Who is the victim? - Identifying victims and perpetrators in cases of coercive control
August 2023
Research report by Charlotte Barlow, Sandra Walklate, and Emma Finnegan
- Download and read Who is the Victim Report (PDF)
High Harm, High Frequency - Police Strategies for Managing Serious Domestic Abuse Perpetrators
May 2023
Research report by (University of Liverpool) Professor Barry Godfrey, Professor Sandra Walklate, and Dr Jane Richardson.
- Download and read the High Harm High Frequency Report 2023 (PDF)
Evaluation of the Use of Video Conference Interviews for Victims of Domestic Abuse
November 2022
Research report by (University of Liverpool) Professor Barry Godfrey & Dr Jane Richardson.
Sussex Police and University of Liverpool
- Download and read the Evaluation of the Domestic Abuse Safeguarding Trial (DAST) (PDF)
April 2022
Research report by (University of Liverpool), Professor Barry Godfrey, Professor Sandra Walklate, Dr Jane Richardson & Lucy Williams.
Sussex Police and University of Liverpool
- Download and read the Evaluation of the Use of Videoconference Interviews on Victims of Domestic Abuse (PDF)
The Impact of Covid-19 and Associated Public Health Restrictions (Lockdowns) on Trends in Police-Recorded Violence in Merseyside
October 2022
Dr Carly Lightowlers (University of Liverpool), Professor Zara Quigg (Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre fro Violence Prevention) & Olivia Horsefield (University of Liverpool)
Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP), University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University
- Download and read the MVRP Impact C19 on violence in Merseyside Report (PDF)
The Role of Deprivation and Alcohol Availability in Shaping Trends in Violent Crime
Research Report by Dr Carly Lightowlers (University of Liverpool), Dr Jose Pina-Sánchez and Fiona McLaughlin (University of Leeds)
It is well established that alcohol availability impacts violent crime. However, less is known about whether that impact is experienced uniformly across different areas. Here we make use of longitudinal police data to examine inequalities in violent crime across small level geography (LSOAs) for the whole of England, and the impact of deprivation and alcohol availability on the observed trends in recorded violent crime.
Contextual culpability: How drinking and social context impact upon sentencing of violence
Research Report by Dr Carly Lightowlers (University of Liverpool), Dr Jose Pina-Sánchez (University of Leeds) and Dr Emma Watkins (University of Roehampton)
The role intoxication plays in offending behaviour is the subject of complex and contentious debates concerning blame and culpability in the eyes of the law (see Ashworth, 2015; Dingwall, 2006; Sinclair-House, 2018). Sentencing guidelines identify intoxication as an aggravating factor (Sentencing Council, 2011), However, there is little clarity on how this ought to be applied and in which settings, as such sentencers are left to determine the ‘appropriate mix’ of sentencing considerations. However, this potentially introduces unwarranted disparities and bias in sentencing outcomes.
- Download Contextual Culpability research report summary (PDF)
Making Youth Justice: Local penal cultures and differential outcomes – lessons and prospects for policy and practice
Research Report by Professor Barry Goldson, Professor Emeritus at the University of Liverpool, and Dr Damon Briggs, Head of Curriculum at Frontline.
The report is underpinned by detailed quantitative and qualitative research showing that youth justice is ‘made’ not only by national legislative and policy frameworks but also by practices that are operationalised at Youth Offending Service/Local Authority Area-level. In this sense, the otherwise discrete jurisdiction of England and Wales is, in effect, stratified and segmented via local penal cultures that give rise to differential outcomes (particularly when measured in terms of rates of custodial detention). The report illustrates such differential outcomes and provides incisive insights into how they come about. It provides vital lessons and prospects for policy and practice.
- Download and read the 'Making Youth Justice' Report and Summary from the Howard League website
- Read the news story about the launch of the report (24 March 2021)
- Watch a video of the launch, which includes a discussion with eight panelists, on YouTube (30 March 2021)
The Shadow Pandemic
Working Papers by Prof Barry Godfrey, Prof Sandra Walklate and Dr Jane Richardson
The UN named the gendered consequences of COVID-19 isolation restrictions as ‘The Shadow Pandemic… “a perfect storm for controlling, violent behaviour behind closed doors.”.
Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology academics have been researching into the effects of national lockdowns and social distancing restrictions. You can read about their work in the School of Law and Social Justice's special focus on Coronavirus Research. Here, Barry, Sandra and Jane have also gathered together a series of related working papers from partners and colleagues around the world including reports from Queensland and Victoria, Australia.
- Visit The Shadow Pandemic Coronavirus Research section where you can download the working papers.
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