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Professor Gavin Dingwall

Job: Professor of Criminal Justice Policy

Faculty: Business and Law

School/department: Leicester De Montfort Law School

Address: The Gateway, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK, LE1 9BH

T: +44 (0)116 257 7175

E: gdingwall@dmu.ac.uk

W: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/bal

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Personal profile

Gavin Dingwall was appointed to a Readership in Law at De Montfort University in 2005 and was awarded a Personal Chair in 2012. Previously, he worked in the Department of Law and Criminology at Aberystwyth University. Gavin has held a Visiting Professorship at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy (2016) and a Visiting Scholarship at Flinders University of South Australia (2004).

At undergraduate level, Gavin teaches modules in Criminal Law and Penology. The innovative pedagogical approach adopted in the Penology module was recognised with a University Award for Research-Engaged Teaching in 2019 and the Faculty Award for Research-Informed Teaching in 2020. (For more detail on the approach see the link to the British Society of Criminology's Talking Teaching with Criminologists podcast below.)

Whilst Gavin is best known for his research on Criminal Justice, he has also written on Criminal Law, Criminology and Criminal Evidence and Procedure. His work includes the following books: Minority Ethnic Prisoners and the COVID-19 Lockdown: Issues, Impacts and Implications (with Avril Brandon, 2022); Criminal Justice and the Pursuit of Truth (with Tim Hillier, 2021); Blamestorming, Blamemongers and Scapegoats: Allocating Blame in the Criminal Justice Process (with Tim Hillier, 2015); Alcohol and Crime (2006); Crime and Conflict in the Countryside (edited with Susan R. Moody, 1999); and Diversion in the Criminal Justice Process (with Christopher Harding, 1998).

He serves on the Howard League for Penal Reform's Research Advisory Group and comments regularly on criminal justice for the media, including for the BBC, ITV and LBC.

Follow @GavinDingwall   

Research group affiliations

Centre for Law, Justice and Society

Prisons and Probation Research Hub

Publications and outputs

  • Minority Ethnic Prisoners and the Covid-19 Lockdown: Issues, Impacts and Implications
    Minority Ethnic Prisoners and the Covid-19 Lockdown: Issues, Impacts and Implications Dingwall, Gavin; Brandon, Avril If prison regimes had continued as normal during the Covid-19 lockdown, social distancing would have been impossible. Therefore, sweeping restrictions were imposed confining prisoners to their cells, cancelling communal activity and prohibiting visits from family and friends. This insightful book identifies the risks posed by prison lockdowns to minority ethnic prisoners, foreign national prisoners and prisoners from Traveller and Roma communities across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. It documents the unequal impacts on their mental and physical health, feelings of isolation and fear, access to services and contact with visitors. The legacy of the lockdown will be profound. This book exposes the long-term significance and impact on minority ethnic prisoners.
  • Criminal Justice and the Pursuit of Truth
    Criminal Justice and the Pursuit of Truth Dingwall, Gavin; Hillier, Tim Can the criminal justice system achieve justice based on its ability to determine the truth? Drawing on a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, this book investigates the concept of truth - its complexities and nuances - and scrutinizes how well the criminal justice process facilitates truth-finding. From allegation to sentencing, the chapters take the reader on a journey through the criminal justice system, exposing the marginalization of truth-finding in favour of other jurisprudential or systemic values, such as expediency, procedural fairness and the presumption of innocence. This important work bridges the gap between what people expect from the criminal justice system and what it can legitimately deliver.
  • Responding to Teenage Binge Drinking: Recognising Differential Gender Perception or Respecting Equality?
    Responding to Teenage Binge Drinking: Recognising Differential Gender Perception or Respecting Equality? Newbury, Alex; Dingwall, Gavin
  • Reviewing a Parole Board Decision to Release
    Reviewing a Parole Board Decision to Release Dingwall, Gavin This note examines the implications of the High Court challenge to the Parole Board decision to release the serial sex offender John Worboys (now known as John Radford). Three central issues emerged: (1) that the Parole Board ruling was not irrational on the basis of the evidence considered (2) evidence untried in a criminal court of allegations of like offending should have been considered in a determination of risk (3) that the overarching requirement for open justice meant that the existing Parole Board Rules required revision. All three aspects are considered further. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
  • The Continuing Chronology of Confusion: Crime Prevention, Welfare and the Why of Youth Justice
    The Continuing Chronology of Confusion: Crime Prevention, Welfare and the Why of Youth Justice Antonopoulos, Irene; Dingwall, Gavin; Hillier, Tim International human rights law states that child well-being must be paramount. The aims of the Youth Justice System in England and Wales should reflect this, but the present system fails to do so as its aims are various and lack coherence. This article argues that this incoherence emanates from an apparent conflict between welfare and crime prevention. The authors argue that this dichotomy is false if one recognises that crime will only be prevented by prioritising the welfare and well-being of the child offender. Adopting this approach would satisfy international obligations and reduce the risk of offending and re-offending. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
  • Punishability and the Restriction of Interests
    Punishability and the Restriction of Interests Dingwall, Gavin This short article develops two themes which run throughout Rob Canton's recent monograph Why Punish? - the concept of 'punishability' and that punishment, however justified, constitutes an interference with an individual's interests.It is argued that there are fundamental questions of agency which relate to the definition of punishment (is it punishment if an offender does not perceive the outcome as a hardship?), to potential justifications of punishment (different perceptions of punishment may impact upon their effectiveness), to perceptions of legitimacy (if the offender believes her interests are being ignored or marginalised) and to how criminal justice professionals perceive their role. The file attached to this record is the author's version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the URI link. open access journal
  • Young Offenders' Right to Integration post Human Rights Act 1998: Work as punishment, rehabilitation and enabler
    Young Offenders' Right to Integration post Human Rights Act 1998: Work as punishment, rehabilitation and enabler Antonopoulos, Irene; Dingwall, Gavin A combination of international children's rights instruments and regional human rights protection framework has ensured the protection of children in custody. Whilst the United Kingdom has ratified the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of the Child, its provisions have not been implemented directly into domestic law. Nevertheless, domestic legislation providing for the safeguarding of young offenders in combination with the Human Rights Act 1998 has ensured that their rights are safeguarded. The recent election campaign once again brought out the debate over the relationship between the European Court of Human Rights and the UK Parliament. In this article, the authors seek to ascertain whether the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 will disadvantage young offenders and, specifically, whether it will compromise their right to education and training whilst in custody, which is designed to enable their rehabilitation and (re)integration into society post-release. Open Access article
  • Circumstance, Choice and the Denial of a Superior Orders Defence in International and Comparative Criminal Justice
    Circumstance, Choice and the Denial of a Superior Orders Defence in International and Comparative Criminal Justice Dingwall, Gavin Claims that an actor who followed orders issued by a superior should be granted a defence to a criminal offence are largely rejected in international and domestic criminal law. Various justifications have been offered: such a defence would often excuse participants in the gravest forms of criminal activity; a degree of choice remains and so some culpability is present; and deterrence would be compromised if the defence could be invoked too readily. This article will assess these claims with particular regard to the notions of 'circumstantial luck' and choice. It will be argued that the rejection of a superior order defence is justifiable, even though some of the orthodox rationales for rejection appear weak. Instead, the relevance (if any) of a superior order claim should be considered at the sentencing stage as part of an overall assessment of individual culpability.
  • Blamestorming, Blamemongers and Scapegoats: Allocating blame in the criminal justice process
    Blamestorming, Blamemongers and Scapegoats: Allocating blame in the criminal justice process Dingwall, Gavin; Hillier, Tim We live in a society that is increasingly preoccupied with allocating blame: when something goes wrong someone must be to blame. Bringing together philosophical, psychological and sociological accounts of blame, this is the first detailed criminological account of the role of blame. The authors present a novel study of the legal process of blame attribution, set in the context of criminalisation as a social and political process.
  • Indeterminate Sentencing: Synthesising public protection, rehabilitation and human rights obligations
    Indeterminate Sentencing: Synthesising public protection, rehabilitation and human rights obligations Bettinson, Vanessa; Dingwall, Gavin England and Wales, like many comparable jurisdictions, has relied increasingly upon measures designed to protect the public from offenders perceived to pose a danger. Incapacitative sentencing is inherently problematic as prediction is highly unreliable and this leads to manifest injustice when those wrongly categorised are incarcerated for lengthy periods. Alternative objectives are marginalised when public protection is paramount. This is logical: if an offender will never be released, why try to rehabilitate him? Our contention is that incapacitation should not be pursued in isolation. Taking 'natural life' sentences and Imprisonment for Public Protection as examples, we develop an argument that jurisprudence from the European Court of Human Rights allows states to adopt incapacitative strategies only where suitable rehabilitative provision is available. As provision is chronically under-resourced at present, we contend that this jurisprudence jeopardises any strategy which is solely incapacitative. Instead, what is required is a synthesis of the (apparently distinct) objectives of protecting the rights of offenders, including the right to rehabilitation, with protecting public safety.

