Mateja Vuk

• PhD in Criminology & Criminal Justice
• Lecturer at University of Hertfordshire

This report is commissioned by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales. It examines whether the guidelines published by the Council have the potential to cause disparities in sentencing, and whether the guideline development and revision processes are inclusive enough. The guidelines on three types of offences were sampled: robbery, theft and...

The literature suggests that individual characteristics of offenders are related to cognitive patterns before their release from prison. Empirical evidence shows that such cognitions can influence the extent to which offenders take an active role in rehabilitation. Given that many studies upon which these conclusions are made are dated, qualitative...

Minority threat theory and existing research show that public attitudes towards certain types of offenders (e.g. ethnic and racial minorities) are often more punitive. Research also reveals that a significant proportion of the public associates the increase of immigration with higher crime rates. Negative attitudes, as well as an overall anti-immig...

Previous research indicates that people ascribe less responsibility to juvenile offenders than adult offenders for the crimes they have committed. Although assignment of responsibility to parents varies depending upon the youth’s age, we know little about the role of other factors. The current study used randomized factorial vignettes to examine wh...

Although prior investigations have not been designed to assess the issue directly and thoroughly, criminal justice research suggests that the American public supports penal policies that they believe provide utility. The public simultaneously endorses rehabilitation and punishment when they are convinced that these approaches promote general utilit...

Sentencing research suggests that offenders who are more physically attractive are more likely to experience leniency in verdict and sentencing. Additionally, there is evidence that other extralegal factors, such as race, influence public and juror opinions on criminality and the appropriate punishment of criminal defendants. Much research on attra...

Current research and the social threat theory indicate that the general public is by and large more punitive towards particular groups of offenders (i.e., ethnic minorities). Research also shows that a substantial part of the general public in Europe consistently connects expansion of immigration with an increase in crime. Negative viewpoint toward...

A growing body of literature explores how participation in programming in correctional institutions predicts inmate misconduct. Theory and extant research suggest that engagement in structured and prosocial activities promotes positive behavioral and emotional outcomes, while idleness has a negative impact on inmate behavior and well-being. However...

A growing body of literature explores how participation in programming in correctional institutions predicts inmate misconduct. Theory and extant research suggest that engagement in structured and prosocial activities promotes positive behavioral and emotional outcomes, while idleness has a negative impact on inmate behavior and well-being. However...

n contemporary society, crime is a phenomenon most commonly studied in relation to certain types of offenders. Criminal offenders who are of particular interest to social scientists are sex offenders. Given that the unique characteristics of the criminal career of sex offenders are still largely unexplored, this poster will show results of the stud...

Prior research has established the public recognizes the obstacles former prisoners’ face upon release from prison, and they support various offender reentry services. Still, we do not have a solid understanding of what affects public opinion on prisoner reentry nor is it clear that support for policies also extends to individuals’ willingness to e...

While literature suggests that parenting has direct and indirect effects on gang membership, mediating effects have been established for the relationship between unidimensional parenting variables and gang involvement. This study fills the gap in the literature by examining how multidimensional parenting styles affect gang membership, and which fac...