Overview

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate with Professor Huw Williams, working on a range of projects examining neurodisability and the Criminal Justice System.

Research Interests. My research primarily focuses on trying to understand why children and young people with neurodisabilities (including acquired brain injury) are over-represented in the criminal justice system, and what we can do to improve our education and youth justice systems. I am also interested in social models of disability, and my thesis explored how we can make education and healthcare systems accessible and appropriate for children with neurodisabilities.  

I work mainly with large administrative datasets, and am interested in improving our understanding of the ethical implications of risk-modelling in the criminal justice system. I am studying how ethical guidelines might be improved to reduce disadvantage created by these models for marginalised groups. 

My PhD thesis examined public health approaches to criminology. I am accessing linked Ministry of Justice and Department of Education data to understand the criminalisation of children and young adults, with a particular focus on those with neurodisabilities and Looked After Children. I am also working closely with DoIT Solutions (https://doitprofiler.com/) to utilise screening data for prisoners in Wales, and understand their profiles of needs in relation to mental health and neurodisability. 

Additional Roles. I am the UK policy and research director for PINK Concussions, an American charity which advocates for women and girls who have experienced brain injury. I provide administrative support for the Acquired Brain Injury Justice Network, which is part of UKABIF. I am part of the GLEPHA Neurodisability Special Interest Group, which meets quarterly to share interventions, research, and ideas to prevent people with neurodisabilities coming into contact with the criminal justice system. Additionally, I am a Research Assistant for TRYJustice, a newly formed network working towards improving outcomes for children who are in contact with the criminal justice system. 

Research Keywords:

• Neurodevelopmental 
• Neurodisability
• Criminal Justice System
• School Exclusion
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Social Models of Disability 

Research Group Webpage: 

https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/neurodisabilitycriminaljustice/ 

PINK Concussions: 

https://www.pinkconcussions.com/

TRYJustice: 

https://www.tryjustice.org.uk/

Qualifications

Bsc (Hons) Applied Psychology (Clinical), University of Exeter (First Class) 

Msc Psychological Research Methods, University of Exeter (Distinction) 

Evidence Based Psychological Therapies (IAPT)

Research group links

• Clinical
• Neuroscience and mental health

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Publications

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