Professor Deborah Jones

Professor

Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy

deborah.a.jones@swansea.ac.uk

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9457-0447

About

Debbie is a Professor in Criminology and currently the interim head of the School of Social Sciences. She was formally the School Education Lead for the School of Social Sciences and is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Debbie has also held several managerial and leadership roles within higher education. She has been an external examiner for several programmes within the UK and was part of the QAA panel that revised the Benchmark Statement for Criminology.

Prior to beginning her academic career in 2008, Debbie was a Police Officer with the Metropolitan Police specialising in major crimes and child protection and is an Associate of the College of Policing. Alongside Professor Tracey Sagar, Debbie is Co-Director of the Consortium for Sexuality Studies and since 2008 Debbie has been researching regulation of the sex industry in partnership with Tracey. Their projects have included ‘Sex Work Research Wales’; ‘Community Perceptions of Sex Work’; ‘Sex Work and Substance Misuse’ and ‘The Student Sex Work Project’.

Debbie sits on several external advisory boards and was a founding member of the All Wales Sex Work Safety Group. More recently, Debbie has turned her attention to the role of Higher Education in facilitating desistance from offending. She recently concluded a project funded by the Society of Research into Higher Education. You can read more about the project online.

Throughout her research, Debbie has focused on developing methodologies that are both inclusive and creative and has endeavoured to make academic research accessible to the community through a series of public education activities.

Areas Of Expertise

Regulation of the sex industry
Higher Education and Desistance from Offending
Innovative and Participatory Methodologies
Criminology and Public Education
Teaching and Learning

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

Understanding Policing
Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
Regulating the Sex Industry
Understanding Desistance from Offending
Criminological Theory
Research Methods
Public Education through the development of CPD training for practitioners

Research Award Highlights Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

Sagar, T., Jones, D., & Symons, K. (n.d.) Sex Work, Drug and Alcohol Use: Bringing the Voices of Sex Workers into Policy and Service Development Frameworks in Wales.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48778
https://gov.wales/substance-misuse-sex-work-drug-and-alcohol-use
Sagar, T., Jones, D., & Brooks, E. (n.d.) Sex Work and Substance Misuse: A Review of the Literature and Proposed Recommendations for Wales
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48777
Gray, B., Jones, A., Couzens, Z., Sagar, T., & Jones, D. (2019). University students’ behaviours towards accessing sexual health information and treatment. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 30(7), 671-679.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0956462419828866, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48289
Jones, D. & Sagar, T. (2017). 'Not in our name': Findings from Wales supporting the decriminalisation of sex work.. Policing the Sex Industry. Protection, Paternalism and Politics (pp. 89-106). Routledge
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315196893, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa40160
Geuens, S., Sagar, T., & Jones, D. (2014). Complex Realities: Researching the personal and professional sexual experiences of student sex workers in the UK online.. In Ghent University, International Network for Sexual Ethics and Politics Conference.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17481

All Research

Journal Articles

Jones, M. & Jones, D. (2021). Understanding Aspiration and Education Towards Desistance from Offending: The Role of Higher Education in Wales. Journal of Prison Education and Reentry, 7(1), 23-49.
https://doi.org/10.25771/jpwq-2x33, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56497
https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/jper/vol7/iss1/2/
Dawson, J., Einion, A., & Jones, D. (2020). Instant messaging: a novel means of facilitating the participation of hard-to-reach groups in sensitive topic research. Qualitative Research Journal, 21(2), 206-216.
https://doi.org/10.1108/qrj-06-2020-0061, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55218
Gray, B., Jones, A., Couzens, Z., Sagar, T., & Jones, D. (2019). University students’ behaviours towards accessing sexual health information and treatment. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 30(7), 671-679.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0956462419828866, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48289
Sagar, T., Jones, D., Symons, K., Tyrie, J., & Roberts, R. (2016). Student involvement in the UK sex industry: motivations and experiences. The British Journal of Sociology, 67(4), 697-718.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12216, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26760
Sagar, T., Jones, D., Symons, K., Bowring, J., & Roberts, R. (2015). Student participation in the sex industry: Higher education responses and staff experiences and perceptions. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 37(4), 400-412.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2015.1056604, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa22710
Sagar, T. & Jones, D. (2014). Off-street sex workers and victim-orientated policymaking at the local level: Denial of agency and consequences of victimhood. Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 16(4), 230-252.
https://doi.org/10.1057/cpcs.2014.9, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21988
Sagar, T. & Jones, D. (2013). The Local Governance of Street Sex Work in the United Kingdom. International Criminal Justice Review, 23(2), 132-148.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1057567713485963, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa15036
Sagar, T. & Jones, D. (2012). Priorities for the minority? Street-based sex work and Partnerships and Communities Together (PACT). Criminology and Criminal Justice, 0(0), 1-15.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895812454749, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa13329
Morgan, G., Jones, D., Walker, C., Prideaux, G., & Jones, E. (n.d.) Co-production in the Criminal Justice System: Introducing the DEVICES Principles. Howard Journal of Crime and Justice
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67538

