Jane Richards

Dr. Jane Richards is a Lecturer in Law at York Law School, University of York, since 2022. She holds a BA, LLB (Hons) from UNSW, and a PhD from The University of Hong Kong. She is also a Non-Resident Fellow at The Centre for Criminology, The University of Hong Kong, and a Solicitor (NSW, non-practicing). Her research focuses on human rights in criminal law, particularly the rights of people with mental disabilities and the application of international human rights frameworks in common law jurisdictions.

Her key projects include analyzing the insanity defense through a disability rights lens, exploring judicial removal for incapacity, and examining the impact of Hong Kong’s National Security Law on children’s rights. She co-leads interdisciplinary projects on drug policy and death penalty reforms in Southeast Asia.

Dr. Richards is active in external activities, including parliamentary briefings on Hong Kong human rights, podcast hosting on legal scholarship, and contributions to organizations like The Constitution Society. She teaches undergraduate courses on Criminal Law and International Human Rights Law and is launching a Disability Rights Legal Clinic in 2024.