Vanessa Munro

Professor

Law & Gender; Criminal Justice; Sexual Offences; Domestic Violence; Jury Decision-Making; Asylum & Refugees

School of Law
S1.30, Social Sciences Building
University of Warwick
Coventry CV4 7AL
United Kingdom

Scholarship

Vanessa has conducted extensive research into law and policy responses to sexual and gender-based violence, focusing particularly on professional and lay decision-making within criminal, asylum and family justice processes.

Bio

Vanessa graduated with her LLB (1997) and PhD (2000) from the University of Glasgow, and was named 'Young Alumnus of the Year' by that institution in 2007. With funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, Nuffield Foundation, Home Office, Scottish Government, Crown Prosecution Service and British Academy, she has conducted extensive research into law and policy responses to sexual and gender-based violence, focusing particularly on professional and law decision-making within criminal, asylum and family justice processes. She has also published on the topic of University disciplinary responses to sexual misconduct on campus.

Across her various research projects, Vanessa has worked closely with the third sector, policy-makers and practitioners to amplify the social impact of her findings – most recently, she has worked with REFUGE and Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse on major projects exploring the links between domestic abuse and suicidality; with Rape Crisis Scotland on studies tracing the impact on rape complainers of receiving a not proven verdict and documenting the current operation of ‘rape shield’ provisions in Scottish sexual offences trials; and with the Crown Prosecution Service on evaluating initiatives under ‘Operation Soteria’ to improve investigative and prosecutorial responses to rape complaints and complainants in England and Wales.

In 2010, Vanessa was awarded a Philip Leverhulme Prize in recognition of outstanding research achievement, and in 2016 she was nominated as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Vanessa currently sits on the editorial boards of 'Social and Legal Studies', 'Modern Law Review' & 'Current Legal Problems'; and has twice sat on the Executive Committee of the Socio-Legal Studies Association. Vanessa was also a co-ordinator of the Scottish Feminist Judgments Project. She has been a visiting scholar at Universities in Australia, New Zealand and the US, and joined Warwick in 2016, having previously held Chairs at the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester.