Book Chapters

Jones, D., Sagar, T., & Forde, E. (2023). Making Criminology Public: Public Education and the Student Sex Work Project. Public Criminology (pp. 37-58). Springer International Publishing
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42167-9_3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65071
Jones, D. (2022). Transforming Criminology: Strategies for Embedding ‘Employability’ Across the Criminology Undergraduate Curricula. Teaching Criminology and Criminal Justice (pp. 153-176). Springer International Publishing
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14899-6_8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62113
Jones, D. & Sagar, T. (2022). The Student Sex Work Project: Methods, Ethics, and Activism. In Debbie Jones and Teela Sanders (Ed.), Student Sex Work (pp. 15-41). Springer International Publishing
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07777-7_2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61449
Jones, D. & Sanders, T. (2022). Where Do We Go from Here?. In Debbie Jones and Teela Sanders (Ed.), Student Sex Work (pp. 307-322). Springer International Publishing
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07777-7_13, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61453
Jones, D. & Sagar, T. (2017). 'Not in our name': Findings from Wales supporting the decriminalisation of sex work.. Policing the Sex Industry. Protection, Paternalism and Politics (pp. 89-106). Routledge
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315196893, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa40160

Conference Contributions

Geuens, S., Sagar, T., & Jones, D. (2014). Complex Realities: Researching the personal and professional sexual experiences of student sex workers in the UK online.. In Ghent University, International Network for Sexual Ethics and Politics Conference.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17481
Sagar, T. & Jones, D. (2013). The Student Sex Work Project: ‘From Talking the Talk’ to ‘Walking the Walk’. In Society of Study of Social Problems, New York
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17479
Jones, D., Sagar, T., & Jones, D. (2013). Student Sex Work Research in Wales: Enhancing Student Well-being. In International Academy of Law and Mental Health, Amsterdam
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17478
Jones, D. & Jones, D. (2013). The Student Sex Work Project: Making Sense of Experience Through Reflective Learning.. In Swansea University – International Conference on Reflective Practice.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17480
Jones, D. & Morgan, G. (2013). The Student Sex Work Project: An Exemplar of Seamless Learning Towards Improved Student Experience and Employability. In Swansea University Swansea Academy of Learning and Teaching.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17477
Sagar, T., Jones, D., & Jones, D. (2013). Innovation and Social Change: The Student Sex Work Project. In Glamorgan University, British Society of Criminology, Welsh Branch, Invited to present seminar paper.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17476
Jones, D., Sagar, T., & Jones, D. (2012). Innovative and Ethical: A Methodological Framework for Researching the Well-being and Sexual Health of Student Sex Workers in Wales.. In Ghent University, International Network for Sexual Ethics and Politics Conference.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17475
Jones, D. & Jones, D. (2012). Sex Work in Wales: NHS and HEIs - Research and Partnership. In NISCHR, Annual Research and Ethics Conference, Bridgend, Wales.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17471
Jones, D. & Jones, D. (2012). The Duality of Work and Leisure: The Experiences of Off Street Sex Workers in Cardiff.. In Swansea University, Sex Work Symposium. ‘Deviant’ Policy Paradigm: Sex Work; Entertainment and Leisure.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17472
Jones, D. & Jones, D. (2012). Victim or Agent? Uncovering the Extent of Sex Work in Wales Towards More Effective Policy Development.. In Newport Centre for Criminal and Community Justice Conference.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17474
Jones, D. & Jones, D. (2012). Interactive Health:Student Sex Wokers Wales. In Annual Student Union Women’s Conference
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17473
Jones, D., Sagar, T., & Jones, D. (2012). The Sexual Health of Off Street Sex Workers in Cardiff: Time to Reach Out?. In All Wales Sexual Health Conference
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17470

