Dr Dominic Reed joins the Centre

Please can you tell us a little bit about your academic/professional background and how you came to be working at the Centre?

“Before joining the team, I worked on a PhD in law at Glasgow University, assessing the relationship between medical confidentiality and domestic abuse. This research used a mixed methods approach to assess how ideas of medical confidentiality were constructed and understood by survivors, clinicians and legal professionals and involved interview and questionnaire studies. After that I worked on a project assessing the impact of Covid-19 on marginalised groups in Scotland.”

Can you tell us a little bit about your research interests?

“My research interests are chiefly in the interactions between victims of crime and the healthcare and criminal justice systems. By focussing on areas of intersection between patients, clinicians and the criminal justice system, I have tried to open up critical perspectives on the problem of analysing violence using a multidisciplinary lens. During this research it has become apparent that many crime victims and survivors are frustrated at the lack of cohesion between the health and criminal justice sectors, with professionals in each also relatively unsure of how the other operates. Crucially, this lack of familiarity can have a negative impact on victims and survivors when they become involved in both systems.”

You are working on a CPRL research project on Victim (Dis)engagement in DA and rape cases – what interested you in getting involved in that research project?

“My interest in working on Victim (Dis)engagement in DA and rape cases came from my previous work on survivors’ experiences with the health and criminal justice systems. During my PhD research, it was evident that these experiences not only shaped people’s perceptions of those systems, but also impacted the likelihood that they would engage with them again in future. The Victim (Dis)engagement project is a great opportunity to continue exploring these questions and has the massive benefit of working with an experienced multidisciplinary team!”

What has been your most enjoyable moment since being here?

“I very much enjoyed getting to know the rest of the project team. We’ve all come from very different professional backgrounds and it’s been great to chat and start thinking about the project.”

Now, can you tell us some things about yourself:

What is your favourite drink/cocktail?

“It sounds flippant but really not fussy. Wasn’t previously much of a wine drinker but became more amenable over the last few months.”

What do you do to relax?

“I love reading and music. Spent the past couple of years trying to learn the guitar and happily carrying on just now with online lessons. Got back into running during lockdown before a fall into a hedge/sprained ankle stopped that.”

And most importantly, Team Cat or Team Dog?

“Both! Although we have a pretty strict landlord so sadly can’t have either at the moment.”