Publications

Burton, Mandy, Bettinson, Vanessa, Munro, Vanessa E., 2024. ?It isn?t just a shove? : judicial understandings of domestic abuse and the challenges of recognising and responding to ?coercive control? in the criminal and family courts. Child and Family Law Quarterly
Dangar, Sarah, Munro, Vanessa, Young Andrade, Lotte, 2024. Learning legacies : better understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse suicidality through domestic homicide reviews. Journal of Gender-Based Violence
Munro, Vanessa, Dangar, Sarah, Young Andrade, Lotte, 2024. Unchartered territory?: Navigating voice, accountability and prevention in suicide-related domestic homicide reviews in England and Wales. Journal of Law and Society
Munro, Vanessa, Weare, S., O?Doherty, L., Carter, G., Hudspith, L., Sleath, E., Brown, S., Cutland, M., Perot, C., 2024. ?It?s the judicial equivalent of robbing Peter to pay Paul? ? the implementation gap in section 28 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. International Journal of Evidence and Proof
Munro, Vanessa, 2024. Learning on the Job? Addressing students? exposure to bullying, harassment or discrimination during legal placements. The Law Teacher
Cowan, Sharon, Munro, Vanessa E., Bull, Anna, DiSantis, Clarissa J., Prince, Kelly, 2024. Data, disclosure and duties : balancing privacy and safeguarding in the context of UK university student sexual misconduct complaints. Legal Studies
Munro, Vanessa, Carline, Anna, Gunby, Clare, Tinsley, Yvette, Duncanson, Kirsty, Flowe, Heather, 2024. From emotional labour to affectual bodies : moving towards an ?affective ethnography? of the criminal court space. Emotion Review
Bettinson, Vanessa, Munro, Vanessa, Burton, Mandy, 2023. Going for gold : professionals? perspectives on the design and implementation of transformative coercive control offences in Scotland and England and Wales. Criminology and Criminal Justice
Munro, Vanessa, Bettinson, Vanessa, Burton, Mandy, 2023. Coercion, control and criminal responsibility : exploring professional responses to offending and suicidality in the context of domestically abusive relationships. Social & Legal Studies
Daly, Ellen, Smith, Olivia, Bows, Hannah, Brown, Jennifer, Chalmers, James, Cowan, Sharon, Horvath, Miranda, Leverick, Fiona, Lovett, Jo, Munro, Vanessa, Willmott, Dominic, 2023. Myths about myths? A commentary on Thomas (2020) and the question of jury rape myth acceptance. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 7 (1), pp. 189-200
Chalmers, James, Keane, Eamon P. H., Leverick, Fiona, Munro, Vanessa, 2023. Putting victims and witnesses at the heart of the justice system? : theVictims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. Criminal Law Review, 2023 (11), pp. 709-730
Chalmers, J., Leverick, F., Munro, Vanessa, 2022. Beyond doubt : the case against 'not proven'. Modern Law Review, 85 (4), pp. 847-878
Chalmers, James, Leverick, Fiona, Munro, Vanessa, 2022. Handle with care : jury deliberation and demeanour-based assessments of witness credibility. The International Journal of Evidence & Proof, 26 (4), pp. 381-406
Chalmers, James, Leverick, Fiona, Munro, Vanessa, 2021. The provenance of what is proven : exploring (mock) jury deliberation in Scottish rape trials. Journal of Law and Society, 48 (2), pp. 226-249
Chalmers, James, Leverick, Fiona, Munro, Vanessa, 2021. A modern history of the not proven verdict. Edinburgh Law Review, 25 (2), pp. 151-172
Cowan, Sharon, Munro, Vanessa, 2021. Seeking campus justice : challenging the 'criminal justice drift' in United Kingdom university responses to student sexual violence and misconduct. Journal of Law and Society, 48 (3), pp. 308-333
Chalmers, J., Leverick, F., Munro, Vanessa, 2021. Why the jury is, and should still be, out on rape deliberation. Criminal Law Review, 9, pp. 753-771
Chalmers, James, Leverick, Fiona, Munro, Vanessa, 2021. The provenance of what is proven : exploring (mock) jury deliberation in Scottish rape trials. Journal of Law and Society, 48 (2), pp. 226-249
Gayoye, Martha, Hunter, Mateenah, Manji, Ambreena, Matinda, Miriam, Sekalala, Sharifah, Chaudhary, Rachna, Lammasniemi, Laura, Munoth, Shreya, Prabhat, Devyani, Sen, Jhuma, Black, Gillian, Cowan, Sharon, Kennedy, Chloë, Munro, Vanessa, 2021. Correction to : Feminist judgments projects at the intersection. Feminist Legal Studies, 29 (2), pp. 263-265
