Professor Gwen Robinson

School of Law

Deputy Head of School

Staff photo of Professor Gwen Robinson
Profile picture of Staff photo of Professor Gwen Robinson
g.j.robinson@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6863

Full contact details

Professor Gwen Robinson
School of Law
CF1
Bartolomé House
Winter Street
Sheffield
S3 7ND
Profile

I have worked at the School of Law since 2002, having completed a PhD at the University of Wales, Swansea. My first degree was in psychology (University of Sussex) and I completed a masters in Applied Social Studies and a Diploma in Social Work at the University of Oxford in 1996.

Since joining the University of Sheffield I have been involved in a number of empirical research projects and have published in the areas of: probation service reform; offender rehabilitation and management; community sanctions/penalties; and restorative justice.

In the last 10 years my research has focused on the implementation, experience and consequences of a series of criminal justice reforms which saw the part privatisation of probation services in 2014, and their renationalisation in 2020. In 2014-16 I was part of a research team which successfully applied for an ESRC Urgency grant to examine the transition of probation staff from a public sector Probation Trust to a privately owned Community Rehabilitation Company in one case study area. In 2020 we won a further ESRC grant, enabling us to examine the reunification of probation services in an expanded National Probation Service. This study is a collaboration with colleagues at the Universities of Nottingham, Southampton and Liverpool John Moores.

I have also conducted research on the role of probation in the magistrates' courts (2017-18) and I am co-editing a book (with Dr Nicola Carr, University of Nottingham) on Time and Punishment.

Qualifications
  • PhD, University of Wales, Swansea
  • MSc Applied Social Studies and Diploma in Social Work, University of Oxford
  • BA (Hons) Psychology, University of Sussex
Research interests
  • Non-custodial punishment
  • Offender rehabilitation and management
  • Probation reform
  • The sociology of punishment
  • Restorative justice
  • Qualitative research methods
Publications

Books

  • Shapland J, Robinson G & Sorsby A (2011) Restorative Justice in Practice. London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Raynor P & Robinson G (2009) Rehabilitation, Crime and Justice. Palgrave Macmillan. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson G & Crow I (2009) Offender Rehabilitation: Theory, Research and Practice. SAGE. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Raynor P & Robinson G (2006) Rehabilitation, Crime and Justice. Palgrave Macmillan. RIS download Bibtex download

Edited books

  • Robinson G & Carr N (Ed.) (2022) Time and Punishment: New Contexts and Perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan/Springer. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson G & McNeill F (Ed.) (2015) Community Punishment: European Perspectives. London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • (Ed.) (2004) Alternatives to Prison: Options for an insecure society. Willan Pub. RIS download Bibtex download

