Dr Katherine Albertson PhD, BA (Hons), PgCert, FHEA
Associate Professor
- Sheffield Institute of Law and Justice
- Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice
- Social and Economic Research Institute
Summary
I joined the Institute of Law and Justice in 2015, having spent the previous eight years working at the university as a Research Fellow. I head up the BA in Criminology level 4 teaching team. I maintain an active research and publication profile around three substantive areas of research interest: Health, Justice and Peer mentoring in custody; Relational and social capital aspects of desistance; and military veterans in the criminal justice system.
About
I am a senior lecturer in Criminology at the College of Social Sciences and Arts. I have extensive experience of conducting research and evaluation across the criminal justice sector, focussing on areas of Health and Justice, the social and relational aspects of desistance from crime and military veterans in the criminal justice system alongside an interest in the Armed Forces Community more broadly.
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Law and Justice
College of Social Sciences and Arts
I teach across the Criminology degree across all levels. I have been involved in a Comparative Criminal Justice Summer School, which involved taking 15 Criminology students on an international visit to prisons in Finland, Estonia and Russia. I have developed new and innovative materials distinguishing the Human Rights approach to research for the MA in Human Rights. My veterans' research has informed the development of new Human Rights and Social Justice Module material. I am module leader for the first year module- Applying Criminology. I supervise third year dissertation research projects and have negotiated external third year student primary research placements within my external agency networks. I have received a student body nomination for the Faculty's Inspirational Teaching award every year since joining the teaching team. I have also received a student body nomination for Outstanding Student Support and a Faculty nomination for International Women's Day for my external roles.
Criminology
BA Criminology
Level 4 Contemporary Criminological Foundations and Contemporary Criminological Practice.
Research
1. Distinguishing peer support and Peer mentoring roles in prison study: As Principal Investigator I spent a year leading a wide range of fieldwork being conducted across four prison sites in England. The study was designed to explore a Hub or wing model of delivery, focussing on peer involvement role opportunities provided to serving prison residents to support improvements in the social climate of the custodial environment.
Report publications: Albertson (2024) Peer involvement roles in prison report series: The CFO Discovery wing pilot and peer mentors at HMP Risley; The CFO Community Living Unit pilot and Ambassadors at HMP High Down; The CFO Hamlet House block pilot and peer mentors at HMP Drake Hall; The CFO Endurance wing pilot and peer mentors at HMP Holme House; Albertson (2024) The Peer mentor role amongst wider peer involvement roles in prison: An integrated, comparative approach. Strategic CFO briefing report.
2. Examining Youth to Adulthood specialist transition Probation service delivery: As Co-investigator, I was part of a research team working with the Ministry of Justice Probation Reform Evaluation Team and the Mayor of London’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) Evidence and Insights team.
Report publications: Phillips, J., Ward, J., Albertson, K., Cracknell, M., Duke, K., Fowler, A., and Riley, L. (2024) Process Evaluation of the Newham Y2A Hub: Evaluating the implementation of a specialist youth to adulthood transitions service in probation. Ministry of Justice Analytical Series 2024.
- Peer mentoring PRESS RELEASE: Peer mentor roles in prison contribute to wing residents taking steps towards realising a crime-free future
- Peer mentoring REPORTS ON HMPPS web site
- Y2A PRESS RELEASE
- Y2A REPORT
Publications
Journal articles
Albertson, K., & Albertson, K. (2022). Social capital, mutual aid, and desistance: a theoretically integrated social capital building process model. The British Journal of Criminology: an international review of crime and society. http://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azac093
Albertson, K., Phillips, J., Fowler, A., & Collinson, B. (2020). Who owns desistance? A triad of agency enabling social structures in the desistance process. Theoretical Criminology: an international journal. http://doi.org/10.1177/1362480620968084
Phillips, J., Albertson, K., Collinson, B., & Fowler, A. (2020). Delivering desistance-focused probation in community hubs: five key ingredients. Probation Journal: the journal of community and criminal justice. http://doi.org/10.1177/0264550520939176
Albertson, K. (2019). Relational legacies impacting on veteran transition from military to civilian life: trajectories of acquisition, loss and re-formulation of a sense of belonging. Illness, crisis & loss, 27 (4), 255-273. http://doi.org/10.1177/1054137319834773