Chalmers, James, Leverick, Fiona, Munro, Vanessa, Murray, Lorraine, Ormston, Rachel, 2020. Three distinctive features, but what is the difference? Key findings from the Scottish Jury Project. Criminal Law Review, 11, pp. 1012-1033
Munro, Vanessa, Aitken, Ruth, 2020. From hoping to help : identifying and responding to suicidality amongst victims of domestic abuse. International Review of Victimology, 26 (1), pp. 29-49
Cowan, Sharon, Kennedy, Chloë, Munro, Vanessa, 2020. Seeing things differently : art, law and justice in the Scottish feminist judgments project. Feminists@law, 10 (1)
Munro, Vanessa, 2019. Judging juries : the ?common sense? conundrums of prosecuting violence against women. New Zealand Women?s Law Journal, 3, pp. 13-34
Munro, Vanessa, Aiken, Ruth, 2018. Adding insult to injury? The Criminal Law's response to domestic abuse-related suicide in England and Wales. Criminal Law Review, 9, pp. 732-741
Ellison, L., Munro, V., 2017. Taking trauma seriously : critical reflections on the criminal justice process. The International Journal of Evidence & Proof, 21 (3), pp. 183-208
Munro, Vanessa, 2017. Shifting sands? consent, context and vulnerability in contemporary sexual offences policy in England and Wales. Social and Legal Studies, 26 (4), pp. 417-440
Ellison, Louise, Munro, Vanessa, 2015. ?Telling tales' : exploring narratives of life and law within the (mock) jury room. Legal Studies, 35 (2), pp. 201-225
Ellison, L., Munro, Vanessa, Hohl, K., Wallang, P., 2015. Challenging criminal justice? Psychosocial disability and rape victimization. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 15 (2), pp. 225-244
Baillot, Helen, Cowan, Sharon, Munro, Vanessa, 2014. Reason to disbelieve : evaluating the rape claims of women seeking asylum in the UK. International Journal of Law in Context, 10 (01), pp. 105-139
Baillot, Helen, Cowan, Sharon, Munro, Vanessa, 2013. Second-hand emotion? Exploring the contagion and impact of trauma and distress in the asylum law context. Journal of Law and Society, 40 (4), pp. 509-540
Ellison, L., Munro, Vanessa, 2013. Better the devil you know? ?Real rape' stereotypes and the relevance of a previous relationship in (mock) juror deliberation. International Journal of Evidence & Proof, 14, pp. 299-322
Ellison, L., Munro, Vanessa, 2013. Do special measures influence jurors in rape cases?. Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 177, pp. 103-104
FitzGerald, Sharron A., Munro, Vanessa, 2012. Sex work and the regulation of vulnerability(ies) : introduction. Feminist Legal Studies, 20 (3), pp. 183-188
Munro, Vanessa, Scoular, Jane, 2012. Abusing vulnerability? Contemporary law and policy responses to sex work in the UK. Feminist Legal Studies, 20 (3), pp. 189-206
Baillot, H., Cowan, S., Munro, Vanessa, 2012. 'Hearing the right gaps' : enabling and responding to disclosures of sexual violence within the UK asylum process. Social & Legal Studies, 21 (3), pp. 269-296
Ellison, L., Munro, Vanessa, 2010. Getting to (not) guilty : examining Jurors' deliberative processes in, and beyond, the context of a mock rape trial. Legal Studies, 30 (1), pp. 74-97
Munro, Vanessa, 2010. An unholy trinity? Non-consent, coercion and exploitation in contemporary legal responses to sexual violence in England & Wales. Current Legal Problems, 63 (1), pp. 45-71
Ellison, Louise, Munro, Vanessa, 2010. A stranger in the bushes, or an elephant in the room? Critical reflections upon received rape myth wisdom in the context of a mock jury study. New Criminal Law Review, 13 (4), pp. 781-801
Ellison, L., Munro, Vanessa, 2010. Educational guidance and (mock) jurors' assessments of complainant credibility in rape trials. Sexual Assault Report, 13 (5), pp. 65-74
Baillot, Helen, Cowan, Sharon, Munro, Vanessa, 2009. Seen but not heard? Parallels and dissonances in the treatment of rape narratives across the asylum and criminal justice contexts. Journal of Law and Society, 36 (2), pp. 195-219
Ellison, L., Munro, Vanessa, 2009. Reacting to rape : exploring mock jurors' assessments of complainant credibility. British Journal of Criminology, 49 (2), pp. 202-219
