Centre for Justice Reform
About the Centre
The Centre for Justice Reform uses independent academic research to bridge criminal justice campaigning, legal reform and policy change. Our research drives policy and public engagement across a range of issues relating to criminal law, prisons and punishment, and the future of justice delivery. Our impact is enhanced by the extensive personal and professional networks of our academic and Advisory Board members.
Co-Directors
Dr Gemma Birkett
Dr Gemma Birkett is a Reader in Criminal Justice at City, University of London.
Gemma 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.
Professor Katrin Hohl
Katrin Hohl OBE, is Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice.
Katrin’s research has two strands. The first is concerned with how police respond to sexual violence and domestic abuse. The second strand centres on public trust in the police, police legitimacy and the application of procedural justice theory to police interactions with victim-survivors of rape and sexual assault. Katrin's research has had significant impact on criminal justice responses to sexual violence and domestic abuse, and was awarded an OBE for Services to Victims of Sexual Violence in 2024.
Dr Cassandra Wiener
Dr Cassandra Wiener is an Associate Professor in Law at The City Law School. She is passionate about domestic abuse law reform and regularly acts as advisor to the Home Office and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner's office, among others. She played a key role in the drafting of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, successfully campaigning for a clause enhancing the criminal law protection of survivors of coercive control.
Cassandra is regularly consulted by governments and activists around the world who are considering following the UK's lead and criminalising coercive control, most recently appearing before the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control in New South Wales, Australia.
Management team
Dr Melanie Collard-Osman
Melanie Collard-Osman is a Lecturer in Law at The City Law School.
Melanie’s research interests lie within the areas of criminal justice, human rights and critical criminology. She focusses on the use of dehumanisation techniques that can lead to torture and hate crimes, and advocates for a re-humanisation initiative. Her research practice is distinctive for its interdisciplinarity, methodological pluralism, and international collaborations.
Dr James Rosbrook-Thompson
James Rosbrook-Thompson is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology.
James' research focuses on serious youth violence, informality, 'race', ethnicity, and superdiversity. His most recent book (co-authored with Dr Gary Armstrong), 'Multi-Occupancy Housing in London: A Living Tapestry', was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2018. He is Assistant Editor of Urbanities: Journal of Urban Ethnography.
Dr Hallam Tuck
Hallam Tuck is a Lecturer in Criminology.
Within the field of Border Criminology, his research interests lie at the intersections of punishment, migration control, citizenship, and race. Hallam's doctoral research project examined how the growing integration of criminal justice and migration control has transformed the US Federal Prison system. Alongside research on the United States of America, Hallam maintains an interest in the comparative study of criminal justice and border control across national jurisdictions.
External Advisory Board
Our work is informed by the expertise and insight of our Advisory Board members, appointed from the House of Lords, the Judiciary, and across the public and charity sectors.