Click here to see a full listing of Gavin Dingwall's publications and outputs.

Key research outputs

2022

Brandon, A. and Dingwall, G. (2022) Minority Ethnic Prisoners and the COVID-19 Lockdown: Issues, Impacts and Implications Bristol: Bristol University Press

Dingwall, G. (2022) Review of Sentencing: New Trajectories in Law by Elaine A. O. Freer Criminology & Criminal Justice (OnLine First 7 June 2022))

2021

Hillier, T. and Dingwall, G. (2021) Criminal Justice and the Pursuit of Truth Bristol: Bristol University Press Review: [2021] Criminal Law Review 999-1001, Nicola Padfield

Antonopoulos, I. and Dingwall, G. (2021) 'Young Offenders' Right to Integration Post Human Rights Act 1998: Work as punishment, rehabilitation and enabler' in Casadei, T. and Tampieri, A. (eds.) Lo Sfruttamento Del Lavoro Minorile: Fattispecie e azioni di contrasto Torino: Giappichelli Editore pp.157-179

2020

Newbury, A. and Dingwall, G. (2020) 'Responding to Teenage Binge Drinking: Recognising differential gender perception or respecting equality?' in Smyth, C.-M., Lang, R. and Clayton Thompson, J. (eds.) Contemporary Challenges to Human Rights Law Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing pp.294-317

Bates, D. and Dingwall, G. (2020) 'Determining the Appropriate Test for Reviewing Parole Board Decisions' 84(1) The Journal of Criminal Law 90-93

2019

Dingwall, G. (2019) 'Reviewing a Parole Board Recommendation to Release' 78(1) The Cambridge Law Journal 8-11

2018

Antonopoulos, I., Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. (2018) 'The Continuing Chronology of Confusion: Prevention, well-being, and the why of youth justice' 82(5) The Journal of Criminal Law 402-419

Dingwall, G. (2018) 'Punishability and the Restriction of Interests' 7 Probation Quarterly 28-30

2017

Antonopoulos, I. and Dingwall, G. (2017) 'Young Offenders' Right to Integration post Human Rights Act 1998: Work as punishment, rehabilitation and enabler' Jura Gentium: Rivista di filosophia del dritto internazionale e dello http://www.juragentium.org/forum/infanzia/it/ding.html