Edited Books

Jones, D., Jones, M., Strudwick, K., & Charles, A. (Eds.). (2023). Public Criminology: Reimagining Public Education and Research Practice. Springer Nature Switzerland.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42167-9, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65072
Jones, D. & Sanders, T. (Eds.). (2022). Student Sex Work: International Perspectives and Implications for Policy and Practice. Springer Nature Switzerland.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07777-7, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61447

Other Research Outputs

Dawson, J., George, E., Jones, D., Allsop, C., & Jones, H. (2023). Police understanding and application of the concept of vulnerability in responding to the needs of sex workers in Wales.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65013
Sagar, T., Jones, D., & Forde, E. (2020). Evaluating the Impact of Sex Work Harm Reduction Training
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53855
Jones, D. (2020). Understanding Aspiration and Education towards Desistance from Offending: The Role of Higher Education in Wales
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53838
https://srhe.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/JONESdebbiemarkReport.pdf
Sagar, T., Jones, D., Symons, K., & Bowring, J. (2015). The Student Sex Work Project: Research Summary
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26938
http://www.thestudentsexworkproject.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TSSWP-Research-Summary-English.pdf
Sagar, T., Jones, D., & Jones, D. (2014). Off Street Sex Work in Cardiff:Identifying Service Provision Needs
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17432
Sagar, T., Jones, E., Jones, D., & Clarke, L. (2014). Sex Work Wales
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26937
Jones, D. & Sagar, T. (2010). Reaching out to female street sex workers in Cardiff:
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17431
Sagar, T., Jones, D., & Symons, K. (n.d.) Sex Work, Drug and Alcohol Use: Bringing the Voices of Sex Workers into Policy and Service Development Frameworks in Wales.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48778
https://gov.wales/substance-misuse-sex-work-drug-and-alcohol-use
Sagar, T., Jones, D., & Brooks, E. (n.d.) Sex Work and Substance Misuse: A Review of the Literature and Proposed Recommendations for Wales
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48777
Sagar, T., Jones, D., Croxall, J., Tyrie, J., Chimba, M., & Jones, D. (n.d.) Locating Female Black and Minority Ethnic Off Street Sex Workers in Cardiff
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17434
Sagar, T., Jones, D., & Harris, E. (n.d.) Community Perceptions of Street Sex Work in Cardiff
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51098
Rabaiotti, E., Harrison, M., & Jones, D. (n.d.) Wales Safer Communities Network: Training Needs Assessment
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63088
https://safercommunities.wales/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/TNA-Final-Report-English.pdf

Supervision

Student Sex Work in the Netherlands: Motivations and Experiences (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Jordan Dawson
Untitled (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Michelle Brinn
The Prison Estate in Wales: Invested in Rehabilitation? The Effects of In-Prison Education and Employability Support on the Prison Environment and their Benefits to Desistance from Crime (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Gemma Morgan

Other supervisor: Dr Gemma Morgan
Understanding the values and principles of Probation in Wales (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Gemma Morgan

Taught Modules

ASC316 Understanding the sex industry: Theory, policy and practice

The course offers students the opportunity to examine and explore the multiple issues that shape our understanding of sex and the laws and policies that govern sex work. Theoretical debates are entered into and sex work is considered on a European and global basis.
ASCM25 A Critical Understanding of Policing: 21st Century Challenges.

This module offers a critical study of policing within liberal democratic societies from historical, legal, political and social perspectives. Focusing primarily on policing in the United Kingdom, the module considers the origins, development and functions of policing and examines issues such as police use of force, the role of the police in miscarriages of justice, police responses to terrorism, the pluralisation of policing, the policing of vulnerable and diverse groups, the relationship between the media and the police and the implications of `police culture¿ on service delivery. The module also questions the accountability and legitimacy of the police and examines the models used in the delivery of modern day policing.
CR-301 An Introduction to Policing in England and Wales

This module offers a critical study of policing within liberal democratic societies from historical, legal, political and social perspectives. Focusing primarily on policing in England and Wales, the module considers the origins, development and functions of policing and examines issues such as police use of force, the role of the police in miscarriages of justice, police responses to domestic abuse, the pluralisation of policing, the policing of vulnerable and diverse groups, the relationship between the media and the police and the implications of 'police culture' on service delivery. The module also questions the accountability and legitimacy of the police and examines the models used in the delivery of modern-day policing.

