Dr Rachael Steele
School of Justice Studies
Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
Email: R.H.Steele@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 8720
Dr Rachael Steele is the Subject Lead for Criminal Justice programmes, and programme leader for the BSc in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moores University. A chartered psychologist, Rachael has spent over fifteen years within the Probation Service working with staff and offenders in various capacities, carrying out applied research into subjects as diverse as desistance and impact of cognitive behavioural interventions of reoffending. Rachael teaches forensic psychology at undergraduate level and supervises a range of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations in both topics related to criminal justice and forensic psychology. Rachael has close connections witht he Justice system in her local area, having years of experience with Probation, and now being a serving criminal court Magistrate. These links ensure that Rachael remains aware of the challenges and requirements of the contemporary justice system which reflects in her research and teaching. She is currently the module leader for a level 4 module entitled 'Introduction to forensic psychology' and a level 5 module 'Exploring forensic psychology' which incorporates qualitative research methods. Rachael also works on the newly developed MSc Criminal Psychology and Criminal Justice. Research interests centre around criminal decision making, the impact of psychology on the criminal justice system, and best practice and innovation within all aspects of criminal justice.
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Degrees
2011, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, PhD Offender Decision Making
1998, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, MSc Psychology of Human Potential
1996, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology
Certifications
2017, British Psychological Society, Chartered Psychologist
Academic appointments
Subject Lead for Criminal Justice, School of Justice Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, 2023 - present
Deputy Subject Lead, Criminal Justice, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - present
Programme Manager: BSc Foresnic Psychology and Criminal Justice, Liverpool John Moores University, 2017 - present
Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice, Liverpool John Moores University, 2015 - present
Lecturer in Criminal Justice (sessional), Liverpool John Moores University, 2004 - 2005
Lecturer in Criminology, Liverpool Hope University, 2000 - 2012
Books (authored)
Steele R. 2023. Exploring the Criminal Decision Process: Rational Choice, Irrational Behaviour? Palgrave Macmillan
Chapters
Corteen K, Steele R, Cross N, McManus M. 2023. Contemporary and future concepts and debates in forensic psychology, crime and policing Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing :343-352 Policy Press DOI Publisher Url
Corteen K, Steele R, Cross N, McManus M. 2023. Contemporary and future concepts and debates in forensic psychology, crime and policing Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing :343-352 Policy Press 9781447359388 DOI Publisher Url
Steele R. 2023. Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice Corteen K, Steele R, Cross N, McManus M. Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing
Steele R. 2023. Forensic Psychology. Corteen K, Steele R, Cross N, McManus M. Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing
Steele R. 2023. Forensic Psychology and Future Directions Corteen K, Steele R, Cross N, McManus M. Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing Policy Press
Steele RH. 2017. A history of criminal statistics Turner J, Taylor P, Morley S, Corteen K. A Companion to Crime and Criminal Justice History Policy Press
Steele RH. 2016. Offenders, harm and risk assessment Corteen K, Morley S, Taylor P, Turner J. A companion to crime, harm and victimisation Policy Press. Bristol, UK
Journal article
McManus MA, Steele RH. 2022. Alternative approaches to achieving community safety and well-being across law enforcement and criminal justice: Western European findings Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 7 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Corteen K, Steele RH. 2018. A Criminal Injustice System? Sex Offender Suspects and Defendants Liverpool Law Review, 39 :265-277 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Steele RH. 2016. How offenders make decisions British Journal of Community Justice, 13 :7-20 Publisher Url Public Url
Steele R. 2015. How offenders make decisions: Evidence of rationality British Journal of Community Justice, 13 :7-20
Report
McManus M, Ball E, McElwee J, Astley J, McCoy E, Harrison R, Steele R, Quigg Z, Timpson H, Nolan S. 2022. Shaping the Future of Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements in Wales: What does good look like?
Steele R, Murray E, Ragonese E, Moorhead J. 2018. Evaluation of EFAN Report
Steele RH, Murray ET, Moorhead JAP. Evaluation of the EFAN project
Research Grants Awarded:
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): 2100,, FHE Research Support Fund 2024, Dr Victoria Blinkhprn (Co-I), Paige Barker (Co-I),, Investigating Front Line Workers’ Knowledge and Experiences of Fictitious Disorder Imposed on the Self (FDIS) and Fictitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA).. 2024
Duration of research project: 6 months, Grant value (£): £3,875, Faculty Research Strategy and Knowledge Transfer (LJMU), Dr Victoria Blinkhorn (Co-I), The validation of a new self-report tool to measure Fictitious Disorder (FD) and Fictitious Disorder Imposed onto Another (FDIA). 2024
Duration of research project: 6 months, Grant value (£): 940, The Forensic Research Institute (FORRI), Paige Barker (PI), Dr Victoria Blinkhorn (CI), The validation of a new self-report tool to measure Fictitious Disorder (FD) and Fictitious Disorder Imposed onto Another (FDIA). 2024
Duration of research project: 2, Grant value (£): 15000, Interserve Justice, Ester Ragonese, Emma Murray, Justin Moorhead, Evaluation of the Ex Forces Action Network Project. 2017
External collaboration:
External Examiner, Univeristy of Aberystwyth. 2021
Other Professional Activity:
Criminal Court Magistrate for the Merseyside Area. 2021
Conference presentation:
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Research cafe, Pedagogy and research methods: developing techniques. 2019
Oral presentation, Emerging Human Rights in the 21st century: 70 years after the UDHR, Right to a fair trial? Human rights, cognitive bias and the presumption of guilt.. 2018
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, LJMU Teaching and learning Conference, Teaching research methods: pedagogical techniques to improve student engagement. 2018
Award:
Teaching and Learning Academy, Liverpool John Moores University, Rising star: Recognition of Distinction. 2018
Student Union, Amazing personal tutor award. 2016
Membership of professional bodies:
British Psychological Society, Chartered Psychologist. 2017
Teaching qualification:
FHEA. 2016