Professor Gwen Robinson

School of Law

Professor of Criminal Justice

Departmental Director of One University

g.j.robinson@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6863

CF1, Bartolomé House

Full contact details

Professor Gwen Robinson
School of Law
CF1
Bartolomé 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) Indifference, resistance, possibility: Probation staff perspectives on the introduction of professional registration. Probation Journal, 72(2), 202-218. View this article in WRRO
Robinson G, Annison H, Burke L, Carr N, Millings M & Surridge E (2025) Anchors through change: exploring identity work in the unified Probation Service for England & Wales. British Journal of Criminology. View this article in WRRO
Millings M, Burke L, Annison H, Carr N, Robinson G & Surridge E (2025) A fork in the road: probation unification in England and Wales two years on. Probation Journal, 72(3), 256-273. View this article in WRRO
Skinns L, Rice L, Robinson G & Bottoms AE (2024) ‘Shifting logics in criminal justice’: introduction to the special issue. Criminology & Criminal Justice, 24(5), 925-938. View this article in WRRO
Annison H, Burke L, Carr N, Millings M, Robinson G & Surridge E (2024) Making good?: A study of how senior penal policy makers narrate policy reversal. The British Journal of Criminology, 64(3), 726-743. View this article in WRRO
Robinson G, Annison H, Burke L, Carr N, Millings M & Surridge E (2023) Whose confidence? Regional leaders' perspectives on building confidence in a reconfigured probation service. Criminology & Criminal Justice (CCJ). View this article in WRRO
Millings M, Burke L, Annison H, Carr N, Robinson G & Surridge E (2023) A necessary but painful journey: experiences of unification in a probation service region. Probation Journal, 70(4), 331-349. View this article in WRRO
Robinson G (2022) Can probation be rehabilitated?. The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice.
Carr N & Robinson G (2021) A legitimate business? Representations of privatised probation in England & Wales. Crime, Media, Culture, 17(2), 235-254. View this article in WRRO
Robinson G (2021) Rehabilitating probation : strategies for re-legitimation after policy failure. The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 60(2), 151-166. View this article in WRRO
Robinson GJ (2020) Probation practice in a velvet cage? Specialist court work after probation privatisation in England and Wales. Punishment and Society, 22(1), 70-89. View this article in WRRO
Robinson G & Dominey J (2019) Probation reform, the RAR and the forgotten ingredient of supervision. Probation Journal, 66(4), 451-455. View this article in WRRO
Robinson GJ (2019) Delivering McJustice? The Probation Factory at the Magistrates’ Court. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 19(5), 605-621. View this article in WRRO
Millings M, Burke L & Robinson GJ (2019) Lost in transition? The personal and professional challenges for probation leaders engaged in delivering public sector reform. Probation Journal, 66(1), 60-76. View this article in WRRO
Robinson GJ (2018) Transforming probation services in Magistrates' courts. Probation Journal, 65(3), 316-334. View this article in WRRO
Robinson GJ (2017) Stand-Down and Deliver: Pre-Sentence Reports, quality and the new culture of speed. Probation Journal, 64(4), 337-353. View this article in WRRO
Burke L, Millings M & Robinson GJ (2017) Probation migration(s): Examining occupational culture in a turbulent field. Criminology & Criminal Justice, 17(2), 192-208. View this article in WRRO
Robinson GJ, Burke L & Millings M (2017) Probation, Privatisation and Legitimacy. The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 56(2), 137-157. View this article in WRRO
Sorsby A, Shapland J & Robinson G (2017) Using compliance with probation supervision as an interim outcome measure in evaluating a probation initiative. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 17(1), 40-61. View this article in WRRO
Robinson GJ (2016) The Cinderella Complex: punishment, society and community sanctions. Punishment & Society, 18(1), 95-112. View this article in WRRO
Robinson GJ, Burke L & Millings M (2015) Criminal Justice Identities in Transition: the case of devolved probation services in England and Wales. British Journal of Criminology. View this article in WRRO
Carr N, Bauwens A, Bosker J, Donker A, Robinson GJ, Sučić I & Worrall A (2015) Picturing Probation: The utility of a comparative visual approach. European Journal of Probation, 7(3), 179-200. View this article in WRRO
Robinson G & Svensson K (2015) Fish out of water? Introduction to the Special Issue on innovative methods for comparative research on offender supervision practice. European Journal of Probation, 7(3), 171-178.
Morgernstern C & Robinson GJ (2014) Consent and cooperation of the unfree – introduction to the Special Issue. European Journal of Probation, 3(6), 203-208. View this article in WRRO
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) Understanding 'quality' in probation practice: Frontline perspectives in England & Wales. 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) Why Help Offenders? Arguments for Rehabilitation as a Penal Strategy. 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) Late-modern rehabilitation: The evolution of a penal strategy. Punishment and Society, 10(4), 429-445.
Robinson G & Shapland J (2008) Reducing recidivism. BRIT J CRIMINOL, 48(3), 337-358.
Dignan J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G, Shapland J & Sorsby A (2007) Staging restorative justice encounters against a criminal justice backdrop: A dramaturgical analysis. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 7(1), 5-32.
Robinson G & Burnett R (2007) Experiencing modernization: Frontline probation perspectives on the transition to a National Offender Management Service. 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) Situating restorative justice within criminal justice. Theoretical Criminology, 10(4), 505-532.
Robinson G & Raynor P (2006) The future of rehabilitation: What role for the probation service?. Probation Journal, 53(4), 334-346.
Robinson G (2005) What Works in Offender Management?1. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 44(3), 307-318.
Robinson G (2003) Technicality and Indeterminacy in Probation Practice: A Case Study. British Journal of Social Work, 33(5), 593-610.
Robinson G (2003) Implementing OASys: Lessons from Research into LSI-R and ACE. 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) Community Corrections in England and Wales, The Routledge Handbook on Global Community Corrections (pp. 129-152). Routledge
Robinson G (2022) Probation Work in the Juridical Field: A Dance to the Music of Time, Time and Punishment (pp. 203-225). Springer Nature
Carr N & Robinson G (2022) Time and Punishment: An Introduction, 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) Is constructive practice still possible in a competitive environment? Findings from a case study of a community rehabilitation company in England and Wales (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) Explaining Probation, 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) What quality means to probation staff in England in relation to one- to-one supervision, 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 () Restorative Justice, The Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of Punishment (pp. 157-172). Oxford University Press