Albertson, K., Taylor, P., & Murray, E. (2019). Place, space and identity: the manifold experience of transition in and after the military. Illness, Crisis & Loss. http://doi.org/10.1177/1054137319834762
Banks, J., & Albertson, K. (2018). Veterans and violence: an exploration of pre-enlistment, military and post-service life. European Journal of Criminology, 15 (6), 730-747. http://doi.org/10.1177/1477370818764825
Best, D., Savic, M., Bathish, R., Edwards, M., Irving, J., Cano, I., & Albertson, K. (2018). Life in recovery in Australia and the United Kingdom : do stages of recovery differ across national boundaries? Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly. http://doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2018.1492336
Albertson, K., Banks, J., & Murray, E. (2017). Military Veteran-offenders: Making sense of developments in the debate to inform service delivery. Prison Service Journal, 234, 23-30. https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/sites/crimeandjustice.org.uk/files/PSJ%20234%20November%202017.pdf
Albertson, K., & O'Keeffe, C. (2016). The challenges of outcome measurement for arts practitioners in the criminal justice sector. The Howard Journal Of Criminal Justice, 55 (4), 496-513. http://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12183
Best, D., Irving, J., & Albertson, K. (2016). Recovery and desistance : what the emerging recovery movement in the alcohol and drug area can learn from models of desistance from offending. Addiction Theory and Research, 25 (1), 1-10. http://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2016.1185661
Albertson, K., Pateman, M., Albertson, K., Barnes, A., & Peplow, D. (2016). The role of the arts, humanities and social sciences in forming and informing responses to contemporary social change. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Civic and Political Studies, 11 (2), 29-46. http://doi.org/10.18848/2327-0071/CGP/v11i02/29-46
Tomczak, P., & Albertson, K. (2016). Prisoner relationships with voluntary sector practitioners. The Howard Journal Of Crime and Justice, 55 (1-2), 57-72. http://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12164
Albertson, K., Irving, J., & Best, D. (2015). A Social Capital approach to assisting veterans through recovery and desistance transitions in civilian life. The Howard Journal Of Criminal Justice, 54 (4), 384-396. http://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12138
Albertson, K. (2015). Creativity, self-exploration and change: creative-arts based activities and transformational identity desistance narratives. The Howard Journal Of Criminal Justice, 54 (3), 277-291. http://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12131
Bird, H., & Albertson, K. (2011). Prisoners as citizens, big society and the rehabilitation revolution : truly revolutionary? British journal of community justice, 9 (1/2), 93-109. http://www.cjp.org.uk/bjcj/volume-9-issue-1-2/
Bird, H., & Albertson, K.E. (2011). Prisoners as citizens: 'big society' and the 'rehabilitation revolution' - truly revolutionary? British Journal of Community Justice, 9 (1-2), 93-109.
Albertson, K., & Nandi, M. (2009). Inside job at HMP Downview : media and employment, training & education opportunities in prison. Prison Service Journal, 182, 48-52. http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/publications/psj
Albertson, K., & Flintoff, P. (2008). Prison staff and voluntary sector working together to break the cycle of domestic violence : a case study. Prison Service Journal, 176, 26-33. http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/publications/psj
Wilkinson (nee Albertson), K., & Greenshields, J. (2007). Inside Innovation: Fostering the spirit of enterprise amongst Prison Service Staff. Prison Service Journal, 172, 17-23. http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/publications/psj
Albertson, K., & Stepney, P. (n.d.). 1979 and all that: a 40-year reassessment of Margaret Thatcher’s legacy on her own terms. Cambridge Journal of Economics. http://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bez037
Conference papers
Cadet, N., Albertson, K., & Miles-Berry, T. (2019). Simulated learning: Assessing student perceptions of skill development and employability in a criminology course. In European Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference, University of Bilbao, 13 June 2019 - 14 June 2019 (pp. 56-63). Servicio Editorial de la Universidad del Pais Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitateko Argitalpen Zerbitzua
Book chapters
Albertson, K., Burke, C., & Lessing-Turner, G. (2019). Mother figures behind bars: Pregnant women and mothers in prison in England and Wales. In Portier-Le Cocq, F. (Ed.) Motherhood in Contemporary International Perspectives: Continuity and Change. Routledge: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, Routledge Research in Gender and Society Series, (Eds) Fabienne Portier-Le Cocq. Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/Motherhood-in-Contemporary-International-Perspective-Continuity-and-Change/Portier-Le-Cocq/p/book/9780367188436
