Gavin Dingwall appointed Head of Policy and Communications

Gavin Dingwall has been appointed Head of Policy and Communications at the Sentencing Academy from 4 September 2023. Prior to this, he was Senior Research Fellow from 1 December 2022. During that time he has been engaged in a number of knowledge exchange activities including giving evidence to the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Select Committee, speaking to a cross section of the public
to ascertain their views on the purposes of sentencing and presenting to an international academic audience about sentencing disparity. He has also authored (with Megan Millar) a forthcoming paper on parole which will form the basis of public talks at the University of Durham (11 October 2023) and Cardiff University (18 October 2023). Gavin has extensive experience of working with the media (including the BBC, LBC, and ITV) and has spoken about recent developments in parole with the BBC whilst working at the Academy.

Before working with the Academy, Gavin was an academic for 30 years at Aberystwyth (1992-2005) and De Montfort University (2005-2022). He has held visiting appointments at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (2016) and Flinders University of South Australia (2004) and currently holds visiting positions at King’s College London and the University of Birmingham. Between 2012 and 2022, he was Professor of Criminal Justice Policy at De Montfort University and taught courses in Criminal Law and Sentencing and Punishment.

Gavin has researched extensively in criminal justice and his work includes the following books: Minority Ethnic Prisoners and the Covid-19 Lockdown: Issues,
Impacts and Implications (with Avril Brandon, 2022); Criminal Justice and the Pursuit of Truth (with Tim Hillier, 2021); Blamestorming, Blamemongers and Scapegoats: Allocating Blame in the Criminal Justice Process (with Tim Hillier, 2015); Alcohol and Crime (2006); Crime and Conflict in the Countryside (edited with Susan R. Moody, 1999); Diversion in the Criminal Process (with Chris Harding, 1998).

Commenting on his appointment, Gavin said:
‘I am thrilled to be joining the Sentencing Academy as Head of Policy and Communications. I join at an exciting time. We have had a busy year undertaking and publishing cutting-edge research, working with leading experts, organising public events across the country and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders. We have a full programme of research and events ahead. Anyone interested in sentencing or in the Academy’s work is welcome to contact us.

‘We are delighted to have Gavin on board and value the knowledge and sentencing expertise that he brings with him that will enhance the work of the organisation and will help support the current growth and development of the Sentencing Academy.’”