Research Interests
Investigative Psychology
Informing police decision-making and developing decision-support, including crime linkage (behavioural linking of crimes), suspect prioritisation, classification of IIOC, offender profiling. She also evaluates police interventions in terms of effectiveness, as well as conducting process evaluations.
Sexual and Serial Offending
Sexual offending (particularly offences committed by strangers, juveniles and groups, as well as Internet-facilitated child sexual abuse), modus operandi, victim behaviour, rape myths and stereotypes, serial offending (including robbery, burglary and sexual offences).
Wellbeing of Criminal Justice Professionals
Occupational stress, the effect of exposure to other people’s traumatic experiences, coping strategies used by professionals.
Research Funding
Jessica has attracted more than £5M in research grants and contracts.
Selected research grants and contracts
2020 & 2021: Internet child sexual offending. Principal Investigator, £1.74M
2021: Investigating the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on stranger sex offender behaviour and victim vulnerability. Principal Investigator, £295k
2019: Evaluation of crime linkage processes in Switzerland. Co-Investigator, £57k
2019: Independent Evaluation of Policing Interventions tackling Vulnerability and/or Violent Crime. Co-investigator and Lot 4 Lead, £668k
2017 & 2019: Academic Advisory Group. Principal Investigator, £30k