Hannah Smithson

Professor Hannah Smithson is a distinguished academic at Manchester Metropolitan University, holding the position of Professor of Criminology and Youth Justice within the Applied Social Science Research department. She is the founding Director of the internationally renowned Manchester Centre for Youth Studies and serves as a Member of the Centre for Youth Justice Research. Professor Smithson coordinates REF UoA 20 and has established herself as a leading expert in youth justice through her innovative research approaches.

With over 25 years of experience in criminology, Professor Smithson specializes in youth justice, particularly working with children and young people in contact with the justice system. Her research focuses on children's participation in youth justice systems, serious violence, children's rights, and children in custody. She pioneered the use of participatory and creative research methods to produce youth-informed and youth-led research outputs. Her work has been instrumental in shaping national and international agendas across these interconnected areas. Professor Smithson is the co-convenor of the award-winning Greater Manchester Youth Justice Partnership, which developed the transformative Participatory Youth Practice (PYP) framework - the first to be co-created with justice-involved children based on their lived experiences.

Professor Smithson's research portfolio demonstrates a consistent focus on understanding and improving youth justice systems through direct engagement with young people. Her recent work has particularly addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth justice, children's mental health in custody, and the development of trauma-informed approaches to serious youth violence. She has made significant contributions to understanding how participatory methods can transform justice practices and create meaningful change in the lives of justice-involved children.

• 2021 Award for International Excellence from The International Journal of Sport and Society
• 2020 Finalist KTP 'Best of the Best Awards' for societal impact (Innovate UK)
• 2019 Times Higher Award for KTP Project of the Year
• 2018 Finalist GMYJUP 'Organisation of the Year' Criminal Justice Alliance Awards
• Chancellors Fellowship with the Centre for Young Lives 2024-2025
• Visiting Fellow Centre for Young Lives with Baroness Anne Longfield CBE 2024-present

Professor Smithson actively supervises PhD students working on diverse aspects of youth justice, including racially minoritized children's experiences, linguistic prejudice in the justice system, and appropriate adult practices. She has secured substantial research funding from various sources including UKRI, Innovate UK, Manchester City Council, the Home Office, and charitable organizations. Her current projects include 'Child Centred Justice' (2025-2028), evaluating alternative to custodial remand, and studying young people's perceptions of hot spot policing. She serves on numerous advisory boards including the Probation Chief Inspector's Expert Advisory Group and the Alliance for Youth Justice.

As Director of the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies, Professor Smithson leads a team dedicated to revolutionizing youth justice practice by treating children involved in the criminal justice system as experts in their own lives. The Centre's work through the Greater Manchester Youth Justice Partnership has created significant impact on practice, policy, and most importantly, on the lives of justice-involved children themselves.