Associate Professor of Vulnerability and Criminal Justice Programme Leader for MSc Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing
I started teaching at the University of Leeds in 2015 while completing my doctoral research in the School of Interdisciplinary Gender Studies. My PhD was principally concerned with sexualisation, sex education, and the ways in which young people acquire knowledge and cultures of sex and sexuality. This included contemporary constructions of classed masculinities and femininities, the use of internet pornography as a sex education tool, and young people as producers of sexually explicit content such as sexts.
I am currently interested in vulnerability in the Criminal Justice system, particularly in relation to sexual violence, and state and social regulation of sex and sexuality. I have completed research on diverse topics such as learning disabilities and sexual violence, sex work, widening participation in higher education, and social science pedagogies.
I am the Programme Leader for MSc Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing.
My office hours are Wednesdays 9-11am via Teams – no appointment necessary.
Teaching and supervision
- CRM303 Selling Sex: Theory, Policy and Practice
- CRM104 Victims/Survivors: Rights and Redress
- Social Science Dissertation (Undergraduate)
- LCPM03 Leadership and Criminal Justice Dissertation
- LCPM04 Inequality and Vulnerability in the Criminal Justice System
- SSCM43 Identities, Inequalities and Exploitation in the Media: Exploring the Digital Divide
- SSCM26 Inequality and Society Dissertation
Research interests for potential research students
- Sexual violence
- Disability and criminal justice
- Sex work and sex worker activism
- Mediated sexualities including pornography
- Sex education
- Identity, inequality, and vulnerability
- Media representations of crime
- Reality TV and popular culture
Research
I am a qualitative researcher and experienced in conducting research on sensitive topics and/or research with vulnerable groups. I am particularly interested in research that is participatory by design.
I have been engaged in projects examining access to justice for people with learning disabilities who have experienced sexual violence; the effects of Covid-19 on sex workers, widening participation in HE, and social science pedagogies.
Publications
Article
Jobe, Alison and Williams, Helen (2025) Criminal justice responses to victim- survivors of sexual violence with learning disabilities: Findings from a local study in North East England. Journal of Gender Based Violence. ISSN 2398-6808 (In Press)
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2024) Testimonial Injustice: Exploring ‘credibility’ as a barrier to justice for people with learning disabilities/autism who report sexual violence. Disability & Society, 40 (4). pp. 1061-1083. ISSN 0968-7599
Karathanasopoulou, Evangelia and Williams, Helen (2023) Podcasting as a feminist space for the disclosure of trauma and intimate embodied experience: The Heart as a case study of quiet activism. Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast & Audio Media, 21. pp. 29-44. ISSN 2040-1388
Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2023) ‘I just think it’s really awkward’: Transitioning to Higher Education and the implications for student retention. Higher Education: The International Journal of Higher Education Research, 85. pp. 1125-1141. ISSN 0018-1560
Williams, Helen and Quaid, Sheila (2023) 'You don't get taught that' – How ‘safe’ classrooms can hinder learning. Teaching in Higher Education. ISSN 1470-1294
Quaid, Sheila and Williams, Helen (2021) Troubling Knowledges and Difficult Pedagogical Moments for Students Learning. International Journal of Inclusive Education. ISSN 1464-5173
Williams, Helen (2021) 'You can spot them a mile off' - Young women's negotiations of class and the sexual culture of shame. Sexuality and Culture. ISSN 1095-5143
Book Section
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2025) Criminal justice responses to learning disabled and neurodivergent victims of sexual violence in the UK. In: Routledge Handbook of Disability, Crime and Justice. Routledge. ISBN 9781032391731
Williams, Helen (2023) (In)decent work for all? – How the decriminalisation of sex work is crucial to achieving the SDGs. In: Gender and Sexuality in a Multidisciplinary Approach to the SDGs. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-031-31045-4 (In Press)
Conference or Workshop Item
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2025) Testimonial Injustice? Police decision-making in sexual offences where the victim/survivor has learning disabilities and/or neurodiversity. In: 17th NNDR Conference: Disability in Local and Global Contexts, 07-09 May 2025, University of Helsinki. (Unpublished)
Jobe, Alison and Williams, Helen (2025) Towards inclusive criminal justice responses to victims of sexual violence. Findings from participatory research. In: Nordic Network on Disability Research Conference, 07-09 May 2025, Helsinki, Finland.
