Dr Kelly Johnson
- Senior Lecturer in Criminology (Sociological & Cultural Studies)
Biography
My research addresses domestic abuse and sexual violence, policing, justice, and feminist theory.
I have research expertise in policing responses to domestic and sexual violence, victim-survivors, criminal and procedural justice, feminist conceptualisations of harm and justice, and understanding emerging forms of abuse, such as cyberflashing and image-based sexual abuse. My work involves a range of qualitative and mixed methods, including police ethnography, data and case file analysis, and working closely with victim-survivors of abuse, for example via interviews or expert by experience panel consultations.
I am passionate about academic research being collaborative, engaged and impactful, and used to develop new ways of thinking and doing that centre lived experience and generate positive social change. I have worked with statutory organisations such as the Home Office, the College of Policing, the National Police Chiefs Council, the Law Commission, and several police forces, as well as with victim support services and private technology companies to advance research and innovation in responses to violence and abuse.
Most recently, I led a large team of academics on an applied research project: embedding procedural justice for victim-survivors into policing responses to sexual violence. This work formed part of Operation Soteria - a Home Office-funded initiative involving a cross-institutional collaboration between academics, police forces and other key stakeholders, seeking to improve the policing of rape and serious sexual offences in England and Wales. In this context, our team created new approaches and frameworks for understanding and operationalising procedural justice for vicitm-survivors, which are now being used in police training and as part of the new National Operating Model for investigating sexual violence by all police forces in England and Wales.
Outside of the academy, I have worked with several third-sector domestic and sexual violence support organisations, including Rape Crisis and Scottish Women’s Aid centres.
I joined the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (School of Social and Political Sciences) at the University of Glasgow in October 2022, having previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Durham University. Enquiries about PhD supervision in my areas of research are welcome.
For any research, consultancy, or media enquiries please contact me directly by email.
Research interests
Domestic and sexual violence
Policing and the police
Violence against women
Feminist understandings of harm and justice
Research groups
Publications
2025
Friskney, Ruth 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0515-5717, McGlynn, Clare and Johnson, Kelly
(2025)
Centring sexual violence victims: what role for rape victim impact assessments?
International Review of Victimology, 31(3),
pp. 332-348.
(doi: 10.1177/02697580251327222)
Smith, O. et al. (2025) The systemic procedural injustice faced by victim-survivors in police responses to rape and ‘serious’ sexual offences: a comprehensive study of four forces in England and Wales. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 82, 100756. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijlcj.2025.100756)
Friskney, Ruth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0515-5717, Smith, Olivia and Johnson, Kelly
(2025)
Police use of body-worn video in first response to rape and serious sexual assault offences: Operation Soteria final research briefing.
Documentation.
National Police Chief's Council.
Johnson, Kelly, Walling-Wefelmeyer, Rosa, Smith, Olivia, Hohl, Katrin and Brooks-Hay, Oona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8435-322X
(2025)
Re-imagining procedural justice in policing sexual violence: centring survivors.
British Journal of Criminology, 65(3),
pp. 639-657.
(doi: 10.1093/bjc/azae060)
2024
Johnson, Kelly, Walling-Wefelmeyer, Rosa, Smith, Olivia, Hohl, Katrin and Brooks-Hay, Oona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8435-322X
(2024)
Re-imagining procedural justice in policing sexual violence.
Documentation.
University of Glasgow, Glasgow.
Friskney, Ruth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0515-5717, McGlynn, Clare and Johnson, Kelly
(2024)
Rape Victim Impact Assessments: what they are and why we need them.
Documentation.
University of Glasgow and Durham University.
