Tom Brown

Tom Brown is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Sheffield Hallam University, affiliated with the College of Social Sciences and Arts and the Sheffield Institute of Law and Justice. He holds BSc Hons and BA Hons degrees. His teaching focuses on the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP) and Criminology Undergraduate Programmes, including the Social Enterprise module.

Research interests include Probation in Objects, the impact of the pandemic on probation practices, barriers to entering probation careers, and substance misuse recovery. He has contributed to studies on probation adaptations during the pandemic and recruitment strategies for probation officers. His work appears in journals like Probation Quarterly and book chapters addressing policy responses to crises in criminal justice.

Prior to academia, Brown served 10 years as a Probation Officer in Sheffield, specializing in prolific offending teams and drug rehabilitation. He led initiatives like the 'Guns and Gangs' program and mentored probation trainees as a Practice Tutor Assessor.

He is part of the Social and Economic Research Institute, collaborating on projects such as Probation in 40 Objects and exploring pathways to improve access to probation careers. His work bridges practical experience in criminal justice with academic research and education.