Dr Joe Purshouse

School of Law

Senior Lecturer in Criminal Law and Justice

Deputy Director of Employability and Enrichment Activities (Criminology)

Deputy Director of Learning and Teaching (Assessments and Scrutiny)

Joe Purshouse Staff photo
Profile picture of Joe Purshouse Staff photo
j.purshouse@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6776

Full contact details

Dr Joe Purshouse
School of Law
EF16B
Bartolomé House
Winter Street
Sheffield
S3 7ND
Profile

I was appointed to the role of Senior Lecturer in Criminal Law and Justice at the University of Sheffield in September 2021. I moved to Sheffield from the University of East Anglia, where I held the positions of Associate Professor in Criminal Law (2021) and Lecturer (2016-2021). Prior to this, I was a module leader at Sheffield College and a tutor at the University of Nottingham, where I completed my PhD.

My research focuses on the disruptive impact of innovations in technology and society on the law. I have published in leading journals such as the Legal Studies, Journal of Law and Society, Modern Law Review, Public Law, and Criminal Law Review. This research has contributed to policy debates on the application of law to new technologies in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

I have taught across various law and criminology degree programmes, and have played a leading role in re-designing, updating and teaching materials at various institutions, contributing to curriculum planning, course design and development.

Qualifications
  • PhD in Law, University of Notingham
  • MA Socio-Legal and Criminological Research, University of Nottingham
  • LL.M Criminal Justice, University of Nottingham
  • BA Criminology, Sheffield Hallam University
Research interests
  • New technologies
  • Criminal justice
  • Criminal process
  • Facial recognition technology
  • AI
  • Online child abuse activism
  • Citizen-led policing
  • Privacy
Publications

Books

Journal articles

Chapters

  • Purshouse J & Roberts A (2024) Criminal Justice, Technology, and the Future of Privacy Introduction, PRIVACY, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE CRIMINAL PROCESS (pp. 1-17). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Purshouse J () Anonymity, Criminal Suspicion, and Mud That Sticks In child J, Rogers J & Bone M (Ed.), Criminal Law Reform Now: Volume II RIS download Bibtex download
  • Purshouse J & Roberts A () Introduction, Privacy, Technology, and the Criminal Process (pp. 1-17). Taylor & Francis RIS download Bibtex download
  • Purshouse J () Citizen-Led Policing in the Digital Age and the Right to Respect for Private Life In Purshouse J, Roberts A & Bosland J (Ed.), Privacy, Technology, and the Criminal Process Routledge View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
Research group

I am a member of the Centre for Criminological Research.

Grants

Title/Description: Facial Recognition Technology in New Zealand: Towards a Legal and Ethical Framework

  • Awarding body: New Zealand Law Foundation
  • People involved: Dr Nessa Lynch, Professor Liz Campbell, Dr Joe Purshouse; Dr Marcin Betkier
  • Dates: April 2019-December 2020
  • Amount: $52988 NZ

Title/Description: New Technology and Law Enforcement Workshop

  • Awarding body: Eastern Arc
  • Dates: February 2019-July 2019
  • Amount: £1,500

Title/Description: Economic and Social Research Council 1+3 Scholarship

  • Awarding body: ESRC
  • Dates: September 2013-September 2016
  • Amount: £13500 per anum
Teaching activities
  • Criminal Law and Justice
  • Criminal Evidence 
  • Advanced Criminal Law and Justice 
  • Comprehending Criminology 
  • Technology, Criminal Justice and Human Rights
Professional activities and memberships
  • Stakeholder Member, Working Group for the National Police Chief’s Council’s Policy on OCAG Activity
  • Stakeholder Member, EU Horizon CyberCrime Driver Project
  • External Examiner, Northumbria University