2016

Dingwall, G. (2016) 'Circumstance, Choice and the Denial of a Superior Orders Defence in International and Comparative Law' 3(2) The Journal of International and Comparative Law 375-409

2015

Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. (2015) Blamestorming, Blamemongers and Scapegoats: Allocating blame in the criminal justice process Bristol: Policy Press Review: (2016) 16(2) Criminology & Criminal Justice 252-253, Neil Hutton

2014

Bettinson, V. and Dingwall, G. (2014) 'Indeterminate Sentencing: Synthesising public protection, rehabilitation and human rights obligations' 13(3) Contemporary Issues in Law 215-228

Dingwall, G. and Harrison, K. (2014) 'Five Perspectives on Punishment', Guest Editor, 13(3) Contemporary Issues in Law vi + 93 pp.

2013

Newbury, A. and Dingwall, G. (2013) 'It Lets Out All My Demons: Female young offenders' perceptions about the impact of alcohol on their offending behaviour' 41(4) International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice 277-291

Bettinson, V. and Dingwall, G. (2013) 'Challenging the Ongoing Injustice of Imprisonment for Public Protection' 76(6) Modern Law Review 1094-1105

Dingwall, G. (2013) 'Sentencing' in Hucklesby, A. and Wahidin, A. (eds.) Criminal Justice 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press pp.145-161

Dingwall, G. (2013) 'Minority Parties and the Changing Politics of Criminal Justice' 91(1) Criminal Justice Matters 6-7

2012

Bettinson, V. and Dingwall, G. (2012) 'Applying Generic Sentencing Aims in Domestic Violence Cases in England and Wales' 40(3) International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice 242-254

Dingwall, G. (2012) 'Alcohol-Related Violence as Alcohol-Related Crime: Policing, policy and the law' in McMurran, M. (ed.) Alcohol-Related Violence: Prevention and Treatment Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell pp.105-123

2010

Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. (2010) 'The Banality of Punishment: Context-specificity and justifying punishment of extraordinary crimes' 6(1) International Journal of Punishment and Sentencing 6-18

Merritt, J. and Dingwall, G. (2010) 'Does Plural Suit Rural? Reflections on quasi-policing in the countryside' 12(3) International Journal of Police Science & Management 388-400

Dingwall, G. and Sidki, K. (2010) Alcohol Misuse and Barriers to Accessing Treatment Services in the Leicester Sikh Community Leicester City Primary Care Trust, Leicester: Sidki & Sidki Consulting 58 pp.

2009

Dingwall, G. (2009) 'Evolution through Devolution? Policing, youth justice and imprisonment in Wales' 3(1) Crimes and Misdemeanors: Deviance and the Law in Historical Perspective 5-19

Denscombe, M., Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. (2009) 'Ethics First: Reflections on the role of research ethics at the initial stages of an investigation into taxi drivers' experiences of crime' 16(3) International Review of Victimology 301-308

Dingwall, G. (2009) 'Sentencing' in Hucklesby, A. and Wahidin, A. (eds.) Criminal Justice Oxford: Oxford University Press pp.103-123

2008

Dingwall, G. (2008) 'Deserting Desert? Locating the present role of retributivism in the sentencing of adult offenders' 47(4) Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 400-410

Denscombe, M., Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. (2008) 'At the Genesis of a Research Idea: Defending and defining a duty prior to ethics review' 4(2) Research Ethics Review 73-75

Dingwall, G. and Gillespie, A.A. (2008) 'Reconsidering the Good Samaritan: A duty to rescue?' 39 The Cambrian Law Review 26-39

Dingwall, G. and Koffman, L. (2008) 'Determining the Impact of Intoxication in a Desert-Based Sentencing Framework' 8(3) Criminology & Criminal Justice 335-348

Dingwall, G. (2007/2008) 'From Principle to Practice: Reconsidering sentencing guidance' 8(4) Contemporary Issues in Law 7-32

Dingwall, G. and Koffman, L. (2007/2008) 'The Sentencing Policy We Deserve?' Penal policy under New Labour' 8(4) Contemporary Issues in Law 1-6

Dingwall, G. and Gillespie, A.A. (2008) 'Five Perspectives on Omissions Liability' 39 The Cambrian Law Review vi-x

Dingwall, G. and Koffman, L. (2007/2008) 'Sentencing under New Labour', Guest Editor, 8(4) Contemporary Issues in Law 91 pp.

Dingwall, G. and Gillespie, A.A. (2008) 'Five Perspectives on Omissions Liability', Guest Editor, 39 The Cambrian Law Review x + 131 pp.

2007

Dingwall, G. (2007) 'Intoxicated Mistakes about the Need for Self-Defence' 70(1) Modern Law Review 127-138

Dingwall, G. (2007) 'Responding to Alcohol-Related Crime and Disorder in England and Wales: Understanding the Government's blitz' 20(4) Security Journal 284-292

Koffman, L. and Dingwall, G. [2007] 'The Diversion of Young Offenders: A proportionate response?' 2 Web Journal of Current Legal Issues http://www.bailli.org/uk/other/journals/WebJCLI/2007/issue2/koffman2.html

Dingwall, G. (2007) 'Self-Defence: Differences between civil and criminal law' 71(2) Journal of Criminal Law 119-124

Dingwall, G. and Gillespie, A.A. [2007] 'Diverting Juveniles, Diverting Justice?', Guest Editor, 2 Web Journal of Current Legal Issues http://www.bailli.org/uk/other/journals/WebJCLI/2007/issue2/index.html

