View cookie policy.

University of Essex homepage Departments Sociology Research Crime Justice and Public Policy
Research Cluster

Crime, Justice and Public Policy

A gavel on top of an open book with a library in the background.

Collaborative research between sociologists and criminologists

Our key research themes focus on health and healthcare, environmental issues, criminology, ageing and pensions, digital criminology and organised crime.

This is a vibrant research cluster that involves sociologists and criminologists working around the issues of representation, signification, identity and cultural difference within the criminal justice system and in a society more broadly.

View our list of researchers below. Visit their staff profiles to learn more about their individual research and supervision status:

Selected projects

Countering Regional Italian Mafia Expansion (CRIME)
By using open data and primary resources, and with privileged partnerships with Eurojust and Europol, the Mafiaround-Europe report - stemming from the CRIME (Countering Regional Italian Mafia Expansion) project presents the first analysis of the presence of Italian mafias in 8 European countries and the challenges of cross border policing of mafia-type organised crime.
Online Romance Fraud Toolkit (ORF)
Using personal stories of victims and families, the Online Romance Fraud Toolkit can be used to recognise Online Romance Fraud, help friends and family understand how to support those who have experienced it, and help victims recover from the trauma of their experience.
Human Rights, Big Data and Technology
Academics in sociology and criminology contributed to the Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project, which examined the challenges and opportunities presented by big data and associated technology from a human rights perspective.

News

Crime-affected children add their voice to new research Domestic abuse and stalker register will do little to help victims Mafia expert wins major European award Highlighting violence against women and girls in policing Other people's crimes - new research on our right to know

Blogs

Bank account closures don’t just affect ‘politically exposed persons’ Podcast: The Cat in the Bag Podcast: The First Straw 100 years of the ‘ndrangheta Calabrian mafia in Australia

Our members

Professor Eamonn Carrabine

Professor Eamonn Carrabine

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Dr Sobia Ahmad Kaker

Dr Sobia Ahmad Kaker

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Dr Isabel Crowhurst

Dr Isabel Crowhurst

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Professor Neli Demireva

Professor Neli Demireva

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Professor Chris Greer

Professor Chris Greer

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Dr Katerina Hadjimatheou

Dr Katerina Hadjimatheou

Member

Department of Sociology and Criiminology, University of Essex

Professor Sean Nixon

Professor Sean Nixon

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Dr Johanna Romer

Dr Johanna Romer

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Professor Anna Sergi

Professor Anna Sergi

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Dr Samuel Singler

Dr Samuel Singler

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Dr Carlos Solar

Dr Carlos Solar

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Dr Darren Thiel

Dr Darren Thiel

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Our postgraduate research students

Esin Damar
Esin Damar

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Catherine Duck
Catherine Duck

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Ej-Francis Caris-Hamer (Pronoun Ze/Zir)
Ej-Francis Caris-Hamer (Pronoun Ze/Zir)

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Rasha Hamid
Rasha Hamid

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Aruna Mahananda
Aruna Mahananda

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Kerry Preston
Kerry Preston

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Katie Reid
Katie Reid

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Taylor Skevington
Taylor Skevington

Member

Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex

Man grabbing a woman's arm
60 Stories: Working to end domestic violence

With the total number of domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes on the rise, bringing serial abusers to light is crucial to protect women and children at risk of harm. Dr Kat Hadjimatheou’s research directly shaped the national policy for ‘Clare’s Law’ - the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) – which gives victims and survivors access to reliable information police hold about their partner’s true history of abuse.

Read about our work
Academic staff in the Department of Sociology and Criminology
View the list of academic staff working within the department, visit their staff profiles and view their research interests.
Research degrees in the Department of Sociology and Criminology
Find out about the range of research degrees available from the department, find research supervision and learn how to apply.
Explore research online
Utilise this online search tool to explore research at the University of Essex.
Contact us
Departmental Director of Research Dr Neli Demireva
University of Essex
Department of Sociology and Criminology University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ
Telephone: 01206 873275
WE ARE
ESSEX ARE YOU?
Sign up for a prospectus Get to know Essex
STUDY
Find a course
LIFE
RESEARCH
EXPLORE
CONTACT US
Contact


  • +44 (0) 1206 873333
  • University of Essex
  • Wivenhoe Park
  • Colchester CO4 3SQ

 

 

University of Essex - Where change happens

CONNECT WITH US
© 2025 University of Essex. All rights reserved