Honour for leading criminologist at University of Leicester

A leading criminologist at the University of Leicester is bringing her expertise in forensic science and criminal justice to an editorial role.

Criminologist Dr Lisa Smith (pictured) was elected Honorary Editor for the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences at their annual conference and AGM. As a result, she has become the new Editor-in-Chief of the Elsevier journal Science and Justice, which is the Chartered Society’s official peer-reviewed journal. This is a three-year appointment.

The role of Honorary Editor for the Society is one of four honorary roles on the Society’s Council.  It involves oversight of the Society’s publications with the main responsibility being Editor-in-Chief of the Society’s academic journal Science and Justice. Previous to this role, Dr Smith was co-opted to the Society Council as the Link Coordinator.

Dr Smith is an Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Department in our Department of Criminology and Director of the newly established Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies.

She said: “I am delighted to be taking over as Editor-in-Chief of Science and Justice and I look forward to working with the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and Elsevier to ensure the continued success of the journal. Science and Justice has always been a very interdisciplinary journal, dedicated to research and debate about issues facing the entire forensic science community and the criminal justice sector, and so this is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of the discipline through the publication of high quality forensic research.”

Society President Professor Martin Evison added: “One of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences’ key aims is to support and encourage research and development in the forensic sciences, and our publications play a key role in this strategic objective. Our peer-reviewed journal Science and Justice continues to drive up research quality internationally, as reflected in the rising impact factor, and it is now among the leading forensic science journals.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr Lisa Smith to the role of Honorary Editor. The journal will benefit from Lisa’s interdisciplinary work in forensic science and criminal justice, and I look forward to working with her to ensure the continued success of Science and Justice.”