Dingwall, G. (2007) Review of Defining Crimes: Essays on the Special Part of the Criminal Law edited by R.A. Duff and Stuart Green 123 Law Quarterly Review 657-661

2006

Dingwall, G. (2006) Alcohol and Crime Cullompton: Willan Publishing Reviews: (2009) 19(1) International Criminal Justice Review 92-93, David J. Hanson; (2008) 18(1) Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health 75-76, Mary McMurran; (2007) 96 Youth & Policy 117-119, Kim Peake; (2007) 11(2) Vista 168-169, Rhianon Bayliss; (2007) 42(2) Law Teacher 235, Graeme Broadbent; (2006) 41(6) Alcohol and Alcoholism 681-682, Alex Paton; (2006) 25(5) Drugs and Alcohol Review 482-483, John Sharples; (2006) Student Law Review Autumn 32, Emma Wincup

Dingwall, G. and Koffman, L. (2006) 'Diversion, Punishment and Restricting Human Rights' 57(3) Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly 478-493

Dingwall, G. [2006] 'Drunkenness, Intoxication and Criminal Liability' 1 Alcohol Alert 10-12

2005

Dingwall, G. [2005] Modeling Common Law Approaches to Intoxication and Criminal Liability' 3 Lex Russica 542-575 (in Russian)

2004

Williams, G. and Dingwall, G. (2004) 'Inferring Intention' 55(1) Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly 69-77 Cited in the reasoning of the Court of Appeal of Ontario in R v Boone 2019 ONCA 652

2003

Dingwall, G. 'Alcohol, Alcoholism and the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales' in Kilcommins, S. and O'Donnell, I. (eds.) Alcohol, Society and Law Chichester: Barry Rose pp.104-146

Dingwall, G. (2003) Review of Reform and Punishment: The Future of Sentencing edited by Sue Rex and Michael Tonry 3(2) Criminal Justice 213-215

2002

Dingwall, G. (2002) 'Statutory Exceptions, Burdens of Proof and the Human Rights Act 1998' 65(3) Modern Law Review 450-462

Dingwall, G. (2002) 'Addressing the Boundaries of Consent in Rape' 13(1) King's College Law Journal 31-52

Dingwall, G. (2002) 'The Retrospective Effect of Section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998' 66(5) The Journal of Criminal Law 441-453

Dingwall, G. and Harding, C. (2002) 'Desert and the Punitiveness of Imprisonment' in Tata, C. and Hutton, N. (eds.) Sentencing and Society: International Perspectives Aldershot: Ashgate pp.308-328

2000

Dingwall, G. (2000) 'Prosecutorial Policy, Double Jeopardy and the Public Interest' 63(2) Modern Law Review 268-280

Dingwall, G. (2000) 'Why it is Necessary to Prioritise Responses to Landlords who let Dangerous Properties' 3(2) Journal of Housing Law 25-29

1999

Dingwall, G. and Moody, S.R. (eds.) (1999) Crime and Conflict in the Countryside Cardiff: University of Wales Press Reviews: (2001) 41(4) British Journal of Criminology 766-768, Brian Hollyrood; (2000) 39(3) Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 316-317, G. S. Chesters; (2000) 7(4) International Review of Victimology 338, Sandra Walklate; (1999) 46(4) Probation Journal 278, Mark Drakefield

Dingwall, G. (1999) 'Justice by Geography: Realising criminal justice in the countryside' in Dingwall, G. and Moody, S.R. (eds.) Crime and Conflict in the Countryside Cardiff: University of Wales Press pp.94-113

Dingwall, G and Moody, S.R. (1999) 'Mean Streets Myopia: Challenging criminology's boundaries' in Dingwall, G. and Moody, S.R. Crime and Conflict in the Countryside Cardiff: University of Wales Press pp.1-7

1998

Dingwall, G. and Harding, C. (1998) Diversion in the Criminal Justice Process London: Sweet & Maxwell (Modern Legal Studies Series)

Dingwall, G. (1998) 'Selective Incapacitation after the Criminal Justice Act 1991: A proportional response to protecting the public?' 37(2) Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 177-187

Dingwall, G. (1998) 'The Home Office, the Prison Service and the Recalculation of Release Dates for Multiple Offenders' 49(1) Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly 74-81

Dingwall, G. [1998] 'New Labour, Old Problem, New Solution?' 1 Archbold News 5-6

1997

Dingwall, G. (1997) 'The Court of Appeal and 'Guideline' Judgments' 48(2) Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly 143-151

Dingwall, G. (1997) 'Expanding the Definition of Prostitution' 61(4) The Journal of Criminal Law 435-438

1996

Dingwall, G. (1996) 'Unduly Lenient Sentences' 60(3) The Journal of Criminal Law 234-235

Dingwall, G. (1996) 'Protecting the Accused and Delay in Sexual Abuse Cases' 7 King's College Law Journal 132-135

Dingwall, G. [1996] 'Can the Instigator of a Fight Plead Self-Defence?' The Juridical Review 416-418

Dingwall, G. and Kilcommins, S. [1996] 'Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Cross-Border Arrest Warrants' The Juridical Review 66-68

Dingwall, G. [1996] 'Why New Guideline Judgments are Needed after the Criminal Justice Act 1991' 2 Archbold News 5-7

Dingwall, G. and Davies, B. [1996] 'Defendants' Guilty Pleas and Section 48' Legal Action 8-9

Dingwall, G. (1996) Review of Psychological Explanations of Crime edited by David P. Farrington 27 Cambrian Law Review 112-115

1995

Dingwall, G. and Davenport, A. (1995) 'The Evolution of Criminal Justice Policy in the UK' in Fennell, P., Harding, C., Jorg, N. and Swart, B. (eds.) Criminal Justice in Europe Oxford: Clarendon Press pp.21-39