Hussey, Rose (2025) Support Available to People With Learning Disabilities Who Experience Sexual Violence - A Systematic Review. In: St Mary's 22nd Annual Conference, 29-30 Apr 2025, Manchester. (Unpublished)
Jobe, Alison and Williams, Helen (2025) Us Too: Alisha’s Story. In: Saint Mary’s SARC Annual Conference 2025, 29-30 Apr 2025, Manchester. (Unpublished)
Jobe, Alison and Williams, Helen (2025) Towards inclusive responses to victims of sexual violence. Presenting findings from a participatory theatre project. In: European Conference of Social Work, 12-14 Mar 2025, Munich. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen (2025) Victims with Learning Disabilities and/or Neurodivergence. In: Intersectionality of Sexual Violence: Impact on Marginalised Groups, 06 Feb 2025, Nottingham Trent University. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2024) Exploring barriers to justice for people with learning disabilities/neurodivergence who have experienced sexual violence. In: Hate Crime Research Group webinar, 04 Dec 2024, Nottingham Trent University (Online). (Unpublished)
Connelly, Sarah and Williams, Helen (2024) Supporting Trans and Non-Binary Detainees in Custody in England and Wales: Vulnerability, Discretion and Policy Grey Areas. In: CASS Public Lecture, 06 Nov 2024, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Connelly, Sarah and Williams, Helen (2024) The experiences of trans and non-binary people in custody in England and Wales. In: The National Custody Forum, 25-27 Sep 2024, University of Sheffield. (Unpublished)
Connelly, Sarah and Williams, Helen (2024) The experiences of trans and non-binary people in custody in England and Wales. In: UNSPECIFIED. (Unpublished)
Connelly, Sarah and Williams, Helen (2024) Exploring the experiences of trans and non-binary people in custody in England and Wales: Implications for policy and practice. In: British Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2024, 10-12 Jul 2024, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. (Unpublished)
Roberts, Nicola, Webster, William and Williams, Helen (2024) How active bystander training can disrupt harmful behaviours experienced by non-binary and transgender UK higher education students. In: Sixth Annual Faculty of Education and Society Conference, Interdisciplinarity and Collaboration, 10 June 2024, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen (2024) ‘A lesson on an orgasm! Imagine!’: Pornography as Sex(y) Education. In: FES Faculty Conference, 10 Jun 2024, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2024) Developing inclusive criminal justice responses to victims of sexual violence with learning disabilities and/or autism. In: St Mary's 21st Annual Conference: Breaking Barriers, reaching underserved groups and navigating the criminal justice system, 23-24 Apr 2024, Midland Hotel, Manchester. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2024) Neurodiverse Victims of Sexual Violence: Experiences of the Criminal Justice System. In: Health and Justice: Neurodiversity Event, 20 Mar 2024, Ravenwood Hall Hotel, Bury St Edmunds. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2024) Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System - Implications for Professional. In: Seeing and Treating Neurodiverse Individuals in the Criminal Justice System, 14 Mar 2024, Online. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2023) Neurodiversity and criminal justice: Improving outcomes for victim/survivors of sexual violence. In: Neurodiverse Connection Summit, 28th November 2023, Online.
