Current research projects

Our research group addresses critical issues across criminal law and criminal justice, using a variety of methodologies. Below is a selection of our key research themes, highlighting current and past projects.

Criminalisation and criminal responsibility

Investigating a wide range of areas across the substantive criminal law and its conceptualisation, structure, scope, policy and practice.

Criminal jurisdiction

Examining the legal and practical challenges of jurisdiction in cross-border and international contexts.

  • Jurisdiction and transnational offences (Ó Floinn)
  • Investigative jurisdiction (Ó Floinn)
  • Review of the Model law on MLA (Ó Floinn - UNODC)
  • International Co-operation and Extradition (Ó Floinn et al - Law Commission/CLRNN)

Domestic abuse and gender-based violence

Exploring legal frameworks and responses to domestic abuse, with a focus on victim perspectives and systemic challenges.

  • Hidden Voices: how women convicted of killing their intimate partners experience the Scottish criminal justice system (McPherson and Batchelor)
  • Scottish homicides: bridging the gap between the empirical and theoretical (McPherson)
  • Translating and understanding cases where women kill following domestic abuse (McPherson)
  • Understanding Domestic Homicide in Scotland: Exploring Patterns, Promoting Safeguarding (McPherson with McMillan and Taylor (Glasgow Caledonian University))

Preventing wrongful conviction

Research aimed at understanding and responding to the causes of miscarriages of justice.

Prosecution of sexual offences

Research into the legal, procedural and societal dimensions of prosecuting sexual offences.

 

Sentencing and community supervision

Examining the principles and practices of sentencing, probation and community-based sanctions and measures.

  • Research into warranted and unwarranted sentencing disparities
  • Public perceptions of sentences following a guilty plea (Gormley; McPherson)
  • Public perceptions of sentencing for environmental and wildlife offences
  • Research into community service in Ireland (Kennefick and Guilfoyle - Irish Probation Service)
  • Histories of probation (Kennefick and Healy)
  • Sentencing issues arising in cases involving domestic abuse, stalking, rape and other sexual offences and modern slavery (McPherson and Gormley)

The law of evidence and procedure

Analysing the rules and practices governing the use of evidence in criminal proceedings.