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Research

Institute of Social Justice and Crime

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The Institute for Social Justice and Crime is an intellectual and operational vehicle at the University of Suffolk for conducting applied research in social science, humanities and its cognate fields.

Vision  

The Institute for Social Justice and Crime takes an ambitious and collaborative approach, engaging in transformational research to tackle complex issues through an intersectional lens, expanding academic, policy and practice knowledge. The Institute’s research will further develop knowledge of multi-agency practices to improve their service to the community, increase public safety and to facilitate social justice. Interdisciplinary, mixed and creative methodologies are key to the Institute’s approach to research. The Institute for Social Justice and Crime provides a nurturing research culture where all researchers are valued and mentored to ensure they achieve their potential, whilst prioritising everyone’s health and wellbeing.

Mission  

The Institute for Social Justice and Crime is committed to addressing the social issues which act as barriers to an equitable and inclusive society with an emphasis on the experiences of vulnerable and marginalised groups. Fundamentally, the Institute seeks to make the world a more equal and just place in line with, and going beyond, the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Areas of Expertise

The Institute for Social Justice and Crime has several areas of core expertise: domestic abuse, online harms, sexual violence, policing, theorising (social justice), complex systems change, gangs and criminal exploitation.

We also have emerging areas of expertise in digital justice and activism, digital and food poverty, access to justice, gender and sexuality, racial justice, epistemic injustice, children, young people and childhoods as an axis of inequality, socially-just and future-making practices, locally and globally and trauma informed practice.

We are interested in all research that reflects our principles of equity, intersectionality, inclusivity, wellbeing, and transformational change.

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Introduction to the Institute

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Research Fellows

Our People

Professor Miranda Horvath

Professor Horvath is a leading international researcher in the field of forensic psychology, specifically Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

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Lindsey Redgwell

Lindsey supports the Institute for Social Justice & Crime providing administration and project management support to research projects across the institute.

Lindsey Redgwell staff profile photo

Lucy Williamson

Lucy supports the Research Directorate team at the University of Suffolk, providing administrative support for the Research Institutes.

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Dr Olumide Adisa

Olumide is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Justice and Crime, University of Suffolk and Co-Investigator, VISION at City University.

Dr Katherine Allen

Dr Katherine Allen is a Research Fellow in the Institute for Social Justice and Crime at the University of Suffolk.

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Dr Megan Hermolle

Megan Hermolle is a Research Fellow with research interests in law, feminism and crime.

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Aneela Khan

Trauma, Injustice, Violence & Abuse

Childhoods, Children & Young People

People, Justice & Security

Gender & Sexual Minorities

Global Majorities & Racial Justice

Cross-Cutting/intersectional working between themes

  • Ioana Crivatu
    • Title: Factors Prompting Decisions to Disengage from Multiple Perpetrator Rape: A Mixed-methods Study
    • Description: The project investigates multiple perpetrator rape (i.e., sexual offending involving at least two people). It focusses specifically on the individuals within the group who do not sexually participate alongside other(s) but are nonetheless present or involved in other capacities. Drawing on psychological and criminological theories and utilising a mixed-methods design, the research aims to uncover the individual(s)’ actions, decision-making process and the factors contributing to them.
  • Arianna Barbin
    • Title: Policing sex offences: UK officers’ insights on specialism.
    • Description: In recent years, there has been increasing interest to address how the police handle sex offences. Despite this, academic research is frequently limited to government surveys on victim experience and satisfaction with police work. Several campaigns, interventions and projects have been initiated to understand why the conviction rate for rape and other sexual offences remains minimal despite the overall increase in reports. This PhD aims at closing some of the gaps around the topic, focusing on the officers’ perspective of what they think they are doing when they are working in contact with the public. Moreover, their ideas of the advantages and barriers of implementing specialism within police forces will be considered to inform future policies and legislation. A range of academic and policing tools will be used to map how specialism evolved throughout the years, what it implies, and how much police officers in England and Wales value specialist knowledge as a tool to repair victims’ expectations and dissatisfaction.
  • Olga Khokhlova 
    • Working title: Perception of Marital Rape: the role of level of resistance, sexual deprivation, and jealousy.

  • Dr Kari Davies – Visiting Senior Fellow in Social Justice and Crime 

Childhood Remixed is an online journal promoting the interdisciplinary study of children and childhoods. The editorial team is Dr Sarah Richards, Dr Sarah Coombs and Dr Marianna Stella.

It is collated and edited by the Centre for the Study of Children and Childhood (CSCC). The Centre for the Study of Children and Childhoods (CSCC) is devoted to the exploration and research of children and childhoods. It is an interdisciplinary centre that acts as a catalyst and facilitator for research, education and training, policy development, media engagement and community awareness.

Events

Upcoming events and the latest news within the Institute for Social Justice and Crime.

Find out more
Speakers at the Institute Launch Event on 5th October 2022

Additional Information

More on Institute for Social Justice and Crime Projects
More on Looking for a PhD?
More on Domestic Abuse Research Network (DARNet)
More on Violence Against Women and Girls Network (VAWAG)
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Latest News

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Suffolk academics influence national policy to improve police investigations of rape

University of Suffolk academics have helped produce fresh resources for police forces nationally to improve investigations of rape and serious sexual offences as part of a major national policy – including important guidance around consent and challenging misconceptions.

A photo of Emma Harvey Lawrence in the Paddy & Scott's coffee shop
New research project launched to assess adult nutrition across Suffolk

Adults across Suffolk are being urged to share their experiences of food by taking part in a significant new research project being launched by the University of Suffolk assessing the population’s nutrition knowledge and factors influencing their food choices.

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Sustainability Institute Bolsters Expertise with Appointment of Sizewell C Senior Leader

A senior leader for the environment and sustainability at Sizewell C has been appointed as a senior research fellow at the University of Suffolk’s Sustainability Institute.

Get in Touch

If you would like more information on our research or to explore collaborative opportunities, please do get in touch with the Institute Director, Prof Miranda Horvath on research@uos.ac.uk 

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