Dingwall, G. (1995) 'Judicial Review and the Director of Public Prosecutions' 54(2) The Cambridge Law Journal 265-267

Dingwall, G. (1995) 'Cross-Examining the Police about Discredited Evidence in Other Trials' 6 King's College Law Journal 152-154

Dingwall, G. (1995) 'Challenging an Unduly Lenient Sentence in Scotland' 59(4) The Journal of Criminal Law 338-339

Dingwall, G. [1995] 'Revolving Tutorials' The New Academic 7

Dingwall, G. (1995) 'Defining Violent Crimes for Sentencing Purposes' 139(17) The Solicitors Journal 422-423

Dingwall, G. (1995) 'Fines, Proportionality and the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994' 159(24) Justice of the Peace 403-404

1994

Dingwall, G. (1994) 'The Abolition of the Presumption of Doli Incapax for 10-14 Year Olds' 58(4) The Journal of Criminal Law 385-387

Dingwall, G. (1994) 'The Dangers of Discretion in Determining a Just Fine after the Abolition of the Unit Fine in the Criminal Justice Act 1993' 158(34) Justice of the Peace 545-546

Dingwall, G. (1994) 'Making Fines Work - Or Learning From Our Mistakes?' 47 The Criminal Lawyer 3-6

Dingwall, G. (1994) 'Review of Television and the Drama of Crime: Moral tales and the place of crime in everyday life by Richard Sparks 25 Cambrian Law Review 163-165

1993

Dingwall, G. (1993) Review of Psychology of Criminal Justice by Geoffrey M. Stephenson and Criminal Justice Under Stress edited by Eric Stockdale 24 Cambrian Law Review 132-134

 

 

Research interests/expertise

  • Sentencing policy and theory
  • Penal policy and theory
  • Aspects of substantive criminal law, particularly relating to defences and denial of mens rea
  • Innovative approaches to learning and teaching in criminal justice education

Areas of teaching

  • Criminal Law
  • Penology

Qualifications

LLB (Warwick) MPhil (Wales)

Courses taught

  • Criminal Law 
  • Penology
  • Supervision of PhD students

Honours and awards

De Montfort University, Award for Research-Enhanced Teaching, 2019 

Faculty of Business and Law, Award for Excellence in Research-Informed Teaching, 2020

Membership of external committees

  • Member, Howard League Research Advisory Group
  • Member, ESRC Peer Review College
  • Chair, Dissertation Prize Committee, Sentencing Academy, 2022-
  • Executive Committee, Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA), 2008-2014
  • Book Prize Committee, Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA), 2011-2014
  • Seminar Prize Committee, Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA), 2012-2014
  • External Panel Member, Sabbatical Committee, Wolverhampton University, 2013
  • External Panel Member, LLM / MSc Criminal Justice and Penal Change Validation Panel, Strathclyde University, 2012
  • External Panel Member, Academic Programme Review, School of Law, Brunel University, 2010
  • External Panel Member, Periodic Review, School of Law, University of Reading, 2008
  • External Penal Member, LLB Law with Criminology Validation Panel, University of Hull, 2008
  • External Panel Member, Periodic Review, School of Law, University of Wales, Swansea, 2007

Membership of professional associations and societies

  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member, British Society of Criminology
  • Member, British Society of Criminology Learning and Teaching Network
  • Member, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies
  • Member, Empirical Research on Sentencing (ERoS) Network
  • Member, European Society of Criminology
  • Member, Northumbria Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice Studies
  • Member, Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA)

Forthcoming events

 

 

Conference attendance

Conference Organisation

Co-Organiser (with Jakub Drapal and Cyrus Tata), European Society of Criminology Sentencing and Penal Decision-Making Working Group Conference, Charles University, Prague, May 2019

Co-Organiser (with Stefano Bertea and Maria Cecilia Fregni), Joint Conference of De Montfort University, Leicester University and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Schools of Law, Leicester University, April 2019

Co-Organiser (with Francesco Belvisi, Stefano Bertea, Luigi Foffani, Maria Cecilia Fregni and Vincenzo Pacillo), Joint Conference of De Montfort University, Leicester University and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Schools of Law, De Montfort University, May 2018

Co-Organiser (with Francesco Belvisi, Stefano Bertea, Luigi Foffani, Maria Cecilia Fregni and Vincenzo Pacillo), Joint Conference of De Montfort University, Leicester University and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Schools of Law, Leicester University, April 2016

Co-Organiser (with André Naidoo), Socio-Legal Studies Conference, De Montfort University, Leicester, April 2012

Co-Organiser (with Trevor Buck), Socio-Legal Studies Conference, De Montfort University, Leicester, April 2009

Sentencing and Punishment Stream Convenor (with Tim Hillier), Socio-Legal Studies Conference

Papers

2022

Brandon, A. and Dingwall, G. 'Lockdown: The Lived Reality of Covid-19 for Minority Ethnic and Foreign National Prisoners', Bristol Law Conference, University of Bristol, February 2022

2021

Brandon, A. and Dingwall, G. 'Minority Ethnic Prisoners and the Covid-19 Lockdown: Issues, Impacts and Implications', Bristol University Howard League for Penal Reform Society, University of Bristol, October 2021

Brandon, A. and Dingwall, G. 'Was the Impact of the Covid-19 Prison Lockdown in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom Distinctive for Ethnic Minority Prisoners?', European Society of Criminology Conference, September 2021

Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. 'The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth - (Mis)perceptions of the Adversarial Criminal Trial', European Society of Criminology Conference, September 2021 

