Dr Paula Bowles

I have worked within Criminology at the University of Northampton since 2008. I have taught across both undergraduate and postgraduate modules. Until stepping away in September 2025 I was the course leader for BA (Hons) Criminology and had previously fulfilled the same role for Joint Honours Criminology courses. 

Until the Fishmongers Hall tragedy in 2019, I co-taught CRI3006 Beyond Justice in HMP Onley to a group made up of University students and prison students. In March 2020 I was a recipient of a High Sherriff's Award, along with my colleague, Dr Manos Daskalou and colleagues from the prison.Since that time, university/prison partnerships have ceased, but we are hopeful that we will soon be able to deliver the module again. 

My research interests are focused on critical and historical criminology, war, institutional violence, discrimination, intersectionality, Violence Against Women and Girls [VAWG], zemiology, pacifist and feminist methodologies.

I am also interested in the writing of Agatha Christie and how it connects to popular understanding of crime and victimisation. 

Since joining the University in 2008, I have taught across most of the Criminology curriculum. Currently, I led a year one module: CRI1009 Imagining Crime where we develop curiousity around utopic and dystopic ways of thinking in relation to crime, criminality and victimisation. In year 3 I lead CRI3003 Violence utilising pacifist and feminist methodologies to explore the complexities of institutional and interpersonal violence. I also lead CRI4003 Criminology Dissertation and CRI4004 Criminology with Psychology Dissertation, as well as supervising a number of undergraduate students. Additionally, I contribute to CRI1010 From Delinquency to Criminal Careers and CRI3001 Crime and Punisment. I also supervise doctoral students. 

In 2026 I was appointed as an External Examiner for University College Birmingham.

In 2025 I became a trustee for Northamptonshire Rape Crisis. 

I am the co-founder and regular contributor to the Thoughts from the Criminology Team. This has been going since 2017 and has attracted a readership of almost 100,000 from across the globe. 

I am a Senior Academic Integrity Officer with a focus on contract cheating and other complex cases. 

I supervise a number of undergradate dissertations each year. In addition, I supervise coctoral students.