Crime and Punishment

Organisation profile

Organisation profile

The Crime and Punishment Research Cluster is made up of members of academic staff and PhD students/postdoctoral scholars from the Department of Law and Criminology and the Department of Social Work, all active researchers undertaking multi-disciplinary and impactful research in criminal justice settings. 

Within the ‘Crime’ strand of our research expertise we have two primary themes: ‘Victims and Exploitation’ (for example we have current projects focusing on human-trafficking, stalking, elder abuse, child protection, and drug markets) and ‘Terrorism and Extremism’ (current projects include a focus on radicalisation, counter-terrorism, jihadist terrorism, paramilitaries, the Northern Ireland peace process, organisational crime and terrorism). 

The ‘Punishment’ strand of our research expertise focuses specifically on Prisons, Parole and Probation and includes current projects focusing on risk assessment processes, prison health (for example mental and physical health, self-harm, physical activity), probation healthcare, prisoner education, peer mentoring and voluntary sector involvement in prisons, women and transgender prisoners, disability in prisons, IPPs and life sentences, resettlement and the families of prisoners, as well as the scrutiny and monitoring of prisons and other places of detention (HM Inspectorate of Prisons and National Preventative Mechanisms).

In all of these areas we have a track record of successful research grant applications, regularly publishing papers in international journals and producing policy briefings, leading research texts and collating edited collections. Members of the group serve as journal editors as well as consultants and research partners to national and international Universities, external organisations, government departments and charitable groups (these are wide ranging and currently include – but are not limited to – the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations and Council of Europe torture prevention committees, the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office, HM Prison and Probation Service, the Scottish Prison Service, HM Inspectorate of Prisons, the Parole Board, RAND Europe, The Disabilities Trust, Prisoners Education Trust, the Prison Reform Trust, CREST, Depaul International, Bristol Human Rights Implementation Centre, the Commission for Counter Extremism, Surrey County Council). 
 
The department of Law and Criminology’s two flagship PGT programmes also map directly onto these research areas with colleagues from the Crime and Punishment research cluster leading and contributing to our MSc in Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies and our MSc in Forensic Psychology. 
 
The Cluster provides a forum for members for exchange ideas, share information and support one another's research through collaboration and peer review. 

We aim to:

  • Undertake cutting-edge interdisciplinary research which develops empirical understandings and theoretical developments in research.
  • Develop relationships and partnerships with other research institutions and universities in the furtherance of knowledge.
  • Engage with key stakeholders in society to help achieve policy and practice impact Enhance research funding capabilities 

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 1 - No Poverty
  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or