Researcher biography

Dr Joseph Lelliott is a Senior Lecturer at the TC Beirne School of Law, teaching courses in criminal law, advanced crime and criminology, and international human rights law. He is a co-author of the textbook Criminal Law in Queensland and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He holds undergraduate degrees in Law and Arts and a PhD in Law.

Joseph's research interests broadly lie in criminalisation and the scope and impact of criminal or otherwise punitive measures. He has particular expertise on the interrelated phenomena of migrant smuggling and human trafficking and is a co-editor of a commentary on the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols on smuggling, trafficking, and firearms (OUP, 2023). Joseph also frequently serves as a consultant to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on issues related to smuggling and trafficking. He has authored or contributed to various UNODC publications, including the Legislative Guide to the Trafficking Protocol and other reports, issue papers, and case analyses. Joseph has a particular interest in the smuggling and trafficking of children (the topic of his PhD thesis) and has published numerous articles and chapters on migrant children.

Joseph is also currently working on a project concerning the criminalisation of threats. This includes an ongoing study on threats of fire in the context of domestic and family violence.

Joseph provides assistance to the Queensland Supreme and District Courts' Criminal Directions Bench Book committee.