Journal articles

Chapters

  • Carr N & Robinson G (2022) Time and Punishment: An Introduction, Time and Punishment (pp. 1-33). Springer International Publishing RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson G (2022) Probation Work in the Juridical Field: A Dance to the Music of Time, Time and Punishment (pp. 203-225). Springer International Publishing RIS download Bibtex download
  • Burke L, Millings M & Robinson G (2018) Is constructive practice still possible in a competitive environment? Findings from a case study of a community rehabilitation company in England and Wales In Ugwudike P, Raynor P & Annison J (Ed.), Evidence-Based Skills in Criminal Justice (pp. 57-78). Bristol: Policy Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ, Worrall A & Carr N (2017) Opening a window on probation cultures: a photographic imagination In Brown M & Carrabine E (Ed.), The Routledge International Handbook of Visual Criminology Oxfordshire: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & McNeill F (2017) Punishment in the community In Liebling A, McAra L & Maruna S (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Criminology Oxford: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2016) Patrolling the Borders of Risk: The new Bifurcation of Probation Services in England & Wales In Bosworth M, Hoyle C & Zedner L (Ed.), Changing Contours of Criminal Justice Oxford: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • McNeill F & Robinson G (2016) Explaining Probation, Probation (pp. 245-261). Palgrave Macmillan UK RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & McNeill F (2015) Introduction: Studying the evolution of 'community punishment' in comparative context In Robinson G & McNeill F (Ed.), Community Punishment: European Perspectives (pp. 1-12). Routledge RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & McNeill F (2015) Conclusion: Community punishment and the penal state In Robinson G & McNeill F (Ed.), Community Punishment: European Perspectives (pp. 228-241). Routledge RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2015) Three narratives and a funeral: Community punishment in England & Wales In Robinson G & McNeill F (Ed.), Community Punishment: European Perspectives (pp. 30-50). Routledge RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & Svensson K (2013) Practising offender supervision In McNeill F & Beyens K (Ed.), Offender Supervision in Europe Palgrave Macmillan RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2013) What counts? Community sanctions and the construction of compliance In Ugwudike P & Raynor P (Ed.), What Works in Offender Compliance Palgrave Macmillan RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ, McNeill F & Maruna S (2012) Punishment in Society: The improbable persistence of probation and other community sanctions and measures In Simon J & Sparks R (Ed.), The SAGE Handbook of Punishment and Society SAGE RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ, Gelsthorpe L & Raynor P (2012) Pre-sentence reports in England and Wales: changing discourses of need, risk and quality In McNeiil F, Raynor P & Trotter C (Ed.), Offender Supervision New Directions in Theory, Research and Practice Routledge RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & McNeill F (2010) Liquid Legitimacy and Community Sanctions In Crawford and Hucklesbury (Ed.), Legitimacy and Criminal Justice RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & Robinson G (2010) The dynamics of compliance with community supervision In McNeill F, Raynor P & Trotter C (Ed.), Offender Supervision: New Directions in Theory, Research and Practice Willan RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & McNeill F (2010) Probation in the United Kingdom In Herzog-Evans M (Ed.), Transnational Criminology Manual International Courts Assoc RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & Shapland J (2009) Reducing recidivism: A task for restorative justice? In Hoyle C (Ed.), Restorative Justice Routledge RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2007) Restorative Justice In McIvor G & Raynor P (Ed.), Developments in Social Work with Offenders Jessica Kingsley Publishers RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2007) Social work in the criminal justice system In Davies M (Ed.), The Blackwell Companion to Social Work Blackwell RIS download Bibtex download
  • (2006) Rehabilitation Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & McNeill F (2004) Purposes matter: examining the ‘ends’ of probation practice, What Matters in Probation (pp. 277-304). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bottoms A, Rex S & Robinson GJ (2004) How did we get here? In Bottoms S, Rex S & Robinson G (Ed.), Alternatives to Prison: Options for an insecure society (pp. 1-27). Willan RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ, Bottoms A & Rex S (2004) Pulling some threads together In Bottoms A, Rex S & Robinson G (Ed.), Alternatives to Prison: Options for an insecure society (pp. 406-424). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ & Dignan J (2004) Sentence management In Robinson G & Bottoms A (Ed.), Alternatives to Prison: Options for an insecure society (pp. 313-340). Willan RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2003) Risk and risk assessment In Chui WH & Nellis M (Ed.), Moving Probation Forward: Evidence, arguments and practice (pp. 277-304). Editorial Dunken RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2002) Social work in the criminal justice system In Davies M (Ed.), Blackwell Companion to Social Work (pp. 259-265). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Durnescu I () Understanding Penal Practice Routledge RIS download Bibtex download
  • Millings M, Burke L & Robinson G () The ‘Transforming Rehabilitation’ agenda in England and Wales: implications of privatisation In McNeill F, Raynor P, Trotter C, Taxman F, Ugwudike P & Graham H (Ed.), Routledge Companion to Rehabilitative Work in Criminal Justice RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ () How practitioners conceptualise quality In McNeill F, Raynor P, Trotter C, Taxman F, Ugwudike P & Graham H (Ed.), Routledge Companion to Rehabilitative Work in Criminal Justice Routledge RIS download Bibtex download

