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DisCrim: Vulnerability and Criminal Justice

The Vulnerability and Criminal Justice network brings together academics from across the University who have an interest in the study of children and adults that are or have been in contact with the criminal justice system and have been identified as having a significant ‘vulnerability’.

Aims

The network defines a ‘vulnerability’ as a physical and sensory impairment, a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, neurodevelopmental disorders, a traumatic brain injury, mental health issues, or substance misuse issues. We bring together key subject disciplines from across the University, including Criminology, Professional Policing, Forensic Psychology, Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, Law, and Film and Media. Our aims are:

  • To engage with stakeholders in the development of policy, practices, and procedures to ensure that vulnerable victims, witnesses, and suspects are adequately supported within the criminal justice system.

  • To expand interdisciplinary links across the University amongst staff and students who have an interest in vulnerabilities and criminal justice research.

  • To promote an active research culture in the areas of vulnerabilities and criminal justice research.

  • To encourage debates and offer a space in which an exchange of ideas can take place to support and improve the quality of research conducted in this area.

  • To create a collaborative space to increase research funding to raise our international profile of vulnerabilities and criminal justice research.

  • To inform the design and development of effective learning and development products that support national and international criminal justice agencies to effectively deal with vulnerable victims, witnesses, and suspects.

Who we are

Professor Gary Shaw is the main convenor of the DisCrim network. He is a Professor of Professional Practice in the Faculty of Education and Society.

Gary is a former police officer with over 40 years of experience primarily within the area of major crime investigation. In 1977, he joined Northumbria Police and retired on national secondment as a Detective Chief Inspector in 2007. Gary continued as a national lead for the National Strategic Steering Group on Investigative Interviewing until he took up his post at the University. Recently he has become interested in the development of research concerning the interviewing of vulnerable victims, witnesses and suspects concerning major crime investigation.

You can contact Gary for further information or queries about the DisCrim network: gary.shaw@sunderland.ac.uk.

Members