Sean was seconded to the School of Law in June 2016 from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs where since 2012 he took lead responsibility for evaluation of programmes for children and young people. In October 2016 Sean was appointed as UL Adjunct Professor in Youth Justice.

Sean’s previous career history includes

• Head of Young Offender Programmes; Irish Youth Justice Service, Department of Justice and Equality  (February 2008- November 2012)
• Assistant Director Children’s Services, Barnardos Ireland (July 1999-February 2008). 
• Director PACE, prison resettlement service, Dublin (July 1996-June 1999)   

Sean graduated from the University of Central England (BA (Hons) Sociology, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work) in 1988 and is a CORU registered social worker. He completed a doctorate in Governance (Queen’s University Belfast) in 2015. His thesis examined the role of a criminal network in negatively influencing the behaviour of children in a real Garda (police) sub-district known anonymously as ‘Greentown’.

The programme that Sean is leading is a partnership between the Law School, University of Limerick and the Irish Youth Justice Service (which comprises  the departments of Children and Youth Affairs and Justice and Equality). The programme, Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice (REPPP), seeks to improve the evidence base for policy making in the area of youth justice. The REPPP programme will commission and undertake research, evaluation, evidence reviews and analysis of data kept by state agencies and departments and use this activity to contribute to practical improvements for children in the youth justice system. In addition, the programme intends to increase congruence between problems encountered by policy makers in the youth justice area and research and evaluation activity.

In addition to academic publication Sean has authored national reports designed to improve the effectiveness of youth justice programmes (Garda Youth Diversion Projects (2009), community based probation projects for young people (2010)) and targeted youth programmes funded by the Department of Children and Youth affairs (2014).

Research

Sean’s interest areas include youth crime and youth justice (with a particular emphasis on serious crime and criminal networks), ‘wicked’ and complex policy problems, programme evaluation, research and evaluation methodologies, governance in public services, practical theory and evidence informed policy-making.

Publications

Peer reviewed journals

The Greentown Crime Network: Introducing its Cast of Principal Actors Published (November 2015) Irish Probation Journal 

A Baseline Analysis of Garda Youth Diversion Projects: Considering Complexities in Understanding Youth Crime in Local Communities in Ireland (September 2009) Irish Probation Journal 

Government Publications

Working in partnership with communities to reduce youth offending – Report published 2010 Irish Youth Justice Service www.iyjs.ie

‘Designing Effective Local Responses to Youth Crime’ – Report published 2009 Irish Youth Justice Service

Value for Money  and Policy Review of Youth Programmes  - Report published 2014 [Department of Children and Youth Affairs  

Professional

CORU registered social worker

Relevant training

Other relevant activities

• Expert Advisory Group member – Area Based Community (ABC) national anti-poverty programme
• Volunteer youth club leader with Foroige, Riverstick Co. Cork
• Volunteer youth mentor Le Chéile Mentoring service (2007-2008)
• Board member Irish Association for the Study of Delinquency (2002-2006)
• Board member Irish Penal Reform Trust (1996-1999)