Dr Michael Naughton
BSc, Ph.D.(Bristol)
Current positions
Reader in Sociology and Law
University of Bristol Law SchoolReader in Sociology and Law
School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
Dr Michael Naughton is a Reader in Sociology and Law across the Law School and the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS). His research specialises in false allegations, miscarriages of justice and the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of innocent victims.
Dr Naughton is the author or editor of four books: The Innocent and the Criminal Justice System (Palgrave Macmillan); Claims of Innocence: An introduction to wrongful convictions and how they might be challenged (University of Bristol. with Tan, G.); The Criminal Cases Review Commission: Hope for the Innocent? (Palgrave Macmillan); and, Rethinking Miscarriages of Justice: Beyond the tip of the ‘iceberg’ (Palgrave Macmillan).
In addition, his articles have been published in, among others, The British Journal of Criminology, Critical Criminology, Critical Social Policy, International Journal of Evidence and Proof, Howard Journal of Criminal Justice and Criminal Law Quarterly.
Outside of academia, Dr Naughton is the Founder and Director of Empowering the Innocent (ETI), which raises awareness of false allegations and wrongful convictions through the voices of alleged innocent victims as a precursor to reforms aimed at preventing them from occurring or for them to be overturned and redressed when they do occur.
Projects and supervisions
Thesis supervisions
Life on Tag
Supervisors
Publications
Recent publications
19/03/2026Empowering Intercivilizational Dialogue Theory (IDT) to Include Both Inter and Intra Dimensions of Power and Resistance
Beyond Eurocentric Social Theory: The Nomadic Intellectual on Religion, Culture and the State
Jonathan King: 'Vile pervert' or innocent victim of false allegations and sexual equality activist?
CCRC Watch
He Who Pays the Piper Calls the Tune: A Critical Analysis of the Impact of Governmental Funding on the Construction and Deployment of Forms of Sociological Knowledge and Expertise
Critical Perspectives
Misanthropic Feminism: How and Why the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Sexually Discriminates Against Men in Uncorroborated Rape Cases where the Complainant Claims that they were Voluntarily Intoxicated
Critical Perspectives
Why Helen Pitcher’s resignation as Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is a red herring to distract attention away from the “real possibility test”
University of Bristol Law School Blog
Thesis
Miscarriages of Justice: Exception to the Rule?
Supervisors
Award date
01/01/2003