Albertson, K., & Hall, L. (2019). Building social capital to encourage desistance: Lessons from a veteran-specific project. In Ugwudike, P., Graham, H., McNeill, F., Taxman, F.S., & Trotter, C. (Eds.) The Routledge Companion to Rehabilitative Work in Criminal Justice. Routledge
Hamilton, P., & Albertson, K. (2015). Reflections on values and ethics in narrative inquiry with (ex-)offenders. In Cowburn, M., Duggan, M., Robinson, A., & Senior, P. (Eds.) Values in criminology and community justice. (pp. 329-342). London: Policy Press
Albertson, K., Albertson, K., Fox, C., & Ellingworth, D. (2015). Economic values and evidence: evaluating criminal justice policy. In Cowburn, M., Duggan, M., Robinson, A., & Senior, P. (Eds.) Values in criminology and community justice. (pp. 313-328). London: Policy Press
Albertson, K., O'Keeffe, C., Burke, C., Lessing-Turner, G., & Renfrew, M. (2014). Addressing health inequalities for mothers and babies in prison: findings from a consultation exercise. In Todd, A., & Hirst, J. (Eds.) Health and Inequality: Applying Public Health Research to Policy and Practice. (pp. 39-47). Abingdon: Routledge
Miles-Berry, T., Cadet, N., & Albertson, K. (n.d.). Evaluating the realities of criminal justice through simulation. In Evaluating the realities of criminal justice through simulation. LTA
Books
Taylor, P., Murray, E., & Albertson, K. (Eds.). (2019). Military Past, Civilian Present International Perspectives on Veterans' Transition from the Armed Forces. Springer. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030308285
Reports
Phillips, J., Ward, J., Albertson, K., Cracknell, M., Duke, K., Fowler, A., & Riley, L. (2024). Process evaluation of the Newham Y2A Hub. Evaluating the implementation of a specialist youth to adulthood transitions service in probation. Ministry of Justice. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/process-evaluation-of-the-newham-y2a-hub#:~:text=The%20hub%20used%20a%20co,the%20Hub%20was%20implemented%20well
Albertson, K. (2024). CFO Discovery wings Peer mentor initiative at HMP Risley. HMPPS. https://www.shu.ac.uk/helena-kennedy-centre-international-justice/research-and-projects/all-projects/prison-study-series
Albertson, K. (2024). CFO Endeavour wings Peer mentor initiative at HMP Holme House. HMPPS. https://www.shu.ac.uk/helena-kennedy-centre-international-justice/research-and-projects/all-projects/prison-study-series
Albertson, K. (2024). CFO Community Living Units Ambassador initiative at HMP High Down. HM Prison & Probation Service. https://www.shu.ac.uk/helena-kennedy-centre-international-justice/research-and-projects/all-projects/prison-study-series
Albertson, K. (2024). HMPPS CFO Commissioning guidance Peer mentor & peer involvement roles in prison. HMPPS. https://www.shu.ac.uk/helena-kennedy-centre-international-justice/research-and-projects/all-projects/prison-study-series
Albertson, K. (2024). CFO Hamlet Peer mentor initiative at HMP Drake Hall.
Albertson, K. (2021). Probation Insights: Social capital building supporting the desistance process. HM Inspectorate of Probation. https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/research/academic-insights/
Phillips, J., Albertson, K., Fowler, A., & Collinson, B. (2020). The role of community hubs in helping to deliver probation services and support desistance. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation. https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/03/GS-Community-hubs-RAB-Mar-20-final.pdf
Albertson, K., Albertson, K., Stevenson, J., & Murray, E. (2019). The South Yorkshire Armed Forces Covenant model. Helen Kennedy Centre for International Justice, Sheffield Hallam University.
Albertson, K., Albertson, K., Stevenson, J., & Murray, E. (2018). The South Yorkshire Armed Forces Covenant project: Mapping the Armed Forces Community across the region. Sheffield Hallam University.
Albertson, K., Best, D., Pinkney, A., Murphy, T., Irving, J., & Stevenson, J. (2017). "It’s not just about recovery": The Right Turn Veteran-Specific Recovery Service Evaluation, Final report. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.addaction.org.uk/sites/default/files/public/attachments/right_turn_evaluation_report_june_2017.pdf
Albertson, K., Best, D., Irving, J., Murphy, T., Buckingham, S., Morton, G., ... Chaggar, A. (2016). Right Turn Veteran-Specific Recovery Service: 5 site evaluation pilot : Interim report. Sheffield: Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, Sheffield Hallam University.
Best, D., Albertson, K., Irving, J., Lightowlers, C., Mama-Rudd, A., & Chaggar, A. (2015). The UK Life in Recovery Survey 2015 : the first national UK survey of addiction recovery experiences. Sheffield: Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, Sheffield Hallam University.
Wong, K., Christmann, K., Meadows, L., Albertson, K., & Senior, P. (2013). Hate crime in Suffolk : understanding prevalence and support needs. Hallam Centre for Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam University.