Book reviews

Robinson DG (2020) Book review: Marketisation and Privatisation in Criminal Justice. Probation Journal, 67(4), 456-457.
ROBINSON G (2020) The Rise and Fall of the Rehabilitative Ideal, 1895–1970 V. Bailey. Abingdon: Routledge (2019) 550pp. £125hb, £39.99pb, from £20eb ISBN 9780367077099; 9780367077112; 9780429022203. The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 59(1), 107-108.
Robinson G (2019) Book review: Privatising Punishment in Europe?. Probation Journal, 66(4), 468-469.
Robinson G (2018) David O’Mahony and Jonathan Doak, Reimagining restorative justice: agency and accountability in the criminal process. The International Journal of Restorative Justice, 1(2), 330-332.
Robinson G (2015) Policy Transfer in Criminal Justice: Crossing Cultures, Breaking Barriers. Edited by Mary Anne McFarlane and Rob Canton (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014, 336pp. £70 hb). British Journal of Criminology, 55(3), 635-637.
Robinson G (2015) Just Emotions: Rituals of Restorative Justice by M. Rossner. Oxford: Clarendon Press (2013) 183pp. £65.00hb ISBN 978‐0‐19‐965504‐5. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 54(1), 96-97.
Robinson G (2013) Doing Probation Work: Identity in a Criminal Justice Occupation by R.C.Mawby and A.Worrall. London: Routledge (2013) 188pp. £85.00hb ISBN 978‐0‐415‐54028‐5. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 52(5), 546-547.
Robinson G (2012) Probation Practice and the New Penology: Practitioner Reflections by J.Deering. Farnham: Ashgate (2011) 204pp. £55.00hb ISBN 978‐1‐4094‐0140‐7. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 51(5), 537-538.
Robinson G (2011) Justice in Transition: Community Restorative Justice in Northern Ireland. CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 11(4), 388-390.
ROBINSON G (2011) Multi-Agency Working in Criminal Justice by A. Pycroft and D. Gough (Eds.). The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 50(3), 338-338.
ROBINSON G (2010) The Prisoner Society: Power, Adaptation and Social Life in an English Prison (Clarendon Studies in Criminology) by B. Crewe. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 49(5), 545-546.
Robinson G (2010) Review: Probation in Europe A. M. van Kalmthout and I. Durnescu (eds) Wolf Legal Publishers/CEP; 2008; pp 1300; 47.50 (CEP members: 35), pbk ISBN: 978-9-05850-450-0. Probation Journal, 57(2), 198-200.
Robinson G (2009) Book Review: Restorative Justice, Self-Interest and Responsible Citizenship. International Review of Victimology, 16(1), 119-120.
ROBINSON G (2009) Criminal Records: A Database for the Criminal Justice System and Beyond by T. Thomas. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 48(2), 231-232.
Robinson G (2006) Book Review: Pre-emptive Criminalisation: Risk Control and Alternative Futures. 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) Rehabilitation. In Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice Springer New York.
Robinson GJ (2007) ‘Resettlement’. 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) COUNTERBLAST: Pro‐Social Modelling in Probation?. 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