Lecturer in Criminology, SFHEA
I joined the University in 2020. I teach in the School of Social Sciences at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As a Lecturer in Criminology, I primarily teach BSc (Hons) Criminology, MSc in Inequality and Society, and MSc Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing. I am also the current Personal Academic Tutor for BSC Criminology (first-year, Level 4 students).
I completed a BA (Hons) in Sociology in 2013 – 2016 (University of Sunderland), a Masters in Sociology in Social Research in 2016 – 2017 (Newcastle University), and a PGCert in Higher Education 2022 – 2023 (University of Sunderland), along with Senior Fellowship status (SFHEA) with the Advance HE in September 2023. I have since returned to Newcastle University as a part-time PhD student in the Geography, Politics, and Sociology department, exploring and applying a sociological response to police custody settings and contexts.
I am currently interested in topics exploring vulnerability, legitimacy, and power in the criminal justice system, including how the term ‘vulnerability’ is understood and navigated in police custody suites in the UK. I am currently a co-investigator on a UKRI Policy Support-funded project exploring the experiences of trans and non-binary people in custody in the UK and a research partner on a project adopting an institutional ethnographic approach. Other works include applying an intersectional lens to gender and age in relation to the current human rights situation for transgender and non-binary populations in the UK.
Outside of my role in the Criminology team, I am the current Scheme Manager for the Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult Scheme and a member of the Board of Directors for the National Appropriate Adult Network since October 2023. My roles in practice underpin my research interests and I enjoy working on projects that can produce/encourage knowledge exchange and developments to practice. Through this, I can include my practice and academic experience in my teaching to support learning and curriculum development.
Prior to joining the University, I positioned myself in roles including implementing EDI support into business units, support work for gender-diverse young people, working as an education officer within a human rights organisation, and working in legal research on domestic and international research projects.
Teaching and supervision
I currently teach across social sciences on BSc Criminology, MSc Inequality and Society, and MSc Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing. I also supervise dissertations in Criminology.
I am the module leader for:
- CRM101 - Criminology Theories, Trends, and Myths
- CRM103 – The Youth Paradox: Criminological Perspectives of Young People
- LCPM08 – Practitioner and Lived Experience Perspectives in Criminal Justice
You will find me teaching across:
- CRM101 – Criminology Theories, Trends, and Myths
- CRM103 – The Youth Paradox: Criminological Perspectives of Young People
- LCPM08 – Practitioner and Lived Experience Perspectives in Criminal Justice
- SOC232 – Researching Society: Private, Public and Third Sector Organisations
- SOC233 – Researching Society with Placement
- SSCM25 – Inequalities, Diversity, and Intersectionality: Theory and Practice
- SOC332 – Social Science Undergraduate Dissertation
- SOC333 – Social Science Work-Based Dissertation
- SSCM26 – Inequality and Society Dissertation
Research interests for potential research students
- Vulnerability
- Transgender and non-binary support
- The medicalisation of the bodies
- The role of the Appropriate Adult
Research
Supporting Staff to Research
This project (in collaboration with Dr Nicola Roberts) adopts an institutional ethnography approach to analyse institutional texts and 'work knowledge' to inquire how an HEI can best support staff to research.
Exploring the experiences of trans and non-binary people in custody in the UK: implications for policy and practice)
This project (in collaboration with Dr Helen Williams) will explore the experiences of trans and non-binary people in relation to being processed within a custody suite. Trans and non-binary people face unique challenges within custody. A person’s rights and treatment are based on the custody officer involved and their understanding and decision-making around gender identity. We will gather the perceptions and experiences of people with lived experience and practitioners within custody to explore how guidance from governmental bodies is negotiated by officers, and how this is experienced by individuals.
Continuity of Appropriate Adult Services for Vulnerable Suspects During the Covid-19 Pandemic
This paper (in collaboration with Dr Donna Peacock and Samantha Reveley) draws upon qualitative data collected from providers of AA services to develop an understanding of the impact of Covid-19 on service provision. We conclude that while demand during the pandemic remained at a similar level, the availability of volunteer AAs was impacted, and that PPE provision was inconsistent.
Social Science Placement Research Project
This project (in collaboration with Dr Liz Henry) will use a mixed methods approach to explore the experiences and initiatives behind choosing a social science placement to feed into supporting provisions in future for students, staff, and providers.
