Professor Nathan Hughes (he/him)

BA(Hons), MA, PhD

Department of Sociological Studies

Professor of Adolescent Health and Justice

A photo of Nathan Hughes
Profile picture of A photo of Nathan Hughes
nathan.hughes@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6439

Full contact details

Professor Nathan Hughes
Department of Sociological Studies
The Wave
2 Whitham Road
Sheffield
S10 2AH
Profile

Nathan joined the Department of Sociological Studies in 2017. He was previously senior lecturer in social policy and social work at the University of Birmingham, having completed his PhD at the University of Warwick.

Nathan is also visiting senior fellow at the School of Government of the University of Melbourne, and honorary researcher at the Murdoch Children’s Research Centre, Melbourne.

Research interests

Nathan’s research is at the interface between social policy, criminology and developmental sciences. It considers the explanations for patterns of offending apparent in emerging understandings of typical and atypical adolescent neuromaturation, and their implications for policy and practice.

His work is uniquely interdisciplinary within his field, drawing on developmental psychopathology and adolescent developmental science to support biosocial modelling of patterns of offending and desistance, and applying this to a critical analysis of criminal justice practices and interventions.

In particular, he focuses on practices and interventions that discriminate against and criminalise young people as a result of neurodevelopmental disability, and those that engage young adult offenders.

Publications

Journal articles

Chapters

  • Chitsabesan P, Hughes N & Williams H (2023) Overview of Young People with Neurodevelopmental Impairments in Contact with the Youth Justice System, FORENSIC ASPECTS OF NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS (pp. 71-83). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Williams H, Schrieff L, Hughes N, Tonks J, Chitsabesan P & Kent H (2021) Neurodisability and trauma in children and young people in contact with the law, Neurodisability and the Criminal Justice System: Comparative and Therapeutic Responses (pp. 91-109). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sheahan F, Hughes N, Williams H & Chitsabesan P (2021) Dismantling barriers to justice for children affected by neurodisability, Neurodisability and the Criminal Justice System: Comparative and Therapeutic Responses (pp. 72-90). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chitsabesan P & Hughes N (2016) Mental Health Needs and Neurodevelopmental Disorders amongst Young Offenders: Implications for Policy and Practice, Mental Health, Crime and Criminal Justice (pp. 109-130). Palgrave Macmillan UK RIS download Bibtex download
  • Morris K & Hughes N (2016) Families in transition: Family minded policy and practice: A critical analysis of contemporary approaches to vulnerable families, Global Social Transformation and Social Action: The Role of Social Workers: Social Work-Social Development Volume III (pp. 128-131). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Morris K & Hughes N (2014) Family minded policy and practice: A critical analysis of contemporary approaches to vulnerable families, Global Social Transformation and Social Action: The Role of Social Workers: Social Work-Social Development Volume III (pp. 128-131). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hughes N (2009) Managerialism subverted? Exploring the activity of youth justice practitioners, Subversive Citizens: Power, Agency and Resistance in Public Services (pp. 155-170). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hughes N & Prior D (2008) Delivering youth justice through partnership working, Social Work and Multi-Agency Working: Making a Difference (pp. 9-27). RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

Preprints

Research group

Nathan supervises PhDs in issues related to youth and young adults, crime and criminalisation, and childhood neurodevelopmental disability.

Grants

2015-17, Funded by: College of Policing, Police Knowledge Fund

Examining the use of indicators of adverse childhood experiences to support police engagement.


2013-16, Funded by: Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship, European Commission FP7 Framework

This fellowship supported two years based at the Centre for Adolescent Health and the Australian Centre for Child Neuropsychology Studies at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and the School of Government at the University of Melbourne. Specific projects included:

  • Analysis of a 21-year longitudinal study of children admitted to hospital as a result of traumatic brain injury, examining behavioural trajectories into young adulthood.
  • Analysis of an annual census of health, well-being and behaviour of over 50,000 students starting school in Victoria, examining risk factors for comorbid communication and emotional or behavioural problems in the early years, and utilizing data linkage to understand impact on educational attainment.
  • Qualitative research with community criminal justice service providers regarding understandings of and responses to traumatic brain injury.
  • Systematic reviews regarding the prevalence of traumatic brain injury among young people in custody, and the effectiveness of school-based and community-based interventions following pediatric traumatic brain injury.

2010-14, Funded by: International Research Staff Exchange Scheme, European Commission FP7 Framework

Understanding and Supporting Families with Complex Needs: a comparative study of family-minded policy and practice in social work, health and education in Europe and Latin America .


2012, Funded by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England

Prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders amongst young people in custody.


2011, Funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust

Maturity and offending amongst young adults.


2009, Funded by Leverhulme Study Abroad Fellowship

Comparing anti-social behaviour policy in the UK, Western Australia and Victoria.


2007-8, Funded by the Ministry of Justice

Access to justice for vulnerable groups.