Munro, Vanessa, 2009. New coalitions against trafficking in women? The Home Office, prostitution policy and ?tackling' client demand. Criminal Justice Matters, 76 (1), pp. 2-3
Ellison, L., Munro, Vanessa, 2009. Turning mirrors Into windows? Assessing the impact of (mock) juror education in rape trials. British Journal of Criminology, 49 (3), pp. 363-383
Ellison, L., Munro, Vanessa, 2009. Of 'normal sex' and 'real rape' : exploring the use of socio-sexual scripts in (mock) jury deliberation. Social & Legal Studies, 18 (3), pp. 291-312
Munro, Vanessa, 2008. Constructing consent : legislating freedom and legitimating constraint in the expression of sexual autonomy. Akron Law Review, 41 (4), pp. 923-956
Munro, Vanessa, 2008. Of rights and rhetoric : discourses of degradation and exploitation in the context of sex trafficking. Journal of Law and Society, 35 (2), pp. 240-264
Finch, Emily, Munro, Vanessa, 2008. Lifting the veil : the use of focus groups and trial simulations in legal research. Journal of Law and Society, 35 (s1), pp. 30-51
Munro, Vanessa, 2007. On responsible relationships and irresponsible sex : criminalising the reckless transmission of HIV. Child & Family Law Quarterly, 19 (1), pp. 112-125
Munro, Vanessa, 2007. From mothering behind bars to parenting beyond barriers? The right to family life and the politics of omprisonment. Amicus Curiae, 69, pp. 6-10
Finch, E., Munro, Vanessa, 2007. The demon drink and the demonized woman : socio-sexual stereotypes and responsibility attribution in rape trials involving intoxicants. Social & Legal Studies, 16 (4), pp. 591-614
Finch, E., Munro, Vanessa, 2006. Breaking Boundaries? Sexual consent in the jury room. Legal Studies, 26 (3), pp. 303-320
Munro, Vanessa, 2006. Resemblances of identity : Ludwig Wittgenstein and contemporary feminist legal theory. Res Publica, 12 (2), pp. 137-162
Munro, Vanessa, 2006. Stopping traffic? A comparative study of responses to the trafficking in women for prostitution. British Journal of Criminology, 46 (2), pp. 318-333
Finch, E., Munro, Vanessa, 2005. Juror stereotypes and blame sttribution in rape cases involving intoxicants : the findings of a pilot study. British Journal of Criminology, 45 (1), pp. 25-38
Munro, Vanessa, 2005. A tale of two servitudes : defining and implementing a domestic response to trafficking of women for prostitution in the UK and Australia. Social & Legal Studies, 14 (1), pp. 91-114
Munro, Vanessa, 2005. Concerning consent : standards of permissibility in sexual relations. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 25 (2), pp. 335-352
Munro, Vanessa, 2005. Turning rights from the outside in : re-visiting the politics of separation in prison mother and baby units. Child and Family Law Quarterly, 17 (4), pp. 545-554
Finch, E., Munro, Vanessa, 2005. Of bodies, boundaries and borders : intoxicated sexual consent under the law of Scotland and England. Juridical Review, pp. 53-73
Finch, E., Munro, Vanessa, 2004. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 : intoxicated consent and drug assisted rape revisited. Criminal Law Review, pp. 789-802
Finch, E., Munro, Vanessa, 2003. Intoxicated consent and the boundaries of drug-assisted rape. Criminal Law Review, pp. 773-787
Munro, Vanessa, 2003. On power and domination : feminism and the final Foucault. European Journal of Political Theory, 2 (1), pp. 79-99
Munro, Vanessa, 2003. The discipline of law : legal education at the intersection of the juridical and the disciplinary. Journal of Commonwealth Law & Legal Education, 2 (1), pp. 31-47
Munro, Vanessa, 2002. The emerging rights of imprisoned mothers and their children. Child and Family Law Quarterly, 14 (5), pp. 303-325
Munro, Vanessa, 2001. Surrogacy and the construction of the maternae-foetae reeationship : the feminist dilemma examined. Res Publica, 7 (1), pp. 13-37
Munro, Vanessa, 2001. Legal feminism and Foucault - a critique of the expulsion of law. Journal of Law and Society, 28 (4), pp. 546-567
Munro, Vanessa, 2001. Square pegs in round holes : the dilemma of conjoined twins and individual rights. Social and Legal Studies, 10 (4), pp. 459-482