2023
Henry, Nicola, Gavey, Nicola and Johnson, Kelly (2023) Image-based sexual abuse as a means of coercive control: victim-survivor experiences. Violence Against Women, 29(6-7), pp. 1206-1226. (doi: 10.1177/10778012221114918) (PMID:35989679)
Myhill, Andy, Hohl, Katrin and Johnson, Kelly (2023) The ‘officer effect’ in risk assessment for domestic abuse: findings from a mixed methods study in England and Wales. European Journal of Criminology, 20(3), pp. 856-877. (doi: 10.1177/14773708231156331) (PMID:37304041) (PMCID:PMC10248280)
Myhill, Andy, Johnson, Kelly, McNeill, Abigail, Critchfield, Emily and Westmarland, Nicole (2023) `A genuine one usually sticks out a mile': policing coercive control in England and Wales. Policing and Society, 33(4), pp. 398-413. (doi: 10.1080/10439463.2022.2134370)
Johnson, Kelly and Hohl, Katrin (2023) Police responses to domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: positive action and police legitimacy. Policing, 17(1), paac108. (doi: 10.1093/police/paac108)
Walling-Wefelmeyer, Rosa, Johnson, Kelly, Westmarland, Nicole, Dhir, Alishya and Lyons Sumroy, Asha (2023) Teaching for social change: introducing ‘scrapbooking’ as a pedagogic approach towards ending gender-based violence. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 7(1), pp. 128-145. (doi: 10.1332/239868021X16661126604534)
2022
Hohl, Katrin, Johnson, Kelly and Molisso, Sarah (2022) A procedural justice theory approach to police engagement with victim-survivors of rape and sexual assault: initial findings of the ‘project bluestone’ pilot study. International Criminology, 2, pp. 253-261. (doi: 10.1007/s43576-022-00056-z) (PMCID:PMC9066388)
Smith, O., Johnson, K. and Brooks-Hay, O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8435-322X
(2022)
Detailed Learning from Pillar 3 of Soteria: Embedding procedural justice and engaging victims.
Other.
Operation Soteria Bluestone.
2021
Rackley, Erika, McGlynn, Clare, Johnson, Kelly, Henry, Nicola, Gavey, Nicola, Flynn, Asher and Powell, Anastasia (2021) Seeking justice and redress for victim-survivors of image-based sexual abuse. Feminist Legal Studies, 29, pp. 293-322. (doi: 10.1007/s10691-021-09460-8)
Barlow, Charlotte, Walklate, Sandra and Johnson, Kelly (2021) Risk refraction: Thoughts on the victim-survivor's risk journey through the criminal justice process. International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 10(3), pp. 177-190. (doi: 10.5204/ijcjsd.1805)
McGlynn, Clare, Johnson, Kelly, Rackley, Erika, Henry, Nicola, Gavey, Nicola, Flynn, Asher and Powell, Anastasia (2021) `It's torture for the soul': The harms of image-based sexual abuse. Social and Legal Studies, 30(4), pp. 541-562. (doi: 10.1177/0964663920947791)
McGlynn, Clare and Johnson, Kelly (2021) Criminalising cyberflashing: Options for law reform. Journal of Criminal Law, 85(3), pp. 171-188. (doi: 10.1177/0022018320972306)
McGlynn, Clare and Johnson, Kelly (2021) Cyberflashing: Recognising Harms, Reforming Laws. Bristol University Press: Bristol. ISBN 9781529217629
Hohl, Katrin and Johnson, Kelly (2021) Responding to the Covid-19 domestic abuse crisis: developing a rapid police evidence base. Project Report. UKRI-ESRC.
2020
Barlow, Charlotte, Johnson, Kelly, Walklate, Sandra and Humphreys, Les (2020) Putting coercive control into practice: problems and possibilities. British Journal of Criminology, 60(1), pp. 160-179. (doi: 10.1093/bjc/azz041)
Henry, Nicola, McGlynn, Clare, Flynn, Asher, Johnson, Kelly, Powell, Anastasia and Scott, Adrian J. (2020) Image-based Sexual Abuse: A Study on the Causes and Consequences of Non-consensual Nude or Sexual Imagery. Routledge: London. ISBN 9781351135153 (doi: 10.4324/9781351135153)
2018
Westmarland, Nicole, Johnson, Kelly and McGlynn, Clare (2018) Under the radar: The widespread use of `out of court resolutions' in policing domestic violence and abuse in the United Kingdom. British Journal of Criminology, 58(1), pp. 1-16. (doi: 10.1093/bjc/azx004)
2016
Myhill, Andy and Johnson, Kelly (2016) Police use of discretion in response to domestic violence. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 16(1), pp. 3-20. (doi: 10.1177/1748895815590202)
Articles
Friskney, Ruth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0515-5717, McGlynn, Clare and Johnson, Kelly
(2025)
Centring sexual violence victims: what role for rape victim impact assessments?
International Review of Victimology, 31(3),
pp. 332-348.
(doi: 10.1177/02697580251327222)
Smith, O. et al. (2025) The systemic procedural injustice faced by victim-survivors in police responses to rape and ‘serious’ sexual offences: a comprehensive study of four forces in England and Wales. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 82, 100756. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijlcj.2025.100756)
Johnson, Kelly, Walling-Wefelmeyer, Rosa, Smith, Olivia, Hohl, Katrin and Brooks-Hay, Oona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8435-322X
(2025)
Re-imagining procedural justice in policing sexual violence: centring survivors.
British Journal of Criminology, 65(3),
pp. 639-657.
(doi: 10.1093/bjc/azae060)
Henry, Nicola, Gavey, Nicola and Johnson, Kelly (2023) Image-based sexual abuse as a means of coercive control: victim-survivor experiences. Violence Against Women, 29(6-7), pp. 1206-1226. (doi: 10.1177/10778012221114918) (PMID:35989679)
Myhill, Andy, Hohl, Katrin and Johnson, Kelly (2023) The ‘officer effect’ in risk assessment for domestic abuse: findings from a mixed methods study in England and Wales. European Journal of Criminology, 20(3), pp. 856-877. (doi: 10.1177/14773708231156331) (PMID:37304041) (PMCID:PMC10248280)
Myhill, Andy, Johnson, Kelly, McNeill, Abigail, Critchfield, Emily and Westmarland, Nicole (2023) `A genuine one usually sticks out a mile': policing coercive control in England and Wales. Policing and Society, 33(4), pp. 398-413. (doi: 10.1080/10439463.2022.2134370)
Johnson, Kelly and Hohl, Katrin (2023) Police responses to domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: positive action and police legitimacy. Policing, 17(1), paac108. (doi: 10.1093/police/paac108)
Walling-Wefelmeyer, Rosa, Johnson, Kelly, Westmarland, Nicole, Dhir, Alishya and Lyons Sumroy, Asha (2023) Teaching for social change: introducing ‘scrapbooking’ as a pedagogic approach towards ending gender-based violence. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 7(1), pp. 128-145. (doi: 10.1332/239868021X16661126604534)
Hohl, Katrin, Johnson, Kelly and Molisso, Sarah (2022) A procedural justice theory approach to police engagement with victim-survivors of rape and sexual assault: initial findings of the ‘project bluestone’ pilot study. International Criminology, 2, pp. 253-261. (doi: 10.1007/s43576-022-00056-z) (PMCID:PMC9066388)
Rackley, Erika, McGlynn, Clare, Johnson, Kelly, Henry, Nicola, Gavey, Nicola, Flynn, Asher and Powell, Anastasia (2021) Seeking justice and redress for victim-survivors of image-based sexual abuse. Feminist Legal Studies, 29, pp. 293-322. (doi: 10.1007/s10691-021-09460-8)
Barlow, Charlotte, Walklate, Sandra and Johnson, Kelly (2021) Risk refraction: Thoughts on the victim-survivor's risk journey through the criminal justice process. International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 10(3), pp. 177-190. (doi: 10.5204/ijcjsd.1805)
McGlynn, Clare, Johnson, Kelly, Rackley, Erika, Henry, Nicola, Gavey, Nicola, Flynn, Asher and Powell, Anastasia (2021) `It's torture for the soul': The harms of image-based sexual abuse. Social and Legal Studies, 30(4), pp. 541-562. (doi: 10.1177/0964663920947791)
McGlynn, Clare and Johnson, Kelly (2021) Criminalising cyberflashing: Options for law reform. Journal of Criminal Law, 85(3), pp. 171-188. (doi: 10.1177/0022018320972306)
Barlow, Charlotte, Johnson, Kelly, Walklate, Sandra and Humphreys, Les (2020) Putting coercive control into practice: problems and possibilities. British Journal of Criminology, 60(1), pp. 160-179. (doi: 10.1093/bjc/azz041)
