Dr John Taggart is a Lecturer in Law at Queens' University, Belfast. Since Septemer 2024, he has been Director of the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ).

He holds a first class honours degree in Law from Queen's, a Certificate in Professional Legal Practice from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (QUB), an LLM (distinction) from City University London and a PhD in Law from the London School of Economics (LSE). John is a member of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland (2013 call) and a member of Lincoln's Inn (2015 call). John is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Dr Taggart's research focuses on the criminal process, criminal justice and socio-legal approaches to criminal law. In particular, John's research looks at special measures in criminal courts and the role of the intermediary as a communication specialist for vulnerable court users.

John is the theme lead for the 'Vulnerable Accused' as part of the British Society of Criminology Vulnerability Research Network. He also co-convenes the 'Vulnerable Suspects and Defendants work-in-progress forum'.

John has held a visiting scholarship at the Oñati Institute for the Sociology of Law (Instituto Internacional de Sociología Jurídica de Oñati). He has also been a member of NETPRALAT: cross-border lawyers (EU Justice Programme) and the Coeus Legal Research Group into Sexual and Domestic Violence.

John has presented his work to various academic and non-academic organsiations including the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Justice of Northern Ireland, Intermediaries for Justice (charity) and the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. He has recently collaborated with the Departments of Justice of Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania as well as the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Human Rights Commission.

John's current research project focuses on the conceptualisation of the right to 'effective participation' in police custody. As part of this project, John is collaborating with the Department of Justice of Northern Ireland (DOJ), the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Public Prosectution Service of Northern Ireland (PPS).

Dr Taggart is the module convenor for Sentencing Law (LAW3073). He also teaches undergraduate (LAW1021, LAW2060) and postgraduate (LAW3121) criminal law.

Dr Taggart is the Mooting Officer within the School of Law.

John speaks Spanish to B2 level of fluency.