Dr Lesley Simmonds

Biography

Lesley Simmonds worked as a Senior Lecturer on the undergraduate and postgraduate Criminology and Criminal Justice programmes. Lesley's role included promoting employability for students, arranging a range of events which bring students into contact with managers and practitioners from the criminal justice field.

Qualifications

Lesley completed her BSc (Hons) in Social Policy and Criminal Justice at the University of Plymouth. She has since worked as a Lecturer on the Community Justice (Probation Studies) programme, as a part-time Lecturer on a number of criminal justice modules, and as a researcher on a range of projects. Her research includes focusing upon the community response to crime; crime prevention/community safety projects; restorative justice; issues relating to the Crime and Disorder Audit process and evaluating the work of the Needle Exchange Service.

Lesley continued to develop her research on the community response to crime by focusing specifically on the work that Victim Support undertakes. Lesley gained a studentship from the University of Plymouth in order to pursue this. She was awarded her PhD, Matching Provision to Needs: The Example of Victim Support, in 2005.

Roles on external bodies

Article Reviewer:

Lesley has reviewed for the 'International Review of Victimology' and 'Crime Prevention and Community Safety: An International Journal'. Lesley is a member of the Editorial Board for 'Crime Prevention and Community Safety: An International Journal'.

Teaching

Teaching interests

Lesley Simmonds taught mainly at stage two of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies degree programme, teaching quantitative research methods and victims, victimology and restorative justice. Lesley also taught on the MSc Criminology, and supervised a number of PhD students.

Staff serving as external examiners

2008 - 2011 appointed as External at the University of Wales, Newport for Professional Practice.

Research

Research interests

Victims of Crime, victim support service provision and Restorative Justice.

Publications

Journals

Simmonds LA 2018 'The impact of local commissioning on victim services in England and Wales: an empirical study' International Review of Victimology , DOI PEARL

Simmonds LA 2016 'The potential impact of local commissioning on victim services in England and Wales' International Review of Victimology , DOI PEARL

Simmonds L 2013 'Lost in transition? The changing face of Victim Support' International Review of Victimology 19, (2) 201-217 , DOI

James Z & Simmonds L 2013 'Exploring Prejudice: Managing Hate Crime in the South West of England' Crime Prevention and Community Safety 15, (4) 241-257 , DOI

James Z & Simmonds L 2010 'The Advice Needs of Gypsies and Travellers in Plymouth: Final Report' Crimes and Misdemeanours: Deviance and the Law in Historical Perspective 4, (1) 53-56

Simmonds L & Coomber R 2009 'Injecting drug users: A stigmatised and stigmatising population' INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 20, (2) 121-130 Author Site , DOI

Mawby R & Simmonds L 2009 'Assisting victims: The British Model in Comparative Context' Archives of Criminology XXIX-XXX, 555-565

Simmonds L 2009 'What Victims Want! Victim Support, an objective or relative approach to victims' needs' Social and Public Policy Review 3, (2) 1-18

Simmonds L & Mawby R 2004 'Anxiety over crime as spatially defined: public perceptions and policy alternatives in the city centre' Security Journal Vol 17,

Mawby R & Simmonds L 2003 'Homesafing Keyham: an evaluation' Safer Communities 2, (3) 20-30 , DOI

Simmonds L 2001 'Resolving Conflict in the Community: A Case for Mediation?' Crime Prevention and Community Safety 3, (3) 41-52 , DOI

Conference Papers

Simmonds L (2019) ‘The SupportVoC Project: Reflections on the UK model of support’. Final conference for the SupportVoC project, Athens (keynote speaker)

Simmonds L (2018) ‘The impact of local commissioning on victim services in England and Wales’, Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Conference, Melbourne

Simmonds L and Wilkinson T (2011) ‘Supporting Students as Work Based Learners and Volunteers’ Excellence in teaching, the student experience and pedagogic research. Plymouth University: The 9th VC’s Teaching and Learning Conference

James Z and Simmonds L (2011) ‘Exploring Prejudice: Mapping Hate Crime in the South West’. Arresting Hate Crime – statistics, stories and solutions for the South West. Conference organised by Equality South West at three South West venues in December 2011. (invited speakers)

James Z and Simmonds L with CAB (2009) ‘Legal Advice Nees of Gypsies and Travellers.’ Vice Chancellor’s Research and Enterprise Conference: University of Plymouth (Invited Speakers)

James Z and Simmonds L (2009) ‘Wheeling and Dealing: Resolving Complex Research Questions with Hard to Reach Groups. British Society of Criminology Conference, Cardiff

Simmonds L and Coomber R (2007) ‘Injecting Drug Users: A Stigmatised and Stigmatising Population’. British Society of Criminology Conference, Huddersfield

Simmonds L (2003) ‘Victims’ Needs and the Appropriateness of Services Provided’. World Victimology Society, XI th International Symposium on Victimology, Stellenbosch, South Africa, July 2003

Simmonds L (2002) 'Would like to meet? Restorative opportunities for victims and offenders. British Society of Criminology Conference, Keele

Simmonds L and Mawby R (2002) 'Addressing Victims' Needs: An evaluation of Victim Support.' British Society of Criminology Conference, Keele

Simmonds L (2000) 'Conflict in the Community: Arguing the case for community mediation'. British Society of Criminology Conference, Leicester

Reports

Gray PM, Simmonds L & Annison J 2016 The resettlement of women offenders: learning the lessons: a research project focusing on the experience of the female offender. PEARL

Simmonds L (2014) States of Jersey Review of Victim Services. Plymouth: Plymouth University

James Z & Simmonds L 2012 Exploring Prejudice: Mapping Hate Crime in the South West. Research Report Plymouth Plymouth University PEARL

James Z, Simmonds L and Browning R (2008) The Legal Advice Needs of Gypsies and Travellers in Plymouth, Plymouth: University of Plymouth

Coomber R and Simmonds L (2008) Needle Exchanges – Improving Access and Uptake: An evaluation of barriers to effective needle exchange – a case study. Plymouth: Plymouth University

Personal

Conferences organised

Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies Research and Teaching Symposium, 2007, University of Plymouth.

Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies Symposium, 'The Criminological Enterprise: Maximising Impact', May 2009.

Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, Professional Practice Event, November 2013

The CCJS Challenge for Criminology and Criminal Justice Students, February 2014.

Profiles

Visiting Research Fellow

School of Society and Culture (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)