Dr Danna-Mechelle Lewis

Assistant Professor

School: Humanities and Social Sciences

As an award winning, early career psycho-socio-legal researcher and Assistant Professor in Criminology, Danna-Mechelle has a unique 360-degree professional lens through which she has observed the Criminal Justice System, spanning practice, policy, and academia. Her primary research interests examine the psycho-socio-legal aspects of offending and desistance, risk, risk assessment models and mattering, specifically how individuals establish a sense of mattering and eventually move away from crime. She has recently completed a fellowship with the Ministry of Justice and HM Inspectorate of Probation regarding desistance from harmful and offending behaviours; and has recently been awarded a competitive place on the Prison Service Journal editorial developmental scheme (a fixed 2-year tenure).

Email Danna-Mechelle

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

Her primary research interests examine the psycho-socio-legal aspects of offending and desistance, risk, risk assessment models and mattering, specifically how individuals establish a sense of mattering and eventually move away from crime.

Research projects:

Outcome measures linked to desistence: This is a policy fellowship study in partnership with Ministry of Justice and HM Inspectorate of Probation. The project seeks to explore the range of outcome measures needed to better understand desistance and (reductions in) reoffending. There is interest in developing measures that work for (i) children and (ii) adults, ensuring that they are sufficiently tailored to these differing age groups. The study is sponsored by Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) and funded by UKRI Research England. Principle Investigator - £50,000.00, June 2022 £13,914, March 2023

Centring the domestic abuse survivor experience through digital resources for their journey: let’s change the narrative through impact on practice: working with colleagues Rima Hussein and Kayleigh Richardson (faculty of Business and Law / School of Law) this study aims to answer the Ministry of Justice research question ‘How can we minimise the harm to survivors of abuse engaging with the family justice system’, by providing innovative and accessible digital ‘self-help’ videos (Vlogs) to better equip survivors of domestic abuse and their families, when navigating the Family Court process. This project will be delivered in partnership with Cardiff Women’s Aid and Support through Court, and the Ministry of Justice. The study is sponsored by Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) seed funding and funded by UKRI Research England. Co-Investigator £13,759.00, June 2022

She was awarded a Northumbria University Enhancement project award (2022/23) for ODiT (Online and Digital Teaching Practices model). In 2023, she was holder of an ESRC Festival of Social Sciences event.

Danna-Mechelle currently teaches across the Criminology and PCDA programmes. She also provides NVivo training to academics, postgraduates, and researchers. Please feel free to contact her to discuss hosting an NVivo training event.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
A Holistic Practitioner’s Toolkit for Supporting Desistance and Desistance-informed Practice, Lewis, D. 24 Feb 2026
Digital Pathways: How Technology Supports Successful Desistance, Lewis, D. 10 Jun 2026, INE 2026
Desisting from Offending and Harmful Behaviours: An Evidence-based review, Lewis, D. 15 Dec 2025
Our Possible Future Selves: Free activity worksheets for kids aged 5 -10 years, Lewis, D. 26 Jan 2024
Living on the Edge: Young Offenders and Emotive Offending, Lewis, D. 2 Jan 2018, In: Deviant Behavior
A Matter for Concern: Young Offenders and the Importance of Mattering, Lewis, D. 2 Nov 2017, In: Deviant Behavior
Book Review: Making Sense of Reality: Culture and Perception in Everyday Life, Lewis, D. 1 Mar 2016, In: Cultural Sociology
The risk factor – (Re-) visiting adult offender risk assessments within criminal justice practice, Lewis, D. 17 Jun 2014, In: Risk Management
Dealing with Disaffection: Young People, Mentoring and Social Inclusion, Lewis, D. Oct 2006, In: Crime Prevention and Community Safety
How Important are Prisons as a Locality within the Community?, Lewis, D. 2005, In: Prison Service Journal

Current and Recent Projects

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Policy Fellowship with the Ministry of Justice and HM Inspectorate of Probation: Outcome Measures Linked to Desistance., Lewis, D. (Principal Investigator), CAPE Fund - Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement, 01/07/23 - 29/09/23, £13,913.00
Cape-Centring the domestic abuse survivor experience through digital resources for their journey; let’s change the narrative through impact on practice, Hussein, R. (Principal Investigator), Lewis, D. (Co Investigator), CAPE Fund - Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement, 01/06/22 - 31/12/22, £13,759.00

Professional Activity

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Editorial work: Prison Service Journal (Journal) 2026
Membership of network: Crime and Justice Analyst Network (Event) 2024
Membership of network: Insights North East - Investing in the North East (Event) 2024
Organising a conference, workshop, ...: ESRC Festival of Social Sciences 2023 2023
Other: Northumbria University Enhancement Project Award - Can you speak digital 2022

Further Information

Danna-Mechelle is available for collaborative research and writing projects in her field of expertise. She is also available for guest lectures, conferences, and PhD supervision.

Qualifications