O'Keeffe, C., & Albertson, K. (2012). "The good days are amazing", an evaluation of the Writer's in Prison Network. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Wong, K., O'Keeffe, C., Ellingworth, D., Wilkinson, K., Meadows, L., Davidson, J., & Bird, H. (2012). Process evaluation of Derbyshire Intensive Alternatives to Custody Pilot. Ministry of Justice. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/process-evaluation-of-integrated-offender-management-areas
Albertson, K., O'Keeffe, C., Lessing-Turner, G., Burke, C., & Renfrew, M.J. (2012). Tackling health inequalities through developing evidence-based policy and practice with childbearing women in prison: a consultation. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Meadows, L., Albertson, K., Ellingworth, D., & Senior, P. (2012). Evaluation of the South Yorkshire Restorative Justice programme (SYRJP). Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Wong, K., O'Keeffe, C., Meadows, L., Davidson, J., Bird, H., Wilkinson, K., & Senior, P. (2011). Increasing the voluntary and community sector’s involvement in Integrated Offender Management(IOM). Home Office. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increasing-the-voluntary-and-community-sectors-involvement-in-integrated-offender-management
Wilkinson, K., & Davidson, J. (2010). An Evaluation of the Prison Radio Association’s ActivityFinal Report Year 3: The way forward. Sheffield Hallam University: Sheffield Hallam University.
Meadows, L., Clamp, K., Culshaw, A., Cadet, N., Wilkinson, K., & Davidson, J. (2010). Evaluation of Sheffield City Council's Community Justice Panels Project. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Meadows, L., Feasey, S., Bird, H., Davidson, J., & Wilkinson, K. (2010). Investigating the prisoner finance gap across four prisons in the North East. Department for Work and Pensions.
Wilkinson, K., & Davidson, J. (2009). Ideas project evaluation, formerly known as Inside Innovation, year three. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Wilkinson, K., & Davidson, J. (2009). Evaluation of the content and delivery of the student workbook for RIPH Level 2 award in understanding health improvement for health trainer champions in prisons and the wider community. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Wilkinson, K., & Davidson, J. (2008). An Evaluation of the Prison Radio Association’s ActivityFinal Report Year 1 The West Midlands Prison Radio Taster Project. Sheffield Hallam University: Sheffield Hallam University.
Wilkinson, K., Ball, L., & Brookes, E. (2008). An evaluation of the workbook for health trainers in prisons and the wider community: based on the Royal Institute of Public Health Level 2 award: understanding health improvement. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Wilkinson, K., & Davidson, J. (2008). They've been my lifeline. An evaluation of South Yorkshire's Specialist Domestic Violence Court initiative: the Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/hccj/publications_reports.html
Wilkinson, K., & Davidson, J. (2007). Inside innovation. Year 2. An evaluation of the second year of delivery of a project promoting innovative thinking amongst Prison Service staff. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
O'Keeffe, C., Wilkinson, K., Robinson, A., & Senior, P. (2006). "I Ain't No Tea Lady": Identifying and addressing barriers to non-traditional employment, training and education from a female perspective, SOVA. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Theses / Dissertations
Tatton, S.E. (2023). Coercive and controlling behaviour:Dominant discourse, police response and the victim-survivor experience. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Albertson, K., Paterson, C., & Black, A. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00577
Smith, P. (2023). Public Engagement and the University through the Lens of the Law School. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Marson, J., & Albertson, K. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00550
Artefacts
Albertson, K. (2017). Guidance to working with the Armed Forces Community (including veterans) for Addaction staff. [One page staff guidance].
Albertson, K. (2015). Guidance for researchers interviewing those potentially suffering with PTSD.
Other publications
Albertson, K. (2014). The Simulation Module “Criminal Justice Realities 2012-13” Evaluation Report.
Other activities
I am Chair an international advisory board on a substantial three year qualitative research project, entitled "Understanding 'negative' transition in British ex-Service personnel", being delivered by Queens University Belfast. I am an expert advisor on the project Advisory Board overseeing a Barnardo's Health Needs Assessment of veterans in custody and their families and a Probation Institute research Advisory Group for a research project entitled: "Ex-Services Personnel- Exploring the journey to harmful behaviour". I have organised a wide range of significant regional and national events and conferences: The 'South Yorkshire regional Covenant Action Planning' symposium The 'Considering military identity in transition to civilian life' conference The 'South Yorkshire Health and Justice Conference' I represent Sheffield Hallam University on the Military Education Committee and the Sheffield Armed Forces Covenant Group.
Postgraduate supervision
External Examiner role
2022: Edinburgh Napier University, Jacqueline Rappoport “The Unresolved Battles: A Qualitative study exploring the lived experiences of UK military veterans incarcerated in Scottish prisons”.
Doctoral completions at SHU
Sarah Tatton (2023): “Coercive and controlling behaviour: dominant discourse, police response and the victim-survivor experience”, PhD successfully awarded, with minor mods at viva stage, Sept 2023. (Director of Studies).
Peter Smith (2023): “The university and public engagement”.
Lauren Hall (2019): “The Social Components Model of Recovery from Addiction and Desistance from Crime”.
Currently supervising
Ellen Johnson: “How can the Human Rights Act protect apostates?” (director of Studies).