Professor Gwen Robinson

School of Law

Professor of Criminal Justice

Departmental Director of One University

Gwen Robinson staff profile
Profile picture of Gwen Robinson staff profile
g.j.robinson@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6863
CF1, Bartolome House

Full contact details

Professor Gwen Robinson
School of Law
CF1
Bartolome 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.
  • Raynor P & Robinson G (2009) Rehabilitation, Crime and Justice. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Robinson G & Crow I (2009) Offender Rehabilitation: Theory, Research and Practice. SAGE.
  • Raynor P & Robinson G (2006) Rehabilitation, Crime and Justice. Palgrave Macmillan.

Edited books

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

Journal articles

  • Millings M, Burke L, Annison H, Carr N, Robinson G & Surridge E (2025) . Probation Journal, 72(2), 202-218.
  • Robinson G, Annison H, Burke L, Carr N, Millings M & Surridge E (2025) . British Journal of Criminology.
  • Millings M, Burke L, Annison H, Carr N, Robinson G & Surridge E (2025) . Probation Journal, 72(3), 256-273.
  • Skinns L, Rice L, Robinson G & Bottoms AE (2024) . Criminology & Criminal Justice, 24(5), 925-938.
  • Annison H, Burke L, Carr N, Millings M, Robinson G & Surridge E (2024) . The British Journal of Criminology, 64(3), 726-743.
  • Robinson G, Annison H, Burke L, Carr N, Millings M & Surridge E (2023) . Criminology & Criminal Justice (CCJ).
  • Millings M, Burke L, Annison H, Carr N, Robinson G & Surridge E (2023) . Probation Journal, 70(4), 331-349.
  • Robinson G (2022) . The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice.
  • Carr N & Robinson G (2021) . Crime, Media, Culture, 17(2), 235-254.
  • Robinson G (2021) . The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 60(2), 151-166.
  • Robinson GJ (2020) . Punishment and Society, 22(1), 70-89.
  • Robinson G & Dominey J (2019) . Probation Journal, 66(4), 451-455.
  • Robinson GJ (2019) . Criminology and Criminal Justice, 19(5), 605-621.
  • Millings M, Burke L & Robinson GJ (2019) . Probation Journal, 66(1), 60-76.
  • Robinson GJ (2018) . Probation Journal, 65(3), 316-334.
  • Robinson GJ (2017) . Probation Journal, 64(4), 337-353.
  • Burke L, Millings M & Robinson GJ (2017) . Criminology & Criminal Justice, 17(2), 192-208.
  • Robinson GJ, Burke L & Millings M (2017) . The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 56(2), 137-157.
  • Sorsby A, Shapland J & Robinson G (2017) . Criminology and Criminal Justice, 17(1), 40-61.
  • Robinson GJ (2016) . Punishment & Society, 18(1), 95-112.
  • Robinson GJ, Burke L & Millings M (2015) . British Journal of Criminology.
  • Carr N, Bauwens A, Bosker J, Donker A, Robinson GJ, Sui I & Worrall A (2015) . European Journal of Probation, 7(3), 179-200.
  • Robinson G & Svensson K (2015) . European Journal of Probation, 7(3), 171-178.
  • Morgernstern C & Robinson GJ (2014) . European Journal of Probation, 3(6), 203-208.
  • Robinson G, McNeill F & Maruna S (2014) Castigo en sociedad: La improbable persistencia de la probation y otras sanciones y medidas comunitarias (Punishment in Society: The Improbable Persistence of Probation and Other Community Sanctions and Measures).
  • Robinson G, Priede C, Farrall S, Shapland J & McNeill F (2014) . Criminology and Criminal Justice, 14(2), 123-142.
  • Robinson GJ, Priede C, Farrall S, Shapland J & McNeill F (2012) Doing 'Strengths Based' Research: Appreciative Inquiry in a Probation Setting. Criminolgy and Criminal Justice.
  • Robinson G & Ugwudike P (2012) Investing in 'Toughness': Probation, Enforcement and Legitimacy. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 51(3), 300-316.
  • Robinson GJ (2010) Reformer la probation en Angleterre at au Pays de Galles : revisiter l'influence de 'What Works'. Actualite juridique penal.
  • Raynor P & Robinson G (2009) . European Journal of Probation, 1(1), 3-20.
  • Robinson G & McNeill F (2008) Exploring the dynamics of compliance with community penalties. Theoretical Criminology, 12(4), 431-449.
  • Robinson G (2008) . Punishment and Society, 10(4), 429-445.
  • Robinson G & Shapland J (2008) . BRIT J CRIMINOL, 48(3), 337-358.
  • Dignan J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G, Shapland J & Sorsby A (2007) . Criminology and Criminal Justice, 7(1), 5-32.
  • Robinson G & Burnett R (2007) . Probation Journal, 54(4), 318-337.
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Colledge E, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G & Sorsby A (2006) . Theoretical Criminology, 10(4), 505-532.
  • Robinson G & Raynor P (2006) . Probation Journal, 53(4), 334-346.
  • Robinson G (2005) . The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 44(3), 307-318.
  • Robinson G (2003) . British Journal of Social Work, 33(5), 593-610.
  • Robinson G (2003) . Probation Journal, 50(1), 30-40.
  • Robinson GJ (2002) Exploring risk management in the probation service: contemporary developments in England and Wales. Punishment and Society, 4(1), 5-25.
  • Robinson GJ (2001) Power, knowledge and what works in probation. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 40(3), 235-254.
  • Robinson GJ (1999) Risk management and rehabilitation in the probation service: collision and collusion. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(4), 421-432.
  • Robinson GJ & Roberts C (1998) Improving practice through pilot studies: the case of pre-sentence reports. Vista: Perspectives on Probation, 3(3), 186-195.