Jobe, Alison and Williams, Helen (2023) Towards Inclusive Criminal Justice Responses to Victims of Sexual Violence. In: ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, 17th November 2023, Online. (Unpublished)
Jobe, Alison and Williams, Helen (2023) Justice for Survivors with Learning Disabilities and/or Neurodiversity. Using theatre to develop best practice. In: RCEW National Conference, 16th November 2023, Online. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen, Webster, William and Roberts, Nicola (2023) Exploring transgender and non-binary university students’ perceptions and experiences of sexual harm. In: British Society of Criminology Annual Conference, Sustaining Futures: Remaking Criminology in an age of Global Injustice, 27–30 Jun 2023, University of Central Lancashire. (Unpublished)
Jobe, Alison and Williams, Helen (2023) Developing better responses to victims of sexual violence with learning disabilities and/or autism. In: Research showcase: Tackling violence against women and girls, 29th June 2023, Leeds. (Submitted)
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2023) Sexual violence and Women with Learning Disabilities/Autism. In: Violence against Women and Girls Research Network Webinar, 14th June 2023, Online.
Williams, Helen, Webster, William and Roberts, Nicola (2023) Exploring Transgender and Non-Binary Students’ Perceptions and Experiences of Sexual Harm. In: Economic and Social Inclusion, Fifth Annual Faculty of Education and Society Staff Research Conference, 12 June 2023, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Webster, William, Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2023) Exploring transgender and non-binary university students' perceptions and experiences of sexual harm. In: Proud / Loud / Heard... ? - exploring LGBT+ identity, being and experiences, Conference, 19 May 2023, Online. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen (2023) Barriers to Justice for People with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism. In: VAMHN conference, 12th April 2023, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2023) Collecting data using drama: A participatory film project. In: Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference, 13th January 2023, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Roberts, Nicola and Williams, Helen (2022) The Criminology Retention Project. University Keynote Speakers. In: The University of Sunderland Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, 7 December 2022, The Fire Station, Sunderland.
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2022) Criminal justice responses to people with learning disabilities and/ or autism reporting sexual violence. In: BSC Annual Conference, 29th June-1st July 2022, University of Surrey. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Karathanasopoulou, Evi (2022) Podcasting to Smash the Patriarchy: The Heart as a case study of quiet activism. In: CASS Public Lecture, 23 Feb 2022, University of Sunderland.
Quaid, Sheila, Williams, Helen and Wilcock, Angela (2022) Do we need the HE classroom in Social Sciences to be a safe space or a discomforting space ? Research from the teacher perspective. In: CASS Public Seminar Series, 26 Jan 2022, University of Sunderland. (In Press)
Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2021) Apprehension, anxiety and awkwardness: transitioning to Higher Education and the implications for student retention. In: EuroCrim Conference, 8-10 September 2021, Online. (Unpublished)
Karathanasopoulou, Evangelia and Williams, Helen (2021) Disembodiment and The Heart: Podcasting as a Safe Space for the Discussion of Intimate Embodied Experience. In: Oral History and The Media, 9 July 2021, University of Bournemouth, USA. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Jobe, Alison (2021) Incredible Witnesses: Exploring barriers to justice for people with learning disabilities who have experienced sexual violence. In: BSC Annual Conference, 7-9 July 2021, Online. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2021) Apprehension, anxiety and awkwardness: transitioning to Higher Education and the implications for student retention. In: First International Practice Focused Research in Education Conference (IPFREC), 5-8 July 2021, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Quaid, Sheila and Williams, Helen (2021) Troubling Knowledges and Difficult Pedagogical Moments for Students Learning. In: Knowledge Exchange for Learning and Teaching in HE |Three Rivers Conference, 25 June 2021, Online. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2021) Apprehension, anxiety and awkwardness: transitioning to Higher Education and the implications for student retention. In: Third Annual FES Staff Research Conference: Professions-Facing, 14 June 2021, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Williams, Helen (2021) Incredible Witnesses: Barriers to justice for people with learning disabilities. In: Centre for Applied Social Sciences Public Lecture Series, 24 Feb 2021, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Other
Williams, Helen (2022) Evolve: Evaluation Report. UNSPECIFIED. (Unpublished)
My areas of expertise include sexual violence, particularly among vulnerable groups, and police responses to complainants of sexual offences. I am interested in the influence of societal inequalities on vulnerability to crime or criminality and media representations of crime, criminals, and victims.
As an interdisciplinary scholar, I am experienced in research that spans criminology, sociology, health and social care, education, media studies, children and young people, cultural studies, and policy analysis.
