen C (2011) Introduction to the Special Issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 44(1). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Baldry E, Brown M & Cunneen C (2011) . Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 44(1), 4-6. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chambers JC, Ward T, Eccleston L & Brown M (2011) . International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 55(6), 925-948. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M & Ross S (2010) . Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 22(2), 217-232. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2010) . Champ p茅nal(Vol. VIII). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M & Ross S (2010) . Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 43(1), 31-50. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M & Ross S (2010) Assisting and supporting women released from prison: Is mentoring the answer?. Current Issues in Criminal Justice: Special Issue 鈥 Women and Imprisonment, 22(2), 1-16. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chambers JC, Ward T, Eccleston L & Brown M (2009) . Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24(9), 1423-1449. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2005) 'That heavy machine': Reprising the colonial apparatus in 21st century social control. Social Justice, 32, 41-52. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2004) . Social & Legal Studies, 13(2), 191-218. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ward T & Brown M (2004) . Psychology, Crime & Law, 10(3), 243-257. RIS download Bibtex download
  • BROWN M (2003) . The British Journal for the History of Science, 36(2), 201-219. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M & Chan KY (2003) 'We are neutral therapists': Psychology, the state and social control (vol 37, pg 165, 2002). AUSTRALIAN PSYCHOLOGIST, 38(2), 80-80. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2002) . Australian Psychologist, 37(3), 165-171. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2002) . Punishment & Society, 4(4), 403-423. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2002) . British Journal of Criminology, 42(1), 77-95. RIS download Bibtex download
  • BROWN M (2001) . Theoretical Criminology, 5(3), 345-368. RIS download Bibtex download
  • BROWN M (2001) . Punishment & Society, 3(3), 433-440. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M & Young W (2000) . International Criminal Justice Review, 10(1), 1-31. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (1998) Serious violence and dilemmas of sentencing: A comparison of three incapacitation policies. Criminal Law Review, 1998(10), 710-722. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (1998) . Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 10(2), 202-206. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (1997) . Legal and Criminological Psychology, 2(2), 219-245. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M & Sutton A (1997) . Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 9(1), 21-33. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M & Polk K (1996) . Crime & Delinquency, 42(3), 398-420. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (1996) Refining the risk concept: decision context as a factor mediating the relation between risk and program effectiveness. Crime and Delinquency, 42(3). RIS download Bibtex download
  • BROWN M (1996) . British Journal of Criminology, 36(1), 18-36. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M () GNH AND THE DILEMMAS OF JUSTICE IN BHUTAN. Journal of GNH and Law. RIS download Bibtex download

