Jonathan Hobson

Dr Jonathan Hobson is a Political Sociologist and Research Lead for Social Sciences at the University of Gloucestershire, overseeing Criminology, Criminal Justice, Policing, and Sociology programs. He serves as Convenor of the Society and Learning Research Priority Area, fostering interdisciplinary research and impact initiatives. His expertise lies in Restorative Justice and genocide studies, with fieldwork in Northern Ireland and Sierra Leone. He teaches courses like Crimes against Humanity and Restorative Justice, and holds Senior Fellow status from the Higher Education Academy (2017).

Educations:

• PhD: Democratic Governance Beyond the State (University of Gloucestershire, 2012)
• BA (Hons): Sociological Studies (University of Gloucestershire, 2004)

Research Interests: Conflict reconciliation, restorative practices in schools, police-community relations, post-conflict societies, and international crimes like genocide. His work emphasizes bridging theoretical frameworks with practical applications to address systemic harm at individual and societal levels.

External Contributions: Steering member of Restorative Gloucestershire, advisor to the Metropolitan Police Service on Restorative Justice for violent crime, and external examiner for Newman University’s Applied Social Sciences and SOAS’ Social Sciences programs. He collaborates with organizations like the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Restorative Justice to advance policy and practice.

Awards & Recognition:

• University Teaching Fellow (2017)
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2017)

Grants & Impact: Led evaluations of initiatives like the Gloucester City Safe Scheme and the Gloucestershire Youth Forums. His research informs police strategies, community programs, and policy reforms. Ongoing work explores diversifying the Restorative Justice sector and enhancing its evidence base.

Key Projects: Co-led the Restorative Practices Knowledge Exchange (2019), analyzing community-led justice models. Published widely on restorative approaches in prisons, probation, and youth justice systems, with a focus on reducing recidivism and fostering social equity.