centre for justice reform
About the centre
A well-functioning criminal justice system is of critical importance but the problems faced currently are well reported and challenging . We are working to address some of these challenges. We do this by operating at the intersection of policy, research, practice and education to identify and resolve some of the most pressing issues.
Co-Directors
Dr Gemma Birkett
Dr Gemma Birkett is a senior Lecturer in Criminology at The City Law School.
She 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 Eugene McLaughlin
Professor Eugene McLaughlin is Professor of Criminology at City, University of London.
His current research concentrates on: the policing challenges of multi-pluralist, risk societies; the news-media, crime and criminal justice policy; the politics of law and order and new developments in criminological theory.
Dr Cassandra Wiener
Dr Cassandra Wiener is an Academic 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.
She 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
James Rosbrook-Thompson
James Rosbrook-Thompson is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology.
His 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.
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.
Sally Gill
Sally Gill is founder and Director of the award-winning City Community Legal Advice Centre and the LawIRL concept, and is working alongside Tejal-Roma Williams on the setup of the new City Law School Innocence Project.
Sally is an experienced principal lecturer, supervising solicitor and law clinic director, leading on clinical legal education and law employability projects. She is a past Wig and Pen award winner (City and Westminster Law Society) for pro bono work.
Tejal Roma-Williams
Tejal Roma-Williams is a Supervising Lawyer at the award-winning City Community Legal Advice Centre at The City Law School, and Co-Director of the City Law School Innocence Project, assisting victims of miscarriages of justice.
Tejal-Roma is an experienced criminal litigator having worked as a Higher Courts Advocate and Duty Solicitor at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors and as a Senior Crown Prosecutor in the Crown Court and Proceeds of Crime, Serious Economic Organised Crime International Division (CPS SEOCID) at the Crown Prosecution Service.
External Advisory Board
Natalie Byrom
Dr. Natalie Byrom is Director of Research at The Legal Education Foundation where she leads work to build the evidence base for what works in helping individuals to secure their rights.
She sits on the Administrative Justice Council and the Litigants in Person Engagement Group of the Civil Justice Council.
Andrea Coomber KC
Andrea Comber is Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform. Andrea was appointed Queen's Counsel (Honoris Causa) in 2022 for making a major contribution to the development of the law in England and Wales.
She joined the Howard League in 2021, having previously worked at JUSTICE, INTERIGHTS, at the International Service for Human Rights in Geneva and at the South Asia Documentation Centre in New Delhi. She is qualified as a barrister and solicitor in Australia.
Anne Fox
Anne Fox is the Chief Executive of Clinks, which is the leading organisation offering support to the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system. Anne leads on strategy, future focus and capacity, as well as managing the senior team. She joined Clinks in 2015 – prior to that having experience of a range of roles in campaigning and policy.
Liz Hogarth OBE
Liz Hogarth OBE is former Ministry of Justice lead on women in the criminal justice system. She was awarded an OBE in 2008 for services to women offenders.
Now retired, she continues to advocate for the reforms called for by Baroness Corston, working in a voluntary capacity.
Roma Hooper OBE
Roma Hooper OBE is the founder of Prison Radio Association and Make Justice Work.
She is currently chairperson at Clinks, which supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families.
Baroness Helena Kennedy KC (Patron)
Helena Kennedy is a leading barrister and an expert in human rights law, civil liberties and constitutional issues.
She has spent her professional life giving voice to those who have least power within the system, championing civil liberties and promoting human rights.
Lord Ponsonby
The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, Frederick Matthew Thomas Ponsonby is a current member of the House of Lords.
He is a Labour Party spokesperson for Justice and Home Affairs.
Professor Julian Roberts
Professor Julian Roberts was a member of the Sentencing Council of England and Wales from 2008-2018.
He is currently Executive Director of the Sentencing Academy, a London-based institute which links scholars with practitioners, and promotes greater public understanding of sentencing in England and Wales.
Andrea Simon
Andrea Simon is the Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, which represents organisations and experts from across the UK working to end violence against women and girls. Through her work at EVAW she is transforming the political and social systems that enable abuse and discrimination.
Professor Betsy Stanko
Professor Betsy Stanko, OBE, was formerly head of evidence and insight in the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime.
She is now Visiting Professor at UCL’s Department of Crime Science and Security and City University London’s Sociology Department, and Emeritus Professor of criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is Strategic Advisor And Academic co-lead at the Home Office funded Operation Soteria Bluestone.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, John Thomas
Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Roger John Laugharne Thomas, is a current member of the House of Lords.
He was appointed as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2013-2018. He is one of the founding members of the European Law Institute, a non-profit organisation that conducts research, makes recommendations and provides practical guidance in the field of European legal development. He is a member of its executive committee.
The Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek
Bishop Rachel was consecrated as the 41st Bishop of Gloucester in 2015 and made history by becoming the first female diocesan bishop and the first female bishop in the House of Lords.
Her role in the House of Lords includes being the Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons in England and Wales and she is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Women in the Penal System.
