Dr Angela Sorsby

School of Law

Lecturer in Criminology

Angela Sorsby
Profile picture of Angela Sorsby
A.Sorsby@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6809

Full contact details

Dr Angela Sorsby
School of Law
Bartolome虂 House
Winter Street
91探花
S3 7ND
Profile

As an undergraduate I studied psychology at the University of Liverpool. Then, after spending a couple of years working in Paris, I came to the University of 91探花 to undertake an ESRC funded PhD within the psychology department which I completed in 1991.

At that time I also taught 鈥楢鈥 level psychology. I then worked as a freelance researcher, first on projects for the Institute of Work Psychology and then, since 1993 mostly on projects for the School of Law at the University of 91探花.

I have worked on a large number of research projects which have spanned a number of areas. I was appointed as a Lecturer in Criminology in 2014.

Much of my research work has been evaluation research, evaluating initiatives for the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.

A substantial proportion of my work has involved the management and analysis of large quantities of data: designing databases suitable for both case management and research purposes, multivariate statistics and multilevel modelling.

Recent projects on which I have worked, together with other members of the School, include evaluating the impact of a training programme intended to improve the skills of probation staff in relation to engaging with offenders, which we have evaluated both in England and later in Romania and a major evaluation of Restorative Justice schemes in England.

Qualifications
  • PhD, University of 91探花
  • BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Liverpool
Research interests
  • Quantitative methods
  • Disproportionality in sentencing
  • Probation supervision
  • Evaluating initiatives
  • Police Custody and Police Legitimacy
  • Restorative justice
Publications

Books

  • Shapland J, Robinson G & Sorsby A (2011) Restorative Justice in Practice. London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download

Journal articles

  • Skinns L, Sorsby A & Rice L (2020) . British Journal of Criminology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sorsby A (2018) . Policing and Society, 28(6), 746-748. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Skinns L, Sprawson A, Sorsby A, Smith R & Wooff A (2017) Police custody delivery in the twenty-first century in England and Wales : current arrangements and their implications for patterns of policing. European Journal of Policing Studies, 4(3), 325-348. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sorsby AJ, Shapland J & Robinson G (2017) . Criminology and Criminal Justice, 17(1), 40-61. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Dignan J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G, Shapland J & Sorsby A (2007) . Criminology & Criminal Justice, 7(1), 5-32. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Colledge E, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G & Sorsby A (2006) . Theoretical Criminology, 10(4), 505-532. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Martlew M & Sorsby A (1995) . Learning and Instruction, 5(1), 1-19. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sorsby A & Martlew M (1994) . British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 12(3), 351-364. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sorsby AJ & Martlew M (1991) . Journal of Child Language, 18(2), 373-395. RIS download Bibtex download

Chapters

  • Sorsby A, Shapland J & Durnescu I (2017) Promoting quality in probation supervision and policy transfer: Evaluating the SEED1 programme in Romania and England, Evidence-Based Skills in Criminal Justice: International Research on Supporting Rehabilitation and Desistance (pp. 193-216). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Sorsby A, Farrall S & Priede C (2016) , Parole and Beyond (pp. 19-47). Palgrave Macmillan UK RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Chapman B, Colledge E, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G & Sorsby AJ (2005) International cooperation on the implementation of restorative justice in Poland and Great Britain: research In Miers D (Ed.), Report on the papers given at the seminar held at the Home Office, 5-8 April 2005. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Martlew M & Sorsby AJ (1994) Functional graphic representation: pictures and symbols. In Faure C, Keuff P, Lorette G & Vinter A (Ed.), Advances in Handwriting and Drawing: a Multidisciplinary Approach Paris: Europia. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Durnescu I () Routledge RIS download Bibtex download

