Staff Profile
Dr Charlotte Walker
Level 6 Lead and Lecturer
Hello! In July 2022, I joined York St John University as a Lecturer in Social Sciences. Prior to this, I was a Doctoral Researcher and Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Sheffield. I have also worked as an Intelligence Researcher for South Yorkshire Police.
I come from a working-class background, and I am passionate about improving experiences, opportunities, and outcomes for underrepresented students. I am the Widening Participation Lead in the Social Sciences department at YSJ, and my work has included collaborating with students on research projects, co-authoring book reviews, setting up a student blog, organising and leading graduate internships, participating in mentorship schemes and teaching on summer schools. Furthermore, I run an introductory criminology and sociology course with Converge, which is an organisation that provides free educational courses to individuals using mental health services in York.
Outside of work, I like walking (particularly in my home county of Derbyshire, but also in Yorkshire, Norfolk, Cornwall, Devon and the Lake District), visiting gardens, going to the theatre, paddleboarding, and watching cricket. I also enjoy supporting my local ladies’ football team, baking and doing crafty things.
Qualifications
- PhD Law and Criminology (University of Sheffield)
- MA International Criminology (Distinction - University of Sheffield)
- LLB Law and Criminology (First - University of Sheffield)
- School – School of Humanities
- Email – c.walker3@yorksj.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Research Supervisor
Further information
Teaching
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and was nominated for the Most Inspirational Member of Staff Award in 2025.
In the 2025 to 2026 academic year, I am teaching on the following modules:
- Advanced Research Methods 1 (Convenor)
- Social Research Methods 2 (Convenor)
- Prisons and Penology (Convenor)
- Social Science Investigation
Research
My research interests include vulnerability, power, marginalisation, social inequality, and social class.
My PhD examined the experiences of unrepresented defendants at court. I interviewed court actors and observed a range of hearings in two magistrates’ courts. This research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, and I have published several articles based on it.
I am leading a project that focuses on prison chaplains in England. The study examines the role of chaplains in women’s prisons, the nature of their relationships with prisoners, their experiences working in these settings, and the work culture that exists.
Furthermore, I am involved in a project that focuses on the experiences of early career researchers and the impact of social class.
Publications
Articles
Colman, S. and Walker, C. (2025) ‘The single justice procedure: A slippery slope towards private justice’, Criminal Law Review, vol 8, pp.469-481. Available at: https://uk.westlaw.com/Document/I2ECB5D80616B11F0AAA9E2B3511AED81/View/FullText.html
Walker, C. (2025) ‘How are unrepresented defendants treated in magistrates’ courts?’, Criminology & Criminal Justice. Available at: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17488958241312520
Walker, C. (2024) ‘The pains of going to court: Unrepresented defendants’ ability to effectively participate in court proceedings’, Criminology & Criminal Justice. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/17488958241228176
Walker, C. (2024) ‘Defendants' experiences: Video hearings from prison(s) to court(s)’, The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, vol.63(2), pp.127-141. Available at https://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12554
Blog posts
Colman, S. and Walker, C. (2026) ‘The Single Justice Procedure and Vulnerable Defendants’, Defending Vulnerability, 3 February. Available at: https://defendingvulnerability.wordpress.com/2026/02/03/the-single-justice-procedure-and-vulnerable-defendants/
Walker, C. (2024) 'An interview with Dr. Charlotte Walker', CrimSoc Blog, 6 September. Available at: https://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/crimsocblog/2024/09/06/an-interview-with-dr-charlotte-walker/
Walker, C. (2024) ‘Unrepresented defendants’ experiences in the magistrates’ courts’, Defending Vulnerability, 12 April. Available at: https://defendingvulnerability.wordpress.com/2024/04/12/unrepresented-defendants-experiences-in-the-magistrates-courts/
Walker, C. (2024) ‘How many defendants self-represent and has there been a change in the number of defendants self-representing?’, Defending Vulnerability, 16 February. Available at: https://defendingvulnerability.wordpress.com/2024/02/16/how-many-defendants-self-represent-and-has-there-been-a-change-in-the-number-of-defendants-self-representing-in-recent-years/
Walker, C. (2021) ‘The sights of criminal justice’, University of Sheffield, 22 September. Available at: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/law/news/sights-criminal-justice
Book reviews
Walker, C. and Rodriguez-Haworth, N. (2025) ‘Courtroom ethnography: exploring contemporary approaches, fieldwork and challenges’, The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, vol.64, pp.273-276.
Walker, C. and Wright, J. (2025) ‘Researching prisons’, CrimSoc Blog, Available at: https://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/crimsocblog/2025/04/01/book-review-researching-prisons-2024-by-jennifer-anne-rainbow/
Walker, C. (2024) 'Observing justice: Digital transparency, openness and accountability in criminal courts', The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, vol.63(3), pp.351-353.
Walker, C. (2022) ‘Access to justice in magistrates’ courts: A study of defendant marginalisation’, Criminal Law Review, vol.11, pp.936-938.
McGourlay, C. & Walker, C. (2015) ‘The innocent and the criminal justice system: A sociological analysis of miscarriages of Justice’, The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, vol.54(5), pp.546-547.
PhD thesis
Walker, C. (2021) A study examining the experiences of unrepresented defendants in the criminal courts, PhD thesis, University of Sheffield.
Professional activities
Current:
- Widening Participation Lead
- Member of the School Quality Panel
- External Examiner at Liverpool John Moores University
- British Academy Representative for the Yorkshire and Humber Cluster
- Member of the British Society of Criminology Vulnerability Research Network
Past:
- Social Sciences Level 6 Lead
- Member of the Appeals and Conduct Committee
- Member of the Research Ethics Committee
