Dr Gemma Birkett

Overview

Gemma is a Reader in Criminal Justice. Her research focuses on sentencing, penal policy and transformations in technology, with a particular focus on women in the justice system. 

Having completed her PhD in the Department of Sociology at City, Gemma re-joined as a Lecturer in Criminology in September 2015. Gemma has a Masters by Research (MRes) in Public Policy and Management from Birkbeck, University of London and a BA (Hons) in Politics from the University of the West of England, Bristol. 

Gemma has also worked at the University of Winchester (teaching criminology) and Birkbeck, University of London (teaching social policy).

Prior to commencing her PhD, Gemma worked as a researcher in the House of Commons and as a policy officer for a national criminal justice charity. As such, she has extensive experience of working on criminal justice consultations and legislation, speech-writing and briefing on political issues. Gemma continues to undertake research and consultancy work for several criminal justice charities. Gemma previously worked as Specialist Advisor to the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee during its inquiry on community sentences. She is now working with the House of Commons Justice Select Committee to assit with its inquiry on rehabilitation and resettlement.

Gemma is co-Director of the Centre for Justice Reform at City. More information about the Centre and its work can be found here.

Gemma is Chair of Trustees at the Criminal Justice Alliance, a national membership organisation that represents over 200 charities in the criminal justice sector. She is a member of the British Society of Criminology and sits on its Women, Crime and Criminal Justice (WCCJ) Network. She is also a member of the European Society of Criminology, the Political Studies Association and the Study of Parliament Group.

Qualifications

• PhD in Sociology, City, University of London, United Kingdom, 2015
• MRes in Public Policy and Management, Birkbeck, University of London, United Kingdom, 2010
• BA (Hons) Politics, University of the West of England, United Kingdom, 2007

Employment

• Lecturer in Criminology, City, University of London, United Kingdom, 2015 - present
• Lecturer in Criminology, University of Winchester, United Kingdom, 2014 - 2015
• Policy and Research Officer, The Magistrates' Association, United Kingdom, 2013 - 2014
• Sessional Tutor, Birkbeck, University of London, United Kingdom, 2011 - 2012
• Visiting Lecturer in Criminology, City, University of London, United Kingdom, 2011 - 2014
• Parliamentary Researcher, House of Commons, United Kingdom, 2007 - 2012

Teaching

Module Leader

SG1023 Criminal Justice
SG2255 Penology
SG3037 Criminal Behaviour

Programme Director

MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice

Research Profile

Gemma's research interests include penology and penal reform, criminal justice policymaking, the courts and courtroom interactions, and gender and crime.

Gemma's PhD focused on the interrelationship between the women’s penal reform network, the news media and policymakers at the crime-media nexus. With unprecedented access to over thirty policy elites from politics and civil society, the research investigated penal reform strategies for women and how they have developed and augmented under changing governments and the media spotlight. Gemma continues to provide advice to organizations based on the results of this research.

Gemma is an active researcher in the criminal justice field and recently worked on a study investigating magistrates’ knowledge of and confidence in community sentences for women offenders. Her current project investigates women's compliance with community sentences in two probation areas.

Publications by category