Book chapters

  • Burke L & Robinson G (2024) , The Routledge Handbook on Global Community Corrections (pp. 129-152). Routledge
  • Robinson G (2022) , Time and Punishment (pp. 203-225). Springer Nature
  • Carr N & Robinson G (2022) , Time and Punishment (pp. 1-33). Springer Nature
  • Millings M, Burke L & Robinson G (2019) The 'Transforming Rehabilitation' agenda in England and Wales: Implications of privatization, Routledge Companion to Rehabilitative Work in Criminal Justice (pp. 141-152).
  • Burke L, Millings M & Robinson G (2017) (pp. 57-78). Bristol University Press
  • Worrall A, Carr N & Robinson G (2017) Opening a window on probation cultures A photographic imagination, ROUTLEDGE INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK OF VISUAL CRIMINOLOGY (pp. 268-279).
  • 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.
  • 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 (pp. 42-54). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • McNeill F & Robinson G (2016) , Probation (pp. 245-261). Palgrave Macmillan UK
  • Robinson G & McNeill F (2016) Studying the evolution of 'community punishment' in comparative context INTRODUCTION, COMMUNITY PUNISHMENT: EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES (pp. 1-12).
  • McNeill F & Robinson G (2016) Community punishment and the penal state CONCLUSION, COMMUNITY PUNISHMENT: EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES (pp. 228-241).
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Robinson GJ & Svensson K (2013) Practising offender supervision In McNeill F & Beyens K (Ed.), Offender Supervision in Europe Palgrave Macmillan
  • Shapland J, Sorsby A, Robinson G, Priede C, Farrall S & McNeill F (2013) , Understanding Penal Practice (pp. 139-152).
  • Robinson GJ (2013) Rehabilitation In Bruinsma G & Weisburd D (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice Springer
  • Robinson G (2013) What Counts? Community Sanctions and the Construction of Compliance, WHAT WORKS IN OFFENDER COMPLIANCE: INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (pp. 26-43).
  • 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
  • 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
  • Robinson GJ & McNeill F (2010) Liquid Legitimacy and Community Sanctions In Crawford and Hucklesbury (Ed.), Legitimacy and Criminal Justice
  • 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
  • Robinson GJ & McNeill F (2010) Probation in the United Kingdom In Herzog-Evans M (Ed.), Transnational Criminology Manual International Courts Assoc
  • Robinson GJ & Shapland J (2009) Reducing recidivism: A task for restorative justice? In Hoyle C (Ed.), Restorative Justice Routledge
  • Robinson GJ (2007) Social work in the criminal justice system In Davies M (Ed.), The Blackwell Companion to Social Work Blackwell
  • 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
  • Robinson GJ & McNeill F (2004) Purposes matter: examining the ends of probation practice, What Matters in Probation (pp. 277-304).
  • 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).
  • 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
  • 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
  • Robinson GJ (2002) Social work in the criminal justice system In Davies M (Ed.), Blackwell Companion to Social Work (pp. 259-265).
  • 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
  • Bennett C () , The Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of Punishment (pp. 157-172). Oxford University Press

Book reviews

  • Robinson DG (2020) . Probation Journal, 67(4), 456-457.
  • ROBINSON G (2020) . The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 59(1), 107-108.
  • Robinson G (2019) . Probation Journal, 66(4), 468-469.
  • Robinson G (2018) . The International Journal of Restorative Justice, 1(2), 330-332.
  • Robinson G (2015) . British Journal of Criminology, 55(3), 635-637.
  • Robinson G (2015) . The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 54(1), 96-97.
  • Robinson G (2013) . The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 52(5), 546-547.
  • Robinson G (2012) . The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 51(5), 537-538.
  • Robinson G (2011) . CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 11(4), 388-390.
  • ROBINSON G (2011) . The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 50(3), 338-338.
  • ROBINSON G (2010) . The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 49(5), 545-546.
  • Robinson G (2010) . Probation Journal, 57(2), 198-200.
  • Robinson G (2009) . International Review of Victimology, 16(1), 119-120.
  • ROBINSON G (2009) . The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 48(2), 231-232.
  • Robinson G (2006) . Probation Journal, 53(1), 83-84.

Reports

  • Robinson G (2022) Pre-Sentence Reports: A review of policy, practice and research
  • 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
  • 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
  • Robinson GJ, Priede C, Farrall S, Shapland J & McNeill F (2012) Understanding Quality in Probation Practice: Findings from a study in three Probation Trusts
  • Shapland J, Bottoms A, Farrall S, McNeill F, Priede C & Robinson GJ (2012) The Quality of Probation Supervision: A literature review
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.

Theses

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

Dictionary or encyclopaedia entries

  • Robinson G (2014) . In Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice Springer New York.
  • Robinson GJ (2007) R梗莽梗喧喧梭梗鳥梗紳喧. In Dictionary of Probation and Offender Management Willan.
  • Robinson GJ (2000) 'Prediction'. In Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work Blackwell.
  • Robinson GJ (2000) Risk management. In Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work Blackwell.

Other

  • Robinson G (2020) 'Smart sentencing' and the role of Pre-Sentence Reports. Probation Quarterly(18), 28-29.
  • Robinson G (2019) Probation services in magistrates courts. Probation Quarterly(11), 14-16.
  • ROBINSON G (2008) . The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 47(2), 189-191.
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 (Convenor)

Rehabilitation of Offenders (Convenor)

Skills for Criminologists (Convenor)

Postgraduate and MA

Restorative Justice (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