Munro, Vanessa, 2023. "It felt like a comma, not a full stop" : complainers? experiences of the not proven verdict within Scottish rape trials. In Gleeson, Kate; Russell, Yvette (eds.), New Directions in Sexual Violence Scholarship Law, Power and Change, Abingdon, Oxon, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, pp. 189-205
Munro, Vanessa, 2022. A circle that cannot be squared? Survivor confidence in an adversarial justice system. In Horvath, Miranda A. H.; Brown, Jennifer M. (eds.), Rape Challenging Contemporary Thinking ? 10 Years On, Abingdon, Oxon, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, pp. 203-217
Munro, Vanessa, 2021. Feminist critiques of the Rule of Law. In Meierhenrich, Jens; Loughlin, Martin (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to the Rule of Law, London, Cambridge University Press, pp. 340-356
Munro, Vanessa, Cowan, Sharon, Kennedy, Chloë, 2019. Devolving dictum? Legal tradition, national identity and feminist activism. Cowan, Sharon; Kennedy, Chloë; Munro, Vanessa (eds.), Scottish feminist judgments : (re)creating law from the outside in, Oxford, Hart Publishing
Munro, Vanessa, Cowan, Sharon, 2019. Ruxton v Lang. Cowan, Sharon; Kennedy, Chloë; Munro, Vanessa (eds.), Scottish feminist judgments : (re)creating law from the outside in, Oxford, Hart Publishing
Munro, Vanessa, Cowan, Sharon, Kennedy, Chloë, 2019. Through the looking glass? Feminist praxis, artistic methods and Scottish feminist judging. Cowan, Sharon; Kennedy, Chloë; Munro, Vanessa (eds.), Scottish feminist judgments : (re)creating law from the outside in, Oxford, Hart Publishing
Ellison, Louise, Munro, Vanessa, 2018. Trauma and victim participation in the criminal process. In Cooper, Penny; Hunting , Linda (eds.), Access to Justice for Vulnerable People, London, Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing, pp. 176-184
Munro, Vanessa, 2018. Comment on Chapter 9 ; Safe and effective courtroom participation for domestic violence complainant-witnesses by Charlotte Bishop. Child, J. J.; Duff, R. A. (eds.), Criminal Law Reform Now, Oxford, UK, Hart Publishing
Munro, Vanessa, 2017. The master's tools? : a feminist approach to legal and lay decision-making. Watkins, Dawn; Burton, Mandy (eds.), Research Methods in Law, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, Routledge
Munro, Vanessa, 2014. Offenses against sexual autonomy. Dubber, Markus D.; Hörnle, Tatjana (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Criminal Law, Oxford University Press
Munro, Vanessa, 2013. Research companion to feminist legal theory. Farnham, Surrey, UK, Ashgate Publishing Company
Munro, Vanessa, 2013. Violence against women, 'victimhood' and the (Neo)liberal state. In Davies, M.; Munro, V. (eds.), The Ashgate Research Companion to Feminist Legal Theory, London, UK, Ashgate, pp. 233-248
Munro, Vanessa, Scoular, J., 2013. Harm, vulnerability and citizenship : constitutional concerns in the criminalisation of contemporary sex work in the UK. In Duff, A.; Farmer, L.; Masrhall, S.; Tadros, V. (eds.), The Constitution of Criminal Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp. 30-52
Baillot, Helen, Cowan, Sharon, Munro, Vanessa, 2012. Crossing borders, inhabiting spaces : the (in)credibility of sexual violence in asylum appeals. In FitzGerald, Sharron A. (ed.), Regulating the International Movement of Women: From Protection to Control, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY, Routledge, pp. 111-134
Munro, Vanessa, 2011. The role of power in gender. In Dowling, K. (ed.), The Encyclopaedia of Power, Thousand Oaks, Calif., Sage, pp. 276-279
Munro, Vanessa, 2011. Navigating feminisms : at the margins, in the mainstreams, and elsewhere?. In Kouvo, S.; Pearson, Z. (eds.), Feminist perspectives on contemporary international Law : between Resistance and Compliance?, Oxford ; Portland, Oregon, Hart, pp. 13-17
Munro, Vanessa, 2010. From consent to coercion : evaluating international and domestic frameworks for the criminalization of rape. In McGlynn, C.; Munro, Vanessa (eds.), Rethinking Rape Law : International and Comparative Perspectives, Oxon, U.K. ; New York, N.Y., Routledge, pp. 17-29
Munro, Vanessa, Shah, Sangeeta, 2010. R v Dhaliwal : reconstructing manslaughter in cases of domestic violence suicide. In McGlynn, C.; Hunter, R.; Rackley, E. (eds.), Feminist Judgments: From Theory to Practice, Oxford; Portland, Hart, pp. 261-272
Ellison, Louise, Munro, Vanessa, 2010. Jury deliberation and complainant credibility in rape trials. In McGlynn, C.; Munro, V. (eds.), Rethinking Rape Law: International and Comparative Perspectives, London, UK, Routledge, pp. 281-293
Munro, Vanessa, Kelly, Liz, 2009. A vicious cycle? : attrition and conviction patterns in contemporary rape cases in England and Wales. In Brown, J.; Horvath, M. (eds.), Rape: Challenging Contemporary Thinking, Cullompton, Devon, Willan Publications, pp. 281-300
Giusta, Marina Della, Munro, Vanessa, 2008. Demanding sex : critical reflections on the regulation of prostitution. Abingdon, Oxon, Ashgate
Munro, Vanessa, 2008. Entries on ?Privacy', ?Rape? & ?Prostitution?. Cane, P.; Conaghan, J. (eds.), The new Oxford Companion to Law, Oxford, United Kingdom, Oxford University Press
Munro, Vanessa, 2008. Exploring exploitation : trafficking in sex, work and sex work. In Della Giusta, M.; Munro, Vanessa (eds.), Demanding Sex : Critical Reflections on the Regulation of Prostitution, Aldershot, England ; Burlington, VT, Ashgate Publishers, pp. 83-97
Munro, Vanessa, 2007. Dev'l-in disguise? Harm, privacy and the sexual offences act 2003. In Munro, Vanessa; Stychin, C. (eds.), Sexuality and The Law : Feminist Engagements, Abingdon, UK ; New York, Routledge-Cavendish, pp. 1-18
Munro, Vanessa, 2007. Law and politics at the perimeter : re-evaluating key debates in feminist theory. Oxford, Hart Publications

