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
Elliot Bowden - Media Representations of Deaths in Prison: A Critical Analysis.
Kelly Huie - Self-disclosure on Snapchat.
Karen Johnson - Developing a measure of desistance self-narrative.
Daniel McFadden - Imprisoned adult men with mental illness in Northern Ireland: The role of social support in recovery.
Kirsten McGregor - Assessing the feasibility and viability of Restorative Justice interventions for serious sexual offending.
Sinead Meade – Effects of prison work in the Irish Prison Service.
Past PhD Students
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
Introducing Criminology (CRM1001)
Punishment, Penal Policy and Prison (CRM3001)
Psychological Perspectives on Crime (CRM3005)
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., Butler, M., Corr, M. & McNamee, C.
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., Butler, M., Davidson, G. & McLaughlin, A.
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., Hayes, D., McLaughlin, A. & Percy, A.
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.
14/09/2020 → 30/11/2021
Project: Research
Research output
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Behind Closed Doors: An Exploration of Cell-Sharing and its Relationship with Wellbeing
Muirhead, A., Butler, M. & Davidson, G., Jan 2023, In: European Journal of Criminology. 20, 1, p. 335-355 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile75 Downloads (Pure) -
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., 22 Apr 2023, (Early online date) In: Security Journal. 32 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Exploring prison misconduct and the factors influencing rule infraction in Northern Ireland
Butler, M., McNamee, C. B. & Kelly, D., Mar 2023, In: European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research. 29, p. 51-70 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile173 Downloads (Pure) -
Identifying trends and patterns in offending and victimization on Snapchat: a rapid review
Huie, K., Butler, M. & Percy, A., 13 Sep 2023, (Early online date) In: Security Journal. 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Investigating dual harm and misconduct in Northern Ireland: a 1‐year follow‐up
Butler, M., Kelly, D. & McNamee, C. B., 07 Sep 2023, (Early online date) In: Legal and Criminological Psychology. 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Nominated for QUB Personal Tutor of the Year Award 2012
Butler, Michelle (Recipient), 2012
Prize: Other distinction
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Nominated for QUB PhD Supervisory Excellence Award 2015
Butler, Michelle (Recipient), May 2015
Prize: Other distinction
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Nominated for QUB PhD Supervisory Excellence Award 2016
Butler, Michelle (Recipient), 13 Apr 2016
Prize: Other distinction
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Nominated for QUB PhD Supervisory Excellence Award 2018
Butler, Michelle (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, Michelle (Recipient), 21 Dec 2016
Prize: Other distinction
Activities
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Crime, Conflict and Borders in Northern Ireland
Siobhan McAlister (Invited speaker) & Michelle Butler (Invited speaker)
15 Aug 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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North South Criminology Conference
Mary-Louise Corr (Speaker), Siobhan McAlister (Speaker), Catherine McNamee (Contributor) & Michelle Butler (Contributor)
15 Jun 2023 → 16 Jun 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Marcos Cesar Alvarez
Siobhan McAlister (Host) & Michelle Butler (Host)
Jun 2023Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting an academic visitor
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Gustavo Higa
Siobhan McAlister (Host) & Michelle Butler (Host)
Jun 2023Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting an academic visitor
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Designing Prison Based Parenting Programmes to Maximise their Potential
Michelle Butler (Invited speaker)
24 May 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Press/Media
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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
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Learning the lessons from Northern Ireland: don't put Islamic extremists in specialised prison units
19/10/2016
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment