Staff profile

Assistant Professor

Biography

James is an Assistant Professor in Sociology in the Department of Sociology. Before joining Durham, James was a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Westminster.

James completed his ESRC-funded doctoral research at the University of Sussex in 2023. His thesis investigated Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs), a system for reviewing domestic homicides and domestic abuse-related deaths by suicide, which were first introduced in England and Wales in 2011 and are now known as Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews. James’ focus was on how DHRs/DARDRs are understood, operate, and are used and what that makes possible in terms of knowledge generation. 

James has a practice background. Before completing a PhD, he originally trained as a Social Worker and then became an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), working in frontline roles with victims and survivors and also perpetrators of domestic abuse. James also worked in a variety of leadership and policy roles in the domestic abuse sector. 

James is a co-convenor of the International Community of Practice for the Study of Domestic Homicide and a Board Member of Respect.

Research Area

Much of James’ work focuses on DHRs/DARDRs and international versions of this type of fatality review system (known as Domestic Violence Fatality Reviews or Domestic Violence Death Review Committees). James is interested in how these review systems are established and operate, if they bring about change, as well as the experience of those who participate in them (including the emotional labour involved). 

More broadly, James is interested in femicide, as well as practice and policy interventions, including coordinated community responses, risk assessment, and prevention. James has a particular interest in the experience of LGBTQ+ victims/survivors, as well as heterosexual men.

 Research Interests 

• Domestic violence and abuse
• Domestic homicide and domestic abuse-related deaths by suicide
• Fatality review systems
• Femicide
• LGBTQ+ victims/survivors
• Male victim/survivors

Teaching

• Violence and Abuse in Society
• Feminist Anti-Violence Activism: Theory in Action
• Gender, Violence and Abuse

 

• 2023: Welsh Government Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR) Stakeholder Reference Group:
• 2022: Scottish Government Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Taskforce:

Doctoral Thesis

• Rowlands, J. ‘Illuminating the past to make the future safer?’ Exploring the potential and peril of domestic homicide reviews as a mechanism for change. (Thesis). University of Sussex. https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2783225

Journal Article

• Rowlands, J. (online). Perpetrator Involvement in Domestic Homicide Reviews in England and Wales. Homicide Studies, https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679241247846
• Rowlands, J., & Dangar, S. (2024). The Challenges and Opportunities of Reviewing Domestic Abuse-Related Deaths by Suicide in England and Wales. Journal of Family Violence, 39(4), 723-737. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00492-z
• Rowlands, J. (2024). Naming practices in domestic homicide reviews in England and Wales. Families, Relationships and Societies, 13(1), 121-139. https://doi.org/10.1332/204674321x16765585870472
• Cook, E. A., Rowlands, J., Bracewell, K., Jones, C., & Boughton, G. (2023). Parallels in Practice: Applying Principles of Research Integrity and Ethics in Domestic Violence Fatality Review (DVFR). Journal of Family Violence, 38(6), 1015-1027. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00505-x
• Rowlands, J. (2023). Reviewing in a pandemic? A commentary on COVID-19 and domestic homicide review. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 15(3), 201-204. https://doi.org/10.1108/jacpr-02-2022-0693
• Rowlands, J. (2022). Constructing Fatality Review: A Policy Analysis of the Emergence of Domestic Homicide Reviews in England and Wales. Violence Against Women, 28(15-16), 3657-3680. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012211068064
• Rowlands, J., & Bracewell, K. (2022). Inside the black box: domestic homicide reviews as a source of data. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 6(3), 518-534. https://doi.org/10.1332/239868021x16439025360589
• Rowlands, J. (2022). The Potential and Limitations of Domestic Homicide Review: A Response to Hope et al. (2021). Partner Abuse: New Directions in Research, Intervention, and Policy, 13(3), 316-325. https://doi.org/10.1891/pa-2021-0054
• Rowlands, J., & Cook, E. A. (2022). Navigating Family Involvement in Domestic Violence Fatality Review: Conceptualising Prospects for Systems and Relational Repair. Journal of Family Violence, 37(4), 559-572. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-021-00309-x
• Cullen, P., Dawson, M., Price, J., & Rowlands, J. (2021). Intersectionality and Invisible Victims: Reflections on Data Challenges and Vicarious Trauma in Femicide, Family and Intimate Partner Homicide Research. Journal of Family Violence, 36(5), 619-628. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00243-4
• Rowlands, J. (2021). Interviewee Transcript Review as a Tool to Improve Data Quality and Participant Confidence in Sensitive Research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211066170
• Rowlands, J. (2020). The ethics of victim voice in Domestic Homicide Reviews. Sentio (Colchester),
• Robinson, A. L., & Rowlands, J. (2009). Assessing and managing risk among different victims of domestic abuse: Limits of a generic model of risk assessment?. Security Journal, 22(3), 190-204. https://doi.org/10.1057/sj.2009.2

Monograph

• Rowlands, J. (2006). Domestic abuse among gay and bisexual men : an exploratory study in South Wales. University Of East Anglia, Norwich

Other (Digital/Visual Media)

• Rowlands, J., Cook, E., & Dangar, S. (2024). Consultation response to the revised Statutory Guidance for the Conduct of Domestic Homicide Reviews. [Blog]
• Rowlands, J., & Dangar, S. (2023). We need to work together to prevent domestic abuse-related suicide. [Blog]
• Rowlands, J. (2023). Consulting for Reform: The Definition and Naming of Domestic Homicide Reviews. [Blog]

Report

• Cook, E., Rowlands, J., Davies, B., Dickens, J., Mullane, F., Preston-Shoot, M., & Roy, S. (2024). Learning across statutory review practices: Origins, ambitions, and future directions. Violence, Health and Society: VISION
• Field, M., & Rowlands, J. (2021). Commissioning for Inclusion: Delivering services for LGBT+ survivors of domestic abuse. Galop
• Rowlands, J. (2020). Reviewing domestic homicide - International practice and perspectives. Churchill Fellowship
• Robinson, A., & Rowlands, J. (2006). The Dyn Project: Supporting Men Experiencing Domestic Abuse. Cardiff University and the Dyn Project