Dr Roberts is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University. She graduated in 2006 with a doctorate in Criminology from the University of Bath. Her PhD analysed the ways in which the probation service constructed the treatment of intimately violent offenders. Previously she had studied at Teesside University and graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Criminology. She had also studied at the Scarman Centre at the University of Leicester and graduated with a M.Sc in Criminology with distinction. In her Masters research she evaluated a domestic violence programme delivered by the probation service and a non-government organisation. After obtaining her lectureship, she studied at the University of Sunderland and graduated with her MA in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. For this Masters research she aimed to understand what matters to University students today, and how this played-out in their learning. Nicola is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In practice, Nicola worked for the Probation Service as a Practitioner, and as a Probation Volunteer.