Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Imprisonment, effects of imprisonment, prison-based parenting programmes, penal reform, penal policy, desistance, reintegration, conflict, criminological psychology and social media related crimes.
Research Statement
My research background is in criminological psychology and imprisonment. Criminological psychology involves understanding why people engage in crime, how society reacts to and manages criminal behaviour and how individuals begin to leave behind a criminal career. In recent years, I have been involved in investigating the outcomes people experience in prison, penal policy and prison-based parenting programmes. Additionally, I have examined the experiences of those with complex needs, how the imprisonment of parents/caregivers may affect children and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the challenges involved in dealing with social media related crimes. I have also been involved in projects assessing how a history of conflict may affect penal reform, desistance and reintegration.
I have supervised a number of PhD students and would encourage prospective PhD students to contact me to discuss their proposals.
Current PhD Students
Mohammed Al-Dosari - A critical understanding and investigation into the impact of the use of Snapchat by Qatari youth and its effect on the culture of Qatar
Hannah Blair - Exploring late-diagnosed ADHD within the desistance process.
Elliot Bowden - Media representations of deaths in prison: A critical analysis.
Karen Johnson - Developing a measure of desistance self-narrative.
Kirsten McGregor - Assessing the feasibility and viability of Restorative Justice interventions for serious sexual offending.
Xiang Long Cheng - Investigating the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and substance use in an Asian offender sample: Mediating effects of early maladaptive schemas and social histories and its link to desistance.
Past PhD Students
Kelly Huie - Self-disclosure on Snapchat stories and experiences of harm and victimisation.
Daniel McFadden - Social support, trauma and mental wellbeing experiences of imprisoned men in Northern Ireland.
Sinead Meade – “You have to be fluid”. Prison officer types, perceived quality of staff-prisoner relationships, and staff burnout in the Irish Prison Service.
Abdullah Al Habsi - Cyber security on social media: The self-disclosure of sensitive private information and risk of online blackmail on WhatsApp in Oman.
Keira Flanagan - Unlocking potential and learning to desist: Exploring the transformation of a Young Offenders Centre into a Secure College.
Aimee Muirhead - Behind closed doors: A study of cell-sharing, wellbeing and coping in prison.
Shane Bell - Doing desistance in divided neighbourhoods: The role of conflict affected neighbourhoods.
Lauren Hogg – The impact of state intervention on the work of community-based restorative justice projects in Northern Ireland.
Annemarie Millar - Policing incidents of domestic abuse involving children: Children's and police officers' experience.
Julie Harris - Initiations and transitions to and from injecting drug use and heroin use.
Teaching
Punishment, Penal Policy and Prison (CRM3001)
Psychological Perspectives on Crime (CRM3005)
Reintegration After Prison (CRM3008)
Educational Qualifications
BA in Psychology, University College Dublin
MSc in Forensic Psychology, University of Kent
PhD in Criminology, University of Cambridge
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching, Queen's University Belfast
Particulars
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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R3274SES: Over-representation in the Youth Justice System
McAlister, S. (PI), Butler, M. (CoI), Corr, M.-L. (CoI) & McNamee, C. (CoI)
05/03/2021 → …
Project: Research
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R2583SES: The relationship Between alcohol and mental health problems : A rapid review of evidence
Campbell, A. (PI), Butler, M. (CoI), Davidson, G. (CoI) & McLaughlin, A. (CoI)
19/03/2019 → …
Project: Research
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R4781SES: Using the voluntary sector to provide services to children and families with complex needs - revised
Butler, M. (PI), Hayes, D. (CoI), McLaughlin, A. (CoI) & Percy, A. (CoI)
08/12/2016 → …
Project: Research
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R3219SES: Promoting peace and equitable access to sustainable health and wellbeing? The response to COVID-19 in Colombian prisons.
Butler, M. (PI)
14/09/2020 → 30/11/2021
Project: Research
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R3223BSC: Post-conflict impact on sustainability in Colombian artisanal mining communities
Kumaresan, D. (PI), Butler, M. (CoI), Doherty, R. (CoI), Rebelo, P. (CoI), Ruffell, A. (CoI), Thomson, A. (CoI) & Zhang, M. (CoI)
18/08/2020 → 30/11/2021
Project: Research
Research output
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Blackmail and the self-disclosure of sensitive information on social media: Prevalence, victim characteristics and reporting behaviours amongst Omani WhatsApp users
Al Habsi, A., Butler, M. & Percy, A., 20 Jun 2024, In: Security Journal. 37, 2, p. 245-263 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)88 Downloads (Pure) -
EXCITE: EXploring the enhancement of Cyber security training through Immersive TEchnology
Scott-Hayward, S., Butler, M. & Parsons, C., 28 Dec 2024, Advances in teaching and learning for cyber security education. Legg, P., Coull, N. & Clarke, C. (eds.). Springer Nature Switzerland, p. 96-115 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
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Exploring the factors influencing prison incentive scheme status among adult males: a prospective longitudinal study
Butler, M., McNamee, C. B. & Kelly, D., Nov 2024, In: European Journal of Criminology. 21, 6, p. 887-907 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)48 Downloads (Pure) -
Identifying trends and patterns in offending and victimization on Snapchat: a rapid review
Huie, K., Butler, M. & Percy, A., Sept 2024, In: Security Journal. 37, 3, p. 903-920 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile41 Downloads (Pure) -
Investigating dual harm and misconduct in Northern Ireland: a 1‐year follow‐up
Butler, M., Kelly, D. & McNamee, C. B., Feb 2024, In: Legal and Criminological Psychology. 29, 1, p. 32-47 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile37 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Nominated for QUB Personal Tutor of the Year Award 2012
Butler, M. (Recipient), 2012
Prize: Other distinction
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Nominated for QUB PhD Supervisory Excellence Award 2015
Butler, M. (Recipient), May 2015
Prize: Other distinction
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Nominated for QUB PhD Supervisory Excellence Award 2016
Butler, M. (Recipient), 13 Apr 2016
Prize: Other distinction
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Nominated for QUB PhD Supervisory Excellence Award 2018
Butler, M. (Recipient), 25 Apr 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Nominated for QUB Staff Excellence Award in the 'Outstanding Leadership' category 2017
Butler, M. (Recipient), 21 Dec 2016
Prize: Other distinction
Activities
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Scott Ronis
Butler, M. (Host)
02 May 2024 → 30 Jun 2024Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting an academic visitor
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Cyprian Misinde
Butler, M. (Host)
22 Apr 2024 → 28 Apr 2024Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting an academic visitor
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Student site visit by the Belfast Metropolitan College
Butler, M. (Host)
29 Feb 2024Activity: Other activity types › Hosting a delegation or group
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Legal and Criminological Psychology (Journal)
Butler, M. (Peer reviewer)
2024Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
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Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice (Journal)
Butler, M. (Peer reviewer)
2024Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
Press/Media
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Catholic kids four times more likely to be jailed than Protestant children in Northern Ireland, figures reveal
McAlister, S., McNamee, C., Corr, M.-L. & Butler, M.
06/10/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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A get-out-of-jail card for Executive over dilemma of separating prisoners
03/11/2016
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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What is happening with healthcare in Northern Ireland prisons?
27/10/2016
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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What is happening to healthcare in Northern Ireland prisons?
20/10/2016
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment