Dr Leigh Harkins

 

Lecturer

School of Psychology

Leigh Harkins

Contact details

Telephone +44 (0)121 41 43665

Email l.harkins@bham.ac.uk

School of Psychology
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

About

Leigh Harkins is a chartered psychologist and an HCPC registered forensic psychologist. Her primary areas of research are sexual offending and group aggression.

Qualifications

HonBSc, MA, PhD, C.Psychol, Forensic Psychologist.

Teaching

Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Research

Research Group
Forensic Psychology

Research Interests
My current research interests focus on understanding sexual aggression and aggression in groups. An ongoing area of interest includes examining how to maximise treatment effectiveness with sexual offenders, including examination of the role of risk, need, responsivity (including psychopathy) factors and the importance of examining group process variables. Another area of interest is the role of denial in predicitng sexual recidivism and in particular the possibility of differential patterns of reoffense for deniers of different offender types and risk levels. More recently I have begun examining aspects of sexual aggression committed by groups, and gang violence.

Publications

Harkins, L., Pritchard, C., Haskayne, D., Watson, A., & Beech, A.R. (in press). Evaluation of Geese Theatre’s Reconnect program: Addressing resettlement issues in prison. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.

Abracen, J., Looman, J., Ferguson, M., Harkins, L., Mailloux, D., & Serin, R. (in press). Recidivism among treated sexual offenders and comparison subjects: Recent outcome data from the Regional Treatment Centre (Ontario) High Intensity Sex Offender Treatment Program. Journal of Sexual Aggression.

Harkins, L., Beech, A.R., & Goodwill, A.M. (2010). Examining the influence of denial, motivation, and risk in sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 22, 78-94.

Harkins, L. & Dixon, L. (2010). Sexual offending in groups: An examination. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 15, 87-99.

Langton, C.M., Barbaree, H.E., Harkins, L., Peacock, E.J., Arenovich, T. (2008). Further investigation of findings reported for the MnSOST-R. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23, 1363-1379.

Langton, C.M., Barbaree, H.E., Harkins, L., Arenovich, T., McNamee, J., Peacock, E.J., et al. (2008). Denial and minimization among sex offenders: Post-treatment presentation association with sexual recidivism. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35, 69-98.

Harkins, L., & Beech, A.R. (2008). Examining the impact of mixing child molesters and rapists in group-based cognitive behavioral treatment for sexual offenders. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 52, 31-45.

Harkins, L., & Beech, A.R. (2007). A review of the factors that can influence the effectiveness of sexual offender treatment: Risk, need, responsivity, and process issues. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12, 616-627.

Langton, C. M., Barbaree, H. E., Hansen, K. T., Harkins, L., & Peacock, E.
J. (2007). Reliability and validity of the Static-2002 among adult sex
offenders with reference to treatment status. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34, 616-640.

Harkins, L. & Beech, A.R. (2007). Measurement of the effectiveness of sex offender treatment. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12, 36-44.

Langton, C. M., Barbaree, H. E., Seto, M. C., Peacock, E. J., Harkins, L., &
Hansen, K. T. (2007). Actuarial assessment of risk for reoffense among
adult sex offenders: Evaluating the predictive accuracy of the Static-2002
and five other instruments. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34, 37-59.

Harkins, L. (2006). [Review of the Book Sex Offender Treatment: Controversial Issues]. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 12, 304-306.

Langton, C. M., Barbaree, H. E., Harkins, L., & Peacock, E. J. (2006). Sex offenders' response to treatment and its association with recidivism as a function of psychopathy. Sexual Abuse. A Journal of Research and Treatment, 18, 99-120.

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