Steven Downing

Dr. Steven Downing is an Associate Professor of Criminology and Justice in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities at Ontario Tech University. He received his PhD in Criminology from The University of Texas at Dallas.

His research uses ethnography and qualitative methods to study:

• Crime and deviance in the metaverse and digital spaces
• Criminal subcultures in online/offline contexts
• Media representations of crime in film and games

His recent publications examine virtual crime dynamics, cinematic racial narratives, and power structures in survival games. Research consistently explores how emerging technologies reshape criminal behavior and social control mechanisms.

Dr. Downing teaches courses in Cybercrime and Qualitative Methods and has presented work at major criminology conferences including the American Society of Criminology.