Chapters

  • Brown M (2023) , The Routledge International Handbook on Decolonizing Justice (pp. 380-390). Routledge RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2018) In Carrington K, Hogg R, Scott J & Sozzo M (Ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Criminology and the Global South (pp. 83-104). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2013) , Crime and Empire 1840-1940: Criminal Justice in Local and Global Context (pp. 76-91). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2013) In Scott D (Ed.), Why Prison? (pp. 149-169). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2013) In Pratt J, Morrison W, Hallsworth S, Brown M & Brown D (Ed.), The New Punitiveness: Trends, Theories, Perspectives (pp. 272-289). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2012) When Prison is not Prison: Australian Courts鈥 Rejection of Material Experience and Effects as Elements of Punishment In Masson I (Ed.), Experiencing Prison. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2011) Imprisonment and Detention In de Lint W & Marmo M (Ed.), Crime and Justice. Sydney: Thomson/Reuters. RIS download Bibtex download
  • White J (2011) , Outdoor Provision in the Early Years (pp. 1-11). SAGE Publications Ltd RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (2010) Theorising dangerousness, Handbook of Public Protection (pp. 40-59). RIS download Bibtex download
  • (2010) (pp. 454.1-454). Royal College of General Practitioners RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2009) Crime, Governance and the Company Raj In Wagner K (Ed.), Stranglers and Bandits: A Historical Anthology of Thuggee Oxford: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2008) The Road Less Travelled: Arts-based Programs in Youth Correction In O'Brien A & Donelan K (Ed.), The Arts and Youth at Risk: Global and Local Challenges Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2008) Risk, Punishment and Liberty In Cunneen C & Anthony T (Ed.), The Australasian Critical Criminology Reader Sydney: Federation Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2008) True crime: W.H. Sleeman and the Thugs In Brittlebank K (Ed.), Significant Events and People of British India Melbourne: Monash University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Marsh J & Hallet E (2008) SAGE Publications Ltd RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2007) Prisons In Galligan B & Roberts W (Ed.), The Oxford Companion to Australian Politics Melbourne: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2005) Liberal Exclusions and the New Punitiveness In Pratt J, Brown D, Brown M, Hallsworth S & Morrison W (Ed.), The New Punitiveness: Current Trends, Theories, Perspectives Collompton Devon: Willan Publishing. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM, Eccelston L & Ward T (2003) The Assessment of Dangerous Behaviour In Fittskirk P & Shohov SP (Ed.), Focus on Behavioural Pychology Huntington, NY: Nova Science. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ward T & Brown M (2003) , Sexual Deviance: Issues and Controversies (pp. 338-353). SAGE Publications, Inc. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM, Eccelston L & Ward T (2002) The Assessment of Dangerous Behaviour In Shohoy P (Ed.), Advances in Psychology Research Huntington, NY: Nova Science. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2000) Calculations of Risk in Contemporary Penal Practice In Brown M & Pratt J (Ed.), Dangerous Offenders: Punishment and Social Order London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM & Pratt J (2000) Introduction In Brown M & Pratt J (Ed.), Dangerous Offenders: Punishment and Social Order London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM & Young W (1999) On Punitiveness and Inclusiveness: Offenders and Victims in New Zealand Criminal Justice In Rounds D & Delbert L (Ed.), International Criminal Justice: Issues in Global Perspective USA: Allyn and Bacon. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM & Young W (1998) The Use of Imprisonment: Trends and Cross-national Comparisons In Melossi D (Ed.), The Sociology of Punishment: Socio-Structural Perspectives Brookfield, USA: Dartmouth. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM, James S & Sutton A (1997) Law Enforcement and the Prevention of Drug Related Harm, Crime Prevention in Australia: Issues in Policy and Research Sydney: The Federation Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM & Young W (1993) The Use of Imprisonment: Trends and Cross-national Comparisons In Tonry M (Ed.), Crime and Justice: An Annual Review of Research Chicago: University of Chicago Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M () Environmental crimes, illicit economies and the emergence of a Mekong Crime Complex In van Uhm DP & Siegel D (Ed.), Global Green Crime RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM () 鈥楾he birth of criminology in South Asia: c1765鈥1947鈥 In Shahidullah SM (Ed.), Crime, Criminal Justice, and the Evolving Science of Criminology in South Asia: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh RIS download Bibtex download

Book reviews

  • Brown M (2017) . Law & Society Review, 51(3), 735-738. RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

  • Brown MM (2009) Toward a new economy of suspended rights: sex offenders and post-sentence confinement and control. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/4007. University of Sydney RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown MM (2006) Before citizenship: liberalism's colonial subjects. http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProi/ASAA/biennial-conference/2006/proceedings.html. University of Wollongong RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown M (1996) . Crime & Delinquency, Vol. 42(3) (pp 435-455) RIS download Bibtex download

Other

  • Brown MM (2011) Building a force for good: the mission to create a viable Afghan National Police 2011-118.1.. RIS download Bibtex download
Teaching interests

My teaching is underpinned by three key supports 鈥 a philosophy, a strategy and a style.

Philosophically, I believe that students learn best through engagement with their topic and the teaching materials that support it. Learning is enhanced if students can easily 鈥榝ind a way in鈥 to topics.

I believe that in criminology and law this is most effectively achieved by organising teaching around a series of narratives, or stories, that draw the student into a topic and help them to see the problem both in its wider context and its important detail.

Strategically, I think that teaching needs to balance foundational information about how legal and criminal justice processes operate with development of the conceptual tools for critique of those processes.

The modules I coordinate are thus structured around provision of both the 鈥榥uts and bolts鈥 knowledge that students need to take away as well as opportunities to learn and practice the techniques of analysis and critique. Assessment is designed so that students can demonstrate their grasp of both elements.

Finally, I aim for a teaching style that is open and, as far as possible within the large group lecture format, interactive.

My module websites provide students with the important points for each lecture 鈥 not lecture notes 鈥 and I speak to these in the lecture.

Students shouldn鈥檛 have their heads down taking notes in a lecture: you can鈥檛 listen properly when you鈥檙e doing that. And you certainly can鈥檛 engage in a dialogue.

I think effective teaching involves shifting lectures from being a content transfer exercise (from my lecture notes to the student鈥檚 lecture notes) to being an opportunity to listen and think and discuss.

Teaching activities

The modules I teach are:

Undergraduate

I contribute across a number of undergraduate modules

Postgraduate

  • Global Perspectives on Terrorism and Counterterrorism (convenor)
  • Crime and Globalisation (convenor)
  • Issues in Comparative Penology (convenor)
Professional activities and memberships

Member of the Centre for Criminological Research