Paula Hamilton

Paula Hamilton is a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, affiliated with the Sheffield Institute of Law and Justice and the Social and Economic Research Institute. She leads the MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice Practice program and teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate modules. Her research focuses on gendered crime, penology, criminal justice policy, desistance from crime, and qualitative methods like narrative inquiry.

Education: She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics from Liverpool University, where she received the John Patterson Undergraduate Scholarship. In 1999, she earned a Community Justice degree from Manchester University during her Probation Officer training. Before joining Sheffield Hallam in 2004, she worked as a Probation Officer and lecturer in Criminology at Manchester University.

Research Interests & Projects: Paula explores how individuals desist from criminal lifestyles, the role of rehabilitative interventions, and women’s experiences within criminal justice systems. Her doctoral work examined men’s lived experiences of desistance using narrative inquiry. At Sheffield Hallam, she has led contract research projects, including evaluations of domestic violence services and help lines’ efficacy.

Awards: She received the University Inspirational Teaching Award (2011/12) for her contributions to education.

Grants & Supervision: Paula has held various academic and administrative roles and oversees undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation supervision. Her work integrates policy analysis, qualitative methodologies, and interdisciplinary perspectives to address penal reform and gendered violence.

Labs/Teams: She is part of the Social and Economic Research Institute and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects related to criminal justice reform and community justice initiatives.