Nightstop
For this project, I worked as a research assistant for Dr Lesley Deacon and Dr Sarah Lonbay on a project to support a third-sector organisation. The role includes designing a data collection tool that will explore awareness, service usage, and procurement processes.
I am also currently applying to start a PhD which aims to unpack the term ‘vulnerability’ and the mechanisms impacted by it.
Past research
My master's dissertation explored the ways in which medical diagnoses reinforce heteronormativity. Using the sociology of diagnosis, this body of work analysed the reification of binary coding upon bodies and the nosological approaches cast upon social identities.
Publications
Reports, briefing/ working papers
Connelly, Sarah and Naisby, Lauren (2024) Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult Scheme Executive Summary 2022 - 2023. Project Report. University of Sunderland, Sunderland. (Submitted)
Durey, Matthew and Connelly, Sarah (2024) Disciplines divided: an exploration of the condition of taught UK social science. Project Report. UNSPECIFIED. (Unpublished)
Deacon, Lesley, Lonbay, Sarah and Connelly, Sarah (2023) Understanding Referral Processes for Responding to Youth Homelessness. Project Report. UNSPECIFIED. (Unpublished)
Reveley, Samantha, Connelly, Sarah and Peacock, Donna (2021) Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult Scheme Annual Evaluation 2021. Other. Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, Newcastle. (Submitted)
Conference or Workshop Item
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, Hayter, Sacha, Naisby, Lauren and Davidson, Keeley (2024) Digging deep: Unpacking student success stories in relation to working across collaborative partnerships. In: UoS Inclusive Learning Festival, 17th Sep 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: 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 and Connelly, Sarah (2024) Supporting staff to research in a post-1992 teaching-intensive university: an institutional ethnography. In: Sixth Annual Faculty of Education and Society Conference, Interdisciplinarity and Collaboration, 10 Jun 2024, University of Sunderland.
Connelly, Sarah (2024) What is the role of the appropriate adult? In: Seeing and Treating Neurodiverse Individuals in the Criminal Justice System, 14 Mar 2024, Online. (Unpublished)
Connelly, Sarah (2023) ‘Public Benefit’ or the ‘Corrosion of Public Discourse’? – An Intersectional Analysis of the Human Rights of Trans and Non-Binary People in the U.K. In: #SaferToBeMe Symposium: Online Satellite Events, University of Sunderland | ReportOUT. (Unpublished)
Connelly, Sarah (2023) An intersectional analysis into gender and age in relation to choice and support. In: CASS Public Lectures, 24th May 2023, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Connelly, Sarah (2023) How are the ‘forgotten group’ in the cost-of-living crisis constructing capital volunteering in the criminal justice system? An exploration into opportunity, inclusion, and the practice knowledge acquired by working-class students in the Northeast of England. In: Faculty of Education and Society Fifth Annual Staff Research Conference: Economic and Social Inclusion, 12th June 2023, University of Sunderland. (Submitted)
Connelly, Sarah and Naisby, Lauren (2023) Reflections on the Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult Scheme 2023. In: DisCrim: (UKRI) Violence Abuse and Mental Health Network, 12th March 2023, University of Sunderland. (Submitted)
Reveley, Samantha, Connelly, Sarah and Peacock, Donna (2022) COVID-19 AND POLICE CUSTODY: �COMPOUNDING VULNERABILITY AMONG APPROPRIATE ADULT SERVICE USERS. In: EUROCRIM Conference Malaga 2022, 21-24 September 2022, Malaga.
Reveley, Samantha, Connelly, Sarah and Peacock, Donna (2022) COVID-19 and Police Custody: Compounding Vulnerability Among Appropriate Adult Service Users. In: British Society of Criminology Annual Conference, Reimagining Criminological Futures: New Criminologies in a Changing World, 29th June-1st July, 2022, University of Surrey. (Unpublished)
Quaid, Sheila and Connelly, Sarah (2021) Visual Research Practice and Sociology Teaching: Sociology Theory and the Use of Cinematic Film. In: Professions-Facing 3rd Annual Faculty of Education and Society Staff Research Conference, 14 Jun 2021, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Audio
Connelly, Sarah (2021) ReportOUT, Hidden Voices Podcast: Series 2: United Kingdom. [Audio] (Submitted)
- Intersectionality
- Experiences of trans and non-binary people online and offline
- The role of appropriate adult provisions as a safeguarding protocol in custody
- Discourse around the term ‘vulnerability’
- Qualitative research methods
- Quantitative research methods