Social, Criminal and Legal Justice Research Group

The group has an active programme of research exploring the relationship between gender inequality and crime and justice.

In particular we are interested in gendered and sexual violence and the statutory and non-statutory response to it. Recent research in the group has looked at criminal justice response to rape and sexual assault and in particular: the post-assault processing of cases; the problem of attrition; perceptions, attitudes and practices of criminal justice personnel including police officers, prosecutors, forensic medics and judges; and medico-legal interventions in rape and sexual assault.

We support PhD and postgraduate research. Current projects include: policing rape; stalking; criminal justice policy transfer in relation to violence; police initiatives to tackle youth crime; the legal defences available to women who kill violent partners; and rape as a war crime. We welcome PhD enquiries related to these research interests. You can also view open opportunities via our PhD search tool.

Key Projects

Research group leader

Lesley McMillan, Professor of Criminology and Sociology