King, Alice Catherine, Munro, Vanessa, Young Andrade, Lotte, 2024. Operation Soteria : improving CPS responses to rape complaints and complainants. The University of Warwick
Cowan, Sharon, Keane, Eamon P. H., Munro, Vanessa E., 2024. The use of sexual history evidence and 'sensitive private data' in Scottish rape and attempted rape trials. University of Edinburgh
King, Alice Catherine, Munro, Vanessa, Young Andrade, Lotte, 2024. Operation Soteria : improving CPS responses to rape complaints and complainants : summary briefing. The University of Warwick
Bettinson, Vanessa, Burton, Mandy, Munro, Vanessa E., 2023. ?An offence we could all do with learning more about? : identifying and responding to coercion in intimate partner relationships : key findings summary report. University of Warwick
King, Alice Catherine, Munro, Vanessa E., Young Andrade, Lotte, 2023. Operation Soteria : improving CPS responses to rape complaints and complainants : Interim findings from Independent Academic Research, April 2023. CPS
Dangar, Sarah, Munro, Vanessa, Young Andrade, Lotte, 2023. Learning legacies : an analysis of domestic homicide reviews in cases of domestic abuse suicide. Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) ; University of Warwick
O?Doherty, Lorna, Carter, Grace, Weare, Siobhan, Hudspith, Lara, Sleath, Emma, Munro, Vanessa, Cutland, Michelle, Perôt, Concetta, Brown, Sarah, 2022. Justice in Covid-19 for sexual abuse and violence : impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on criminal justice journeys of adult and child survivors of sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault. JiCSAV: Justice in Covid-19 for Sexual Abuse and Violence ; Coventry University
Munro, Vanessa, 2020. Piecing together puzzles : complainers' experiences of the not proven verdict. University of Warwick
Ormston, Rachel, Chalmers, James, Leverick, Fiona, Munro, Vanessa, Murray, Lorraine, 2019. Scottish jury research : findings from a large-scale mock jury study. Scottish Government
Aitken, Ruth, Munro, Vanessa, 2018. Domestic abuse and suicide : exploring the links with refuge's client base and work force. Refuge
Baillot, Helen, Cowan, Sharon, Munro, Vanessa, 2015. Rape and asylum claims : credibility and the construction of vulnerability. Open Democracy
Ellison, Louise, Munro, Vanessa, Hohl, Katrin, Wallang, Paul, 2015. Accessible justice? Rape victimisation and psychosocial disability. feminist@law, University of Kent