Brandon, A. and Dingwall, G. 'Contextualising the Impact of the Covid-19 Lockdown on Ethnic Minority Prisoners', Covid-19 and the 'Crisis' in Criminal Justice Conference, University of the West of England, July 2021

Brandon, A. and Dingwall, G. 'Lockdown: The Impact of Covid-19 on Minority Ethnic Prisoners', British Society of Criminology Conference, The Open University, July 2021

Dingwall, G., Gallagher, J. and Hillier, T. 'Enhancing Student Research Competencies in Criminology: Embedding Research-Enabled Teaching in an Undergraduate Penology Module', British Society of Criminology Conference, The Open University, July 2021

Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. 'Reflections on the Potential of Research-Enabled Teaching to Enhance Student Research Competencies', Socio-Legal Studies Association Conference, Cardiff University, March 2021  

2020

Dingwall, G. 'Covid-19 and the Pains of Imprisonment: Should sentencing decisions take account of the deterioration in prison conditions', Research Seminar, Maynooth University, Ireland, July 2020

2019

Dingwall, G. 'Forfeiting a Defence through Prior Fault: Culpability and the lure of moral equivalence', Joint Conference of De Montfort University, Leicester University and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Schools of Law, Leicester University, April 2019

Dingwall, G. 'Dangerous Children: Reflections on age-specificity and the legitimacy of incapacitative sentencing', Socio-Legal Studies Association Conference, University of Leeds, April 2019

Dingwall, G. 'How Can We Keep Minor Offenders Out Of Prison?', Department of Law and Criminology, Abersywtyth University, March 2019

Gallagher, J. and Dingwall, G. 'Unlocking the Prison Crisis: Does Scotland hold the key for England and Wales?', Centre for Law, Crime and Justice, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, January 2019

2018

Bates, D. and Dingwall, G. 'Reconsidering the Process of Release: Evidence, accountability and parole decision-making', Centre for Applied Legal Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, November 2018

Bates, D. and Dingwall, G. 'Exploring Evidential Flaws from Complaint to Post-Conviction in the Radford Litigation', Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Hull, October 2018

Bates, D. and Dingwall, G. ‘How has the John Worboys Decision Altered Parole Board Decision-Making?’, Research Seminar, Sexual Violence Domestic Violence (SVDV) Research Network, De Montfort University, Leicester, September 2018

Dingwall, G. ‘Legitimacy, Transparency and the Release of Dangerous Offenders’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, Bristol University, March 2018

2017

Dingwall, G. 'Punishability and the Restriction of Interests', British Society of Criminology Midlands Branch, Why Punish? symposium, De Montfort University, Leicester, December 2017

2016

Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. 'Achieving Meaningful Prison Reform whilst Denouncing Deliberate Decarceration: A critique of the current penal reform proposals', British Criminology Conference, Nottingham, July 2016

Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. 'The Use and Abuse of Blame in Determining the Limits of Criminalisation', Research Seminar, School of Law, University of Leicester, June 2016

Dingwall, G. 'Michael Gove's Dilemma: Can you reform prisons without reforming sentencing?', Joint Conference of De Montfort University, Leicester University and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Schools of Law, Leicester University, April 2016

Dingwall, G. 'The Minor Majority and the Limits of a Risk Penology', Socio-Legal Studies Conference, Lancaster University, April 2016

2015

Dingwall, G. ‘Circumstantial Luck and the Attribution of Blame in International Criminal Justice’, Bangor Centre for International Law, School of Law, Bangor University, December 2015

Dingwall, G. 'Reflections on the Correlation between Moral Fault and Mens Rea', Research Seminar, Northumbria Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice Studies, Northumbria University, November 2015

Dingwall, G. 'Criminal Liability and Intoxicated Offenders: Comparing three European approaches', Leicester-Modena Conference on Law and Rights, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy, April 2015

Dingwall, G. 'Conceptualising a Low Risk Penology', Risk Symposium, Centre for Criminological Research, University of Sheffield, February 2015

Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. 'Blamestorming, Blamemongers and Scapegoats: Some reflections on the allocation of blame in the criminal justice process', Staff Research Seminar, School of Law, Criminology and Sociology, Royal Holloway, University of London, January 2015

2013

Dingwall, G. ‘A Dangerous Decade? Risk, rights and the sentencing of violent and sexual offenders’, Justice in the Criminal Courts in the 21st Century, Centre for Criminal Justice Studies, University Of Leeds, June 2013

Bettinson, V. and Dingwall, G. ‘Challenging the Ongoing Injustice of Imprisonment for Public Protection’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, University of York, March 2013

2012

Bettinson, V. and Dingwall, G. ‘Do Generic Sentencing Aims Result in Optimised Outcomes in Domestic Violence Cases?’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, De Montfort University, Leicester, April 2012

2011

Dingwall, G. and Hillier, T. ‘A Crisis of Legitimacy: conflicting notions of justice in responding to war crimes’, 2nd Biennial War Crimes Conference, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, March 2011

2010

Hillier, T. and Dingwall, G. ‘The Blame Game: how international justice seeks to exonerate the rest of us’, 10th Conference of the European Society of Criminology, Liège, Belgium, September 2010 (presented by Tim Hillier)

Dingwall, G. ‘A New Way of Doing Sentencing? Will the increased visibility of British minority parties end the punitive consensus?’, 10th Conference of the European Society of Criminology, Liège, Belgium, September 2010

Dingwall, G. and Sidki, K. ‘Developing an Effective Response to Problem Drinking in the Leicester Sikh Community’, BME National Workshop, Department of Health Alcohol Improvement Programme, Peterborough, July 2010