Other Roles

Academic Adviser, Cardiff Sex Worker Forum

2008 - Present
Member, UKNSWP

2008 - Present
Academic Adviser, Human Trafficking Groups across Wales

2009 - Present
Member, British Society of Criminology

2015 - Present
Director for Undergraduate Studies in Criminology, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law

2016 - Present
Present External Examiner, Criminology UG and MA , Liverpool Hope University

2019 - Present
Present External Examiner, Police Education Qualification Fram, Open University

2019 - Present

Key Grants and Projects

Society for Research into Higher Education 2019

, £10,000
External Evaluation – The Hub 2018

Awarded by Include to Evaluate a £500,000 Lottery funded project on desistance from offending in adults, £6,000
Welsh Government 2017

Funding to deliver a training package based on research into sex work carried out across Wales, £3,300
Public Health Wales 2017

Funding to explore the data set from TSSWP towards understanding students sexual behaviours and risk taking, £6,000
Welsh Government 2016

To host an interdisciplinary public engagement event – regulating sex work in Wales, £3,000
External Evaluation – Staying Home Project 2016

Awarded by Gibran UK to evaluate a Lottery funded project on desistance from offending in adults, £8,000
CHERISHE DE Strategic Secondment Funding 2016

Awarded for development of a networking event with National Ugly Mugs to explore research opportunities in relation to digital inclusion of sex workers towards improved safety and well-being, £2,000
CHERISHE DE Escalator Funding 2016

Awarded for an exploratory, interdisciplinary study seeking to understand and compare the sexual health and wider wellbeing of student sex workers and students through data mining and visualization of the student sex survey gathered in the course of TSSWP, £5,000
The Student Sex Work Project 2012 - 2015

Funded by Big Lottery Innovation Fund, with Dr Tracey Sagar, £489,000
Locating Female Black And Minority Ethic Off Street Sex Workers In Cardiff 2010 - 2010

Funded by Welsh Assembly Government, with Dr Tracey Sagar, £10,000
Off Street Sex Work in Cardiff: Identifying Service Provision Needs 2010 - 2010

Funded by MAC Aids, with Dr Tracey Sagar, £11,000
Community Perceptions of Street Sex Work in Cardiff 2010 - 2010

Funded Safer Capital, with Dr Tracey Sagar, £10,000
Sex Work Research Wales 2010 - 2014

Funded by Big Lottery. Collaborative project with Gibran UK, with Dr Tracey Sagar, £110,000

Public Engagements

Debbie has delivered training on understanding the needs and experiences of sex workers to over 500 practitioners. She has been invited to speak at numerous conferences and community groups about the issue of regulating the sex industry.

Professor Deborah Jones

Email address

Twitter Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Research Highlights

All Research

Student Sex Work in the Netherlands: Motivations and Experiences (current)

Untitled (current)

The Prison Estate in Wales: Invested in Rehabilitation? The Effects of In-Prison Education and Employability Support on the Prison Environment and their Benefits to Desistance from Crime (current)

Understanding the values and principles of Probation in Wales (current)

ASC316 Understanding the sex industry: Theory, policy and practice

ASCM25 A Critical Understanding of Policing: 21st Century Challenges.

CR-301 An Introduction to Policing in England and Wales

Academic Adviser, Cardiff Sex Worker Forum

Member, UKNSWP

Academic Adviser, Human Trafficking Groups across Wales

Member, British Society of Criminology

Director for Undergraduate Studies in Criminology, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law

Present External Examiner, Criminology UG and MA , Liverpool Hope University

Present External Examiner, Police Education Qualification Fram, Open University

Society for Research into Higher Education 2019

External Evaluation – The Hub 2018

Welsh Government 2017

Public Health Wales 2017

Welsh Government 2016

External Evaluation – Staying Home Project 2016

CHERISHE DE Strategic Secondment Funding 2016

CHERISHE DE Escalator Funding 2016

The Student Sex Work Project 2012 - 2015

Locating Female Black And Minority Ethic Off Street Sex Workers In Cardiff 2010 - 2010

Off Street Sex Work in Cardiff: Identifying Service Provision Needs 2010 - 2010

Community Perceptions of Street Sex Work in Cardiff 2010 - 2010

Sex Work Research Wales 2010 - 2014