Reports

  • Sorsby A, Shapland JM & Durnescu I (2014) External evaluation of the Skills for Effective Engagement and Development (SEED) project in Romania: STREAM Final Report Workstream 2 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Dignan J, Edwards L, Hibbert J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G & Sorsby A (2008) Does restorative justice affect reconviction? The fourth report from the evaluation of three schemes. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Chapman B, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson GJ & Sorsby A (2007) Restorative Justice: The Views of Victims and Offenders: The Third Report from the Evaluation of Three Schemes RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland JM, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Chapman B, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G & Sorsby A (2007) Restorative justice: the views of victims and offenders. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland JM, Atkinson A, Atkinson H, Chapman B, Colledge E, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Robinson G & Sorsby A (2006) Restorative justice in practice: findings from the second stage of the evaluation of three schemes RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Atkinson A, Colledge E, Dignan J, Howes M, Johnstone J, Pennant R, Robinson G & Sorsby AJ (2004) Implementing restorative justice schemes (Crime Reduction Programme): a report on the first year. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sorsby AJ & Shapland J (2003) The Junior Bar in 2002 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland JM, Johnstone J, Sorsby A, Stubbing T, Hibbert J, Howes M, Jackson J & Colledge E (2003) Evaluation of statutory time limit pilot schemes in the youth court RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Sorsby AJ & Hibbert J (2002) A civil justice audit RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kemp V, Sorsby AJ, Liddle M & Merrington S (2002) Assessing responses to youth offending in Northamptonshire RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J & Sorsby AJ (2001) Alternative pupillage: the issues RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J & Sorsby AJ (2000) The Junior Bar in 1997 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Dignan J & Sorsby AJ (1999) Resolving Neighbour Disputes through mediation in Scotland RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J & Sorsby AJ (1998) Good Practice in Pupillage RIS download Bibtex download
  • Dignan J, Sorsby AJ & Hibbert J (1996) Neighbour disputes: comparing the cost effectiveness of mediation and alternative approaches RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J & Sorsby AJ (1995) Responding to Victims of Domestic Violence RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J & Sorsby AJ (1995) Starting Practice: Work and Training at the Junior Bar RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shapland J, Hibbert J, l'Anson J, Sorsby AJ & Wild R (1995) Milton Keynes Criminal Justice Audit. RIS download Bibtex download

Website content

  • Shapland J & Sorsby AJ (1996) Professional Bodies Communications with Members and Clients. RIS download Bibtex download
Research group

Areas of Research Supervision

  • Quantitative research methods and statistics
  • Restorative justice
  • Probation supervision
  • Desistance from crime
  • Training of criminal justice practitioners
Grants

Title/Description: Evaluating Skills for Effective Engagement and Development (SEED) in Romania

  • Awarding Body: European Commission
  • People Involved: Joanna Shapland, Angela Sorsby, Ioan Durnescu (University of Bucharest)
  • Dates: 2013-2014
  • Amount: Approx. 拢51,000

Title/Description: Evaluating Skills for Effective Engagement and Development (SEED)

  • Awarding Body: National Offender Management Service
  • People Involved: Joanna Shapland, Angela Sorsby, Stephen Farrall, Gwen Robinson, Camilla Priede and Fergus McNeill (Glasgow University)
  • Dates: 2011-2014
  • Amount: Approx. 拢180,000

Title/Description: Evaluation of Restorative Justice Schemes

  • Awarding Body: Home Office
  • People Involved: Joanna Shapland, Angela Sorsby, Gwen Robinson, Anne Atkinson, Helen Atkinson, Emily Colledge, James Dignan, Jeremy Hibbert, Marie Howes, and Jennifer Johnstone, (together with Becca Chapman and Rachel Pennant of the Home Office, and NFO Europe Social Research)
  • Dates: 2001-2007
  • Amount: Approx. 拢1,300,000
Teaching interests

The areas in which I teach are related to my research interests. I try as much as possible to integrate my own research into my teaching, illustrating for example issues involved in conducting research with examples from my own work, which helps to bring the material alive.

I try, through various exercises, to stimulate active engagement with the material to help to promote a more in-depth understanding.

Teaching activities

The modules I teach are: 

Undergraduate

  • Analysing Crime Data (Convenor)
  • Criminology Research Project (Convenor)
  • Introducing Criminological Research

Postgraduate

  • Qualitative and quantitative research methods
Professional activities and memberships

I have undertaken consultancy work for 91探花 City Council, NACRO and Remedi.

Recent invited papers and keynote lectures

  • Invited talk (with Layla Skinns), Good practice benchmarks: consultation and next steps (with Angela Sorsby), National Custody Forum, University of 91探花, 27 November 2018
  • Invited talk (with Layla Skinns), 鈥楽eeing the light: findings from the 鈥榞ood鈥 police custody study on why conditions matter, Public engagement event, Festival of Social Sciences, Lifewise Centre, Rotherham, 7 November 2018
  • Invited talk (with  with Layla Skinns), Making a difference to detainees: predictors of detainee perceptions of the quality of treatment, National Custody Forum, University of 91探花, 14-15 May 2018
  • Invited talk (with Layla Skinns ), Phase 3 of the 鈥榞ood鈥 police custody study: findings update, National Custody Forum hosted by the University of 91探花, 10-11 October 2017
  • Invited talk (with  with Layla Skinns), Early findings from the 鈥榞ood鈥 police custody study Phase 3 survey, National Custody Forum hosted by Warwick University, 16 May 2017,