Dingwall, G. ‘The Ex-Factor: Recidivism, relevance and rhetoric’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, University of the West of England, Bristol, March 2010

Merritt, J. and Dingwall, G. ‘Does Plural Suit Rural? Problematising the role of Police Community Support Officers in a rural environment’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, University of the West of England, Bristol, March 2010

2009

Dingwall, G. ‘Alcohol, Crime and Disorder: Four unresolved issues for the criminal courts’, keynote lecture, Youth, Alcohol & Crime (Problems & Effective Responses) conference, Alcohol & Health Research Unit, University of the West of England, Bristol, November 2009

Dingwall, G. ‘Responding to Intoxicated Offending: An evaluation of four approaches’, keynote lecture, Drugs, Alcohol and Violent Crime – policy and practice? conference, Newport Centre for Criminal and Community Justice, University of Wales, Newport, April 2009

Dingwall, G. ‘Voices on the Margins? Sentencing policy and ‘minority’ parties in the United Kingdom’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, De Montfort University, Leicester, April 2009

2008

Dingwall, G., Allen, M. and Graham, L. ‘Reprimands and Warnings’, The Crime and Disorder Act: 10 years on, Thematic Conference, Centre for Criminal Justice Studies, University of Leeds, May 2008

Dingwall, G. ‘Exploring the Effect of Sentencing Guidance on Sentencing Justification’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, University of Manchester, March 2008

2007

Dingwall, G. ‘Sober Responses to Intoxicated Offending’, Guest Lecture, Department of Criminology, University of Leicester, November 2007

Hillier, T. and Dingwall, G. ‘International Criminal Tribunals and their Penal Philosophies’, British Criminology Conference, Mannheim Centre for Criminology, London School of Economics, September 2007 (presented by Tim Hillier)

Dingwall, G., Denscombe, M. and Hillier, T. ‘Researching Taxi Drivers’ Experiences of Crime: Some issues of ethics and methodology’, British Criminology Conference, Mannheim Centre for Criminology, London School of Economics, September 2007

Dingwall, G. ‘Deserting Desert? Reflections on the current role of retributivism’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, University of Kent, Canterbury, April 2007

2006

Dingwall, G. ‘Hoodies and Goodies: Some critical reflections on current youth justice strategy’, Oxford University Howard League Group, Wadham College, University of Oxford, May 2006

Dingwall, G. ‘Just How Culpable is the Drinking Offender?’, British Society of Criminology Conference, Glasgow Caledonian University, July 2006

Dingwall, G. ‘Intoxicated Mistakes and Failure of Proof’, Staff Research seminar, School of Law, University of Wales, Swansea, March 2006

Dingwall, G., Gillespie, A.A. and Koffman, L. ‘Restricting the Rights of Juvenile Offenders in England and Wales: A triumph of form over substance?’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, University of Stirling, March 2006

Gillespie, A.A. and Dingwall, G. ‘Rescuers, Duties and the Criminal Law’, Socio-Legal Studies Conference, University of Stirling, March 2006 (presented by Alisdair A. Gillespie)

2005

Dingwall, G. ‘What Shall We Do with the Drunkard? Jail Her? Sentencing and the intoxicated offender’, Research Seminar, Criminal Justice Unit, University of the West of England, Bristol, November 2005

Dingwall, G. ‘Will the Government’s ‘Blitz’ on ‘Alcohol-Related’ Crime and Disorder Work?’, British Society of Criminology Conference, University of Leeds, July 2005

Dingwall, G. ‘Alcohol, Crime and Responsible Responses’, Staff Research Seminar, Sussex Law School, Sussex University, March 2005

2004

Dingwall, G. ‘Jurisprudential Priorities and the Boundaries of Consent in Rape’, Staff Research Seminar, Faculty of Law, Monash University, Melbourne, April 2004

Dingwall, G. ‘What Shall We Do with the Drunkard? Jail Her? Sentencing and the intoxicated offender’, Staff Research Seminar, Department of Criminology, University of Melbourne, April 2004

Dingwall, G. ‘Theorising at the Margins: Reassessing the importance of intoxication in criminal law’, Staff Research Seminar, School of Law, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, March 2004

2002

Dingwall, G. ‘Alcohol, Crime and Responsibility’, Guest Seminar, Joint Meeting of the Northern Ireland Branch of the British Society of Criminology and the Institute of Criminology, Queen’s University, Belfast, November 2002

Dingwall, G. ‘Desert, Deterrence and the Demon Drink: How penal theory should inform the substantive criminal law on intoxication’, International Conference on Sentencing and Society, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, June 2002

Dingwall, G. ‘Wasted and Wounded, This ain’t what the moon did, We’ve got what we paid for now: The case for a principled approach to alcohol-induced offending’, Socio-Legal Studies Association Conference, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, April 2002

2000

Dingwall, G. ‘The Fundamental Dilemmas of Double Jeopardy’, Scrymgeour Law Lecture, Department of Law, University of Dundee, May 2000

Dingwall, G. ‘Sexual Coercion and the Boundaries of Consent in Rape’, Staff Research Seminar, School of Law, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, May 2000

1999

Dingwall, G. and Harding, C. ‘Desert and the Punitiveness of Imprisonment’, International Conference on Sentencing and Society, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, June 1999

1997

Dingwall, G. ‘Criminal Justice Policy and Practice: The rural dimension’, British Criminology Conference, Queen’s University, Belfast, July 1997

1995

Dingwall, G. ‘Selective Incapacitation after the Criminal Justice Act 1991: A proportional response to protecting the public?’, British Criminology Conference, University of Loughborough, July 1995

Current research students

During his time at De Montfort University, Gavin has been centrally involved in managing research degree programmes first as the School Head of Research Students and then as the Faculty Head of Research Students. He has also delivered research training at Faculty and University level and draws upon the experience of examining over 20 research degrees in the UK and Ireland.