Teaching Projects

Funded

Title	Funder	Award start	Award end
Sexual Assault and Abuse (SAA) Mental Health (MH) Needs Assessment	West Midlands Police	01 Mar 2024	31 Jul 2024
Vanessa Munro - (law) RE: CPS - Operation Soteria	Crown Prosecution Service	01 Jul 2022	30 Jun 2023
The Use of Sexual History Evidence and 'Private Data' in Scottish Sexual Offences Trials	Scottish Government	01 Aug 2021	31 Dec 2022
To Improve Understanding and Knowledge of Domestic Abuse-Related Suicide	Home Office	13 Dec 2021	30 Jun 2022
Impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on criminal justice journeys of adult and child survivors of sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault.	ESRC	20 Nov 2020	19 May 2022
Jury research - (IPSOS MORI)	Scottish Government	04 Sep 2017	31 Aug 2019
Understanding, and Evaluating Current Responses to, Domestic Abuse-Related Suicide in England and Wales	Refuge	29 Sep 2017	28 Sep 2018
Leverhulme Prize trf from Leicester	Leverhulme Trust	01 Sep 2016	31 Jul 2017

Highlighted

JICSAV - Justice in Covid for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Violence

Funded by: ESRC. 2021 - May 2022.

Project Leads - Dr Lorna O'Doherty (Coventry University) and Dr Siobhan Weare (Lancaster University)

Jury research - (IPSOS MORI)

Funded by: Scottish Government, Project Start Date 04-09-2017 - Project End Date 31-08-2019

Impact

Legislation

Vanessa has been invited to present evidence to the Scottish Justice Committee on more than one occasion. This was relied upon in the passing of legislation to require judges to provide instructions to jurors in rape cases where there is delay or no evidence of force / injury, as well as in the passing of the Vulnerable Witness Bill, which extended the provision of special measures to adult witnesses. Most recently, Vanessa has presented evidence during the Victim, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill which seeks to remove the not proven verdict, reform the jury process, create specialist sexual violence courts and legislating for independent legal representation of rape complainers in relation to admissibility of records and sexual history evidence.

Policy

Vanessa was an invited member of an Expert Panel, convened by the Solicitor-General, which led to the creation of extended judicial instructions in rape cases. She has since participated in, or given evidence to, the Ministry of Justice's 'End to End Rape Review', The Law Commission's 'Contempt of Court' Report, and the Scottish Review of Rape Prosecution convened by Lady Dorian. In 2017, she was part of an UNHCR Expert Group on the Use of Criminal Law in relation to Gender & Sexuality, and is a Commonwealth Expert for the Human Dignity Trust as well as a member of the Centre for Women's Justice Femicide Group and Institute for Addressing Strangulation Research Advisory Group. Vanessa previously acted as Special Advisor to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into Human Trafficking and to a Scottish Government project on Sex Work. More recently, she has worked with REFUGE to produce research on the prevalence of suicidality amongst its client base, with AAFDA on pioneering work in relation to Domestic Homicide Reviews in suicide cases, and with Rape Crisis Scotland to explore the impact on complainers of rape of receiving a not proven verdict. Her research with colleagues on jury deliberation has been widely cited nationally and internationally.

Public Understanding

Through her work as part of the Scottish Feminist Judgments Project, Vanessa has been involved in numerous public events, as well as artistic exhibitions and a podcast series, designed to raise awareness of the gendered operation of law. Her work with REFUGE on domestic abuse related suicidality also prompted a collaboration that resulted in billboard campaigns in Leicester Square during World Suicide Prevention Day, whilst her work with AAFDA has generated a podcast and short animation. Vanessa has written about or discussed her research in the national print & TV press.

Professional Practice

With colleagues, Vanessa has provided training on assessing credibility in rape cases to police leads, the Crown Prosecution Service, and as part of annual Judicial College training. She has also provided training to Immigration Judges following research into decision-making in asylum cases where female claimants report allegations of rape as part of their persecution. As part of the Scottish Feminist Judgments Project, she has provided training to the Law Society of Scotland, Faculty of Advocates, and to lawyers working at the Scottish Parliament. Her work with the CPS to explore pilot initiatives under ‘Operation Soteria’ has directly informed a new National Operating Model for rape which was launched by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2023. Vanessa has also recently been an invited member of the Scottish Government’s Expert Group on Women in the Justice System, which produced a report in 2023 intended to guide development of a gendered and intersectional approach to justice.

Culture

Research Supervision