Westmarland, Nicole, Johnson, Kelly and McGlynn, Clare (2018) Under the radar: The widespread use of `out of court resolutions' in policing domestic violence and abuse in the United Kingdom. British Journal of Criminology, 58(1), pp. 1-16. (doi: 10.1093/bjc/azx004)
Myhill, Andy and Johnson, Kelly (2016) Police use of discretion in response to domestic violence. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 16(1), pp. 3-20. (doi: 10.1177/1748895815590202)
Books
McGlynn, Clare and Johnson, Kelly (2021) Cyberflashing: Recognising Harms, Reforming Laws. Bristol University Press: Bristol. ISBN 9781529217629
Henry, Nicola, McGlynn, Clare, Flynn, Asher, Johnson, Kelly, Powell, Anastasia and Scott, Adrian J. (2020) Image-based Sexual Abuse: A Study on the Causes and Consequences of Non-consensual Nude or Sexual Imagery. Routledge: London. ISBN 9781351135153 (doi: 10.4324/9781351135153)
Research Reports or Papers
Friskney, Ruth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0515-5717, Smith, Olivia and Johnson, Kelly
(2025)
Police use of body-worn video in first response to rape and serious sexual assault offences: Operation Soteria final research briefing.
Documentation.
National Police Chief's Council.
Johnson, Kelly, Walling-Wefelmeyer, Rosa, Smith, Olivia, Hohl, Katrin and Brooks-Hay, Oona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8435-322X
(2024)
Re-imagining procedural justice in policing sexual violence.
Documentation.
University of Glasgow, Glasgow.
Friskney, Ruth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0515-5717, McGlynn, Clare and Johnson, Kelly
(2024)
Rape Victim Impact Assessments: what they are and why we need them.
Documentation.
University of Glasgow and Durham University.
Smith, O., Johnson, K. and Brooks-Hay, O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8435-322X
(2022)
Detailed Learning from Pillar 3 of Soteria: Embedding procedural justice and engaging victims.
Other.
Operation Soteria Bluestone.
Hohl, Katrin and Johnson, Kelly (2021) Responding to the Covid-19 domestic abuse crisis: developing a rapid police evidence base. Project Report. UKRI-ESRC.
Grants
Project 'Bright Light': Pillar 3: Developing a victim-centred, procedurally justice response for victim-survivors of domestic abuse. Avon and Somerset Police Crime Commissioner's Office, 2025, £50,000 [PI]
Operation Soteria: Pillar 3, Commercial implementation. College of Policing, 2024-2025, £51,208 [Co-I]
'Operation Bluestone Soteria: Pillar 3 Years 1-3; Embedding a procedural justice approach to police engaging victims of sexual violence'. Home Office, 2021-2023, £1.94 million [PI, sharing with M. Burman and O. Smith Co-PIs during maternity leaves]
'Responding to the Covid-19 domestic abuse crisis: Developing a rapid response police evidence base.' ESRC, 2020-2021. £177,173 [Co-I]
ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, 2020-2021, £1800 (PI)
Supervision
- Lou, Mingxin
Digital and Cultural Feminisms: Lived Experiences of Young Chinese Women and the Influence of Feminist Discourses on Marriage and Contemporary Womanhood. - Love, Stephanie
Women's experiences of online dating: examining men's intrusions in online dating contexts
Teaching
In addition to PhD supervision, I teach on the Masters taught Criminology programme where I convene Contemporary Issues in Policing and supervise dissertation students.
Professional activities & recognition
Editorial boards
- 2025: British Journal of Criminology
