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Dr Rachael Steele

School of Justice Studies

Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies

Dr Rachael Steele is the Subject Lead for Criminal Justice programmes, and programme leader for the BSc in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moores University. A chartered psychologist, Rachael has spent over fifteen years within the Probation Service working with staff and offenders in various capacities, carrying out applied research into subjects as diverse as desistance and impact of cognitive behavioural interventions of reoffending. Rachael teaches forensic psychology at undergraduate level and supervises a range of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations in both topics related to criminal justice and forensic psychology. Rachael has close connections witht he Justice system in her local area, having years of experience with Probation, and now being a serving criminal court Magistrate. These links ensure that Rachael remains aware of the challenges and requirements of the contemporary justice system which reflects in her research and teaching. She is currently the module leader for a level 4 module entitled 'Introduction to forensic psychology' and a level 5 module 'Exploring forensic psychology' which incorporates qualitative research methods. Rachael also works on the newly developed MSc Criminal Psychology and Criminal Justice. Research interests centre around criminal decision making, the impact of psychology on the criminal justice system, and best practice and innovation within all aspects of criminal justice.
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Degrees

2011, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, PhD Offender Decision Making
1998, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, MSc Psychology of Human Potential
1996, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology

Certifications

2017, British Psychological Society, Chartered Psychologist

Academic appointments

Subject Lead for Criminal Justice, School of Justice Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, 2023 - present
Deputy Subject Lead, Criminal Justice, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - present
Programme Manager: BSc Foresnic Psychology and Criminal Justice, Liverpool John Moores University, 2017 - present
Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice, Liverpool John Moores University, 2015 - present
Lecturer in Criminal Justice (sessional), Liverpool John Moores University, 2004 - 2005
Lecturer in Criminology, Liverpool Hope University, 2000 - 2012

Books (authored)

Steele R. 2023. Exploring the Criminal Decision Process: Rational Choice, Irrational Behaviour? Palgrave Macmillan

Chapters

Steele R. 2023. Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice Corteen K, Steele R, Cross N, McManus M. Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing

Steele R. 2023. Forensic Psychology. Corteen K, Steele R, Cross N, McManus M. Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing

Steele R. 2023. Forensic Psychology and Future Directions Corteen K, Steele R, Cross N, McManus M. Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing Policy Press

Steele RH. 2017. A history of criminal statistics Turner J, Taylor P, Morley S, Corteen K. A Companion to Crime and Criminal Justice History Policy Press

Steele RH. 2016. Offenders, harm and risk assessment Corteen K, Morley S, Taylor P, Turner J. A companion to crime, harm and victimisation Policy Press. Bristol, UK

Journal article

McManus MA, Steele RH. 2022. Alternative approaches to achieving community safety and well-being across law enforcement and criminal justice: Western European findings Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 7 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Corteen K, Steele RH. 2018. A Criminal Injustice System? Sex Offender Suspects and Defendants Liverpool Law Review, 39 :265-277 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Steele RH. 2016. How offenders make decisions British Journal of Community Justice, 13 :7-20 Publisher Url Public Url

Steele R. 2015. How offenders make decisions: Evidence of rationality British Journal of Community Justice, 13 :7-20

Report

McManus M, Ball E, McElwee J, Astley J, McCoy E, Harrison R, Steele R, Quigg Z, Timpson H, Nolan S. 2022. Shaping the Future of Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements in Wales: What does good look like?

Steele R, Murray E, Ragonese E, Moorhead J. 2018. Evaluation of EFAN Report

Steele RH, Murray ET, Moorhead JAP. Evaluation of the EFAN project

Research Grants Awarded:

Faculty Research Strategy and Knowledge Transfer (LJMU), The validation of a new self-report tool to measure Fictitious Disorder (FD) and Fictitious Disorder Imposed onto Another (FDIA), Dr Victoria Blinkhorn (Co-I), Grant value (£): £3,875, Duration of research project: 6 months. 2024

FHE Research Support Fund 2024, Investigating Front Line Workers’ Knowledge and Experiences of Fictitious Disorder Imposed on the Self (FDIS) and Fictitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA)., Dr Victoria Blinkhprn (Co-I), Paige Barker (Co-I),, Grant value (£): 2100,, Duration of research project: 12 months. 2024

The Forensic Research Institute (FORRI), The validation of a new self-report tool to measure Fictitious Disorder (FD) and Fictitious Disorder Imposed onto Another (FDIA), Paige Barker (PI), Dr Victoria Blinkhorn (CI), Grant value (£): 940, Duration of research project: 6 months. 2024

Interserve Justice, Evaluation of the Ex Forces Action Network Project, Ester Ragonese, Emma Murray, Justin Moorhead, Grant value (£): 15000, Duration of research project: 2. 2017

External collaboration:

Univeristy of Aberystwyth, External Examiner. 2021

Other Professional Activity:

Criminal Court Magistrate for the Merseyside Area. 2021

Conference presentation:

Pedagogy and research methods: developing techniques, Research cafe, Liverpool John Moores University, Oral presentation. 2019

Right to a fair trial? Human rights, cognitive bias and the presumption of guilt., Emerging Human Rights in the 21st century: 70 years after the UDHR, Oral presentation. 2018

Teaching research methods: pedagogical techniques to improve student engagement, LJMU Teaching and learning Conference, Liverpool John Moores University, Oral presentation. 2018

Award:

Rising star: Recognition of Distinction, Teaching and Learning Academy, Liverpool John Moores University. 2018

Amazing personal tutor award, Student Union. 2016

Membership of professional bodies:

Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society. 2017

Teaching qualification:

FHEA. 2016

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