The lecture, ‘The Penal Politics of Hate’ will be given by Associate Professor Gail Mason of the University of Sydney, who researches issues of hate crime and discrimination, and social and legal understandings of what it means to ‘hate’ others.

Associate Professor Mason will also address the nature and impact of emotion in criminal justice.

Associate Professor Mason says the recent protests of a large group of international students, mainly from India, against a spate of violent attacks they identified as having racist elements, have generated unprecedented reaction in society.

"Never before has a community’s claim that they are the targets of prejudice-related violence generated such feverish and sweeping reactions from multiple arms of civil society, including the Victorian government’s announcement that it intends to introduce hate crime laws at the sentencing stage."

The John Barry Memorial lecture has been presented by the Criminology discipline at the University of Melbourne since 1972, generously supported by the Barry family.

Who:
Associate Professor Gail Mason, University of Sydney

What:
‘The Penal Politics of Hate’: The 2009 John Barry Memorial Lecture for the Criminology program at the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Arts

When:
Wednesday 21 October 2009, 6.15pm for 6.30pm

Where:
Laby Theatre, David Caro/Physics Building - Building 192, Gate 1, corner Tin Alley and Swanston Street, The University of Melbourne.