Menu Close
The Conversation

Belinda Winder

3

Articles

8

Comments
Professor of Forensic Psychology & Director of the Centre of Crime, Offending, Prevention and Engagement (COPE), Nottingham Trent University

I set up the Sexual Offences, Crime and Misconduct Research Unit in 2007 to build upon the collaborative relationship between ongoing research within the Psychology Division at NTU and HMP Whatton (one of the largest prisons in Europe for people convicted of sexual offences, holding approximately 834 convicted adult males). The unit's primary aim is to conduct and facilitate applied forensic research in the area of sex offending and sexual crime, with the research unit sitting at the juxtaposition between the world of prison and that of academia.

I am the Director of the Centre of Crime, Offending, Prevention and Engagement (COPE) at Nottingham Trent University.

Current research programmes include mixed method evaluations of anti-libidinal medication, pre treatment initiatives, prison and community based Circles of Support and Accountability, prevention and desistance work. Also conducting research exploring religiosity and spirituality, editing a series of books on sexual crime for Palgrave publishers and focus on working collaboratively with people who are serving custodial sentences for an offence, together with groups such as friends and family of people who have offended, non-offending paedophiles and people who have been in prison as they seek to integrate safely into the community.

The Safer Living Foundation
I am co-founder and (for 7 years, a trustee) of the Safer Living Foundation, a charity set up in 2014 to conduct (and evaluate) initiatives that help to prevent further victims of sexual crime. The charity run prison and community based CoSA, in addition to Young People's CoSA. There is also a regional prevention project in which free treatment and support is offered to individuals concerned about their sexual preferences. On 13 Feb 2019, the charity launched the Corbett Centre, a community centre for people with a sexual conviction.

I have received several awards for my work, including a Butler Trust certificate in 2016, the Robin Corbett Award for Prisoner Rehabilitation in 2015 (as part of the Safer Living Foundation charity), the Guardian University Award for Social and Community Impact in 2016 (as SOCAMRU) and The Third Sector Charity of the Year in 2019 (as part of the SLF).

Experience

  • 2014–present
    Trustee and Co-founder, Safer Living Foundation (registered charity)
  • 2007–present
    Head of Sexual Offences, Crime and Misconduct Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University
  • 2015–present
    Professor of Forensic Psychology, Nottingham Trent University

Education

  • 2005 
    University of Sheffield, MEd Teaching and Learning
  • 2000 
    Imperial College, PhD (Psychology)
  • 1993 
    University of Manchester, MSc Research and Advanced Statistics
  • 1989 
    University of Nottingham, BA (Hons) Psychology

Publications

  • 2016
    Mental Health, Religion and Culture. , Religious conversion among high security hospital patients: A qualitative analysis of patients’ accounts and experiences
  • 2016
    Psychology, Crime and Law, ‘ If you’d had my life, you’d have done it too’: a qualitative account of individuals exploring the accounts of men who rape elderly or significantly older women.
  • 2015
    Journal of Professional Forensic Practice, ‘Out of the horse’s mouth’: a qualitative study of staff experiences of working with transgendered sex offenders
  • 2014
    The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, Preliminary evaluation of the use of pharmacological treatment with convicted sexual offenders experiencing high levels of sexual preoccupation, hypersexuality and/or sexual compulsivity
  • 2014
    Archives of Sexual Behavior, , Stumbling into sexual crime: the passive perpetrator in accounts by male internet sex offenders
  • 2014
    Journal of Interpersonal Violence, , Making sense of denial in sexual offenders: a qualitative phenomenological and repertory grid analysis.

Grants and Contracts

  • 2016
    Ongoing evaluation of anti-libidinal medication in HMPS
    Role:
    PI
    Funding Source:
    National Offender Management Service

Professional Memberships

  • British Psychological Society
  • Division of Forensic Psychology

Research Areas

  • Psychology (1701)
  • Forensic Psychology (170104)