Gavin is always interested in supervising research students who wish to explore aspects of criminal justice (particularly the relevance of 'blame', the politics of criminal justice, pre-trial diversion, sentencing and punishment), criminology (particularly alcohol-related crime and disorder) and criminal law (particularly intoxication and criminal liability, prior fault, 'moral luck', defences, mens rea, theories of criminalisation).

Past or present students have adopted comparative, doctrinal, empirical, socio-legal and theoretical approaches. Feel free to contact Gavin to discuss possible proposals prior to making a formal application. Current students:

  • Jessica Gallagher 'Self-Harm and Self-Inflicted Death in Prison: Analysing the Impact of Prison Conditions on the Psychological Well-Being of those Incarcerated to Inform Evidence-Based Reform' (Jessica was awarded a University High Flyer Scholarship to undertake this research)
  • Jeremy Robson 'The Judge as Bricoleur: Bricolage in Decision-Making in the Criminal Justice System'
  • Emerald Woodward 'An Applied Study of the Impact of Verbal Trauma Related Behaviour on Police Officers' Perceptions of Trafficked Individuals' Credibility in Investigative Interviews'

Recent successful completions:

Lucy Baldwin, who Gavin supervised with Dr Victoria Knight, was awarded her PhD in April 2021 for her thesis entitled 'Motherhood Challenged: A Study Exploring the Persistent Pains of Maternal Imprisonment'.

Laura Pajon, who Gavin supervised with Professor Dave Walsh, was awarded her PhD in March 2021 for her thesis entitled 'Towards an Evidence-Based Investigation Framework for Human Trafficking Crimes'.

Jackie Elton, who Gavin supervised with Emeritus Professor Michael Hirst and Jeremy Robson, was awarded her PhD in January 2020 for her thesis entitled 'Expert Evidence, Juries and the Search for Truth: A Case Study Analysis'.

 

Professional esteem indicators

  • Member, Howard League for Penal Reform Research Advisory Group
  • Member, ESRC Peer Review College
  • Guest Editor (with Karen Harrison), 'Five Perspectives on Punishment', Special Edition, Contemporary Issues in Law, 2014
  • Guest Editor (with Alisdair A. Gillespie), 'Five Perspectives on Omissions Liability', Special Edition, The Cambrian Law Review, 2008
  • Guest Editor (with Laurence Koffman), 'Sentencing under New Labour', Special Edition, Contemporary Issues in Law, 2007/2008
  • Guest Editor (with Alisdair A. Gillespie), 'Diverting Juveniles, Diverting Justice', Special Issue, Web Journal of Current Legal Issues, 2007
  • Reviewer, British Journal of Community Justice
  • Reviewer, Criminology & Criminal Justice
  • Reviewer, International Criminal Justice Review
  • Reviewer, Journal of Criminal Law
  • Reviewer, Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology
  • Reviewer, Liverpool Law Review
  • Reviewer, Medical Law Review
  • Reviewer, Modern Law Review
  • Reviewer, Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management
  • Reviewer, Addison Longman
  • Reviewer, Oxford University Press
  • Reviewer, Willan Publishing
  • Reviewer, AHRC grant applications
  • Reviewer, ESRC grant applications
  • Reviewer, L’Agence Nationale de la Recherche (France) grant application
  • Media interview, BBC East Midlands Today
  • Media interview, BBC Politics Show
  • Media interview, BBC Radio Leicester
  • Media interview, BBC Wales
  • Media interview, ITV Central
  • Media interview, LBC
  • External Examiner (Research Degrees), University of Nottingham (2019), University of the West of England (2017), Leeds University (2016), University College Cork (2016), Northumbria University (2015), Bangor University (2014), Teeside University (2014), Aberystwyth University (2013), Strathclyde University (2013), University of Birmingham (2012), Coventry University (2012), University of Sussex (2008, 2001)
  • External Examiner (Postgraduate Taught): LLM Criminal Justice and Penal Change, Strathclyde University (2012-2015, 2019-), MA Criminology, University College Cork (2010-2013)
  • External Examiner (Undergraduate): Strathclyde University (2011-2015, 2019-), Newcastle University (2016-2021), Coventry University (2006-2011), University of Sussex (2005-2008)

Blogs

Dingwall, G. 'Rethinking Prison', Policy Network, 30 June 2020 http://policynetwork.org/opinions/blogs/rethinking-prison/

Dingwall, G. and Gallagher, J. 'Government plan to follow Scotland on scrapping shorter jail sentences may not be the fix UK prisons need', The Conversation, 13 May 2019 http://theconversation.com/government-plan-to-follow-scotland-on-scrapping-shorter-jail-setences-may-not-be-the-fix-uk-prisons-need-116541 

Criminal Justice Natter

Tim Hillier and I joined host Ed Johnston for an episode of Criminal Justice Matters in July 2021 to discuss our new book Criminal Justice and the Pursuit of Truth as well as broader issues about the purpose of criminal justice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N8YubfZD_

British Society of Criminology: Talking Teaching with Criminologists

Final year undergraduates Morgan Stanley and Tia Kirkland joined my colleague Tim Hillier and I in this podcast for the British Society of Criminology's Learning and Teaching Network, published in June 2022. In it we discuss the research-enabled approach we adopt in our Penology module https://anchor.fm/talkteachcrim/episodes/Talking-Teaching-with-Criminologists---Prof-Gavin-Dingwall-and-colleagues-e1jbooc

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