Mary Nel

I lecture Criminal Law at Stellenbosch University. Apart from my doctorate in law from Stellenbosch University, I also have various other law degrees from Stellenbosch, as well as a masters degree in Criminology from Cambridge University. While being grounded in the law, my research also draws inspiration from empirical sources in other disciplines such as sociology, criminology, anthropology and political science. I am particularly interested in the "grey areas" between state and non-state policing, the impact of the formal criminal justice system on the poor and the marginalised, and the possibility of criminal justice functioning in ways that are less punitive and more restorative.
I also enjoy reading, knitting and spending time with my 10-year-old son and a menagerie of other animals.