Book reviews

Reports

  • Robinson G (2022) Pre-Sentence Reports: A review of policy, practice and research RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sorsby A, Shapland J, Farrall S, McNeill F, Priede C & Robinson GJ (2013) Probation staff views of the Skills for Effective Engagement Development (SEED) project RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sorsby A, Shapland J, Farrall S, McNeill F, Priede C & Robinson GJ (2013) Probation staff views of the Skills for Effective Engagement Development (SEED) pilot RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ, Priede C, Farrall S, Shapland J & McNeill F (2012) Understanding ‘Quality’ in Probation Practice: Findings from a study in three Probation Trusts RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Bottoms A, Farrall S, McNeill F, Priede C & Robinson GJ (2012) The Quality of Probation Supervision: A literature review RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Bottoms A, Farrall S, McNeill F, Priede C & Robinson GJ (2012) The Quality of Probation Supervision – A literature review: summary of key messages RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Dignan J, Edwards L, Hibbert J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G & Sorsby A (2008) Does restorative justice affect reconviction? The fourth report from the evaluation of three schemes. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Chapman B, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson GJ & Sorsby A (2007) Restorative Justice: The Views of Victims and Offenders: The Third Report from the Evaluation of Three Schemes RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Chapman B, Colledge E, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson GJ & Sorsby A (2006) Restorative Justice in Practice: Findings from the second phase of the evaluation of three schemes RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Chapman B, Colledge E, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson GJ & Sorsby A (2006) Restorative Justice in Practice: The second report from the evaluation of three schemes RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland JM, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Chapman B, Colledge E, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G & Sorsby A (2006) Restorative justice in practice: findings from the second stage of the evaluation of three schemes RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Colledge E, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Pennant R, Robinson G & Sorsby AJ (2004) Implementing restorative justice schemes (Crime Reduction Programme): a report on the first year. RIS download Bibtex download

Theses / Dissertations

  • Robinson GJ (1996) Victim-Offender Mediation: Limitations and Potential (Monograph). RIS download Bibtex download

Dictionary/encyclopaedia entries

  • Robinson G (2014) Rehabilitation. In Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice Springer New York. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2007) ‘Resettlement’. In Dictionary of Probation and Offender Management Willan. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2000) 'Prediction'. In Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work Blackwell. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2000) ‘Risk management’. In Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work Blackwell. RIS download Bibtex download

Other

  • Robinson G (2020) 'Smart sentencing' and the role of Pre-Sentence Reports. Probation Quarterly(18), 28-29. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson G (2019) Probation services in magistrates courts. Probation Quarterly(11), 14-16. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Robinson GJ (2008) Counterblast: Pro-social modelling in Probation?, 47, 189-191. RIS download Bibtex download
Research group

Areas of Research Supervision

  • Non-custodial punishment
  • Offender rehabilitation and management
  • Probation practice/reform
Grants

Title/Description: Rehabilitating Probation

  • Awarding Body: ESRC
  • People Involved: Gwen Robinson: with Matthew Millings, Lol Burke, Nicola Carr, Harry Annison
  • Years Funded for: 2021-2024

Title/Description: Devolving Probation Services

  • Awarding Body: ESRC
  • People Involved: Gwen Robinson: with Matthew Millings and Lol Burke (Liverpool John Moores University)
  • Years Funded for: 2014-2015

Title/Description: Evaluation of 3 Restorative Justice Schemes

  • Awarding Body: Home Office/Ministry of Justice
  • People Involved: Research team led by Joanna Shapland
  • Years Funded for: 2002-2007
Teaching interests

All of my teaching is in the field of criminal justice and restorative justice, and in areas in which I have research and/or practical experience as well as theoretical knowledge.

In all of my teaching I endeavour to incorporate aspects of ‘real world’ issues and controversies, through activities such as debates and documentary screenings.

Teaching activities

The modules I teach are:

Undergraduate

Punishment and Penal Policy (LAW217)(Convenor)

Rehabilitation of Offenders (LAW317) (Convenor)

Skills for Criminologists (LAW146) (Convenor)

Postgraduate and MA

Restorative Justice (LAW6903) (Convenor)

Professional activities and memberships
  • Member of Editorial Advisory Group, British Journal of Criminology
  • Editorial Advisory Board Member, Howard Journal of Crime and Justice
  • Editorial Board Member, Probation Journal