Lecturer in Law: Research Interests

My research interests include the relationship between law and social policy, with a particular focus on the implementation  of socio-economic rights; children’s rights and children’s citizenship. I am also interested in the impact of devolution (Wales) on law and policy, with a focus on the realization of international socio-economic and children’s rights.

My current research interests relate to socio-economic rights, social policy, and in particular those policies and practices which are relevant to issues of social disadvantage, and the rights/interests of marginalised social groups. An aspect of my research is the impact of devolution in Wales and the opportunities that this provides for progressive approaches to the realization of socio-economic human rights.    

I have a particular interest in empirical and evaluative investigation.   

Recent Publications   

-Hoffman, S., and Macdonald, S., ‘Tackling Youth Anti-Social Behaviour in Devolving Wales: A Study of the Tiered Approach in Swansea’, Youth Justice, August 2011.
- Hoffman, S., and Macdonald, S., ‘Should ASBOS be civilized’ Criminal Law Review, June 2010.
- Hoffman, S., ‘Legislative competence in housing for Wales: An assessment of likely impacts’ Journal of Housing Law, June 2010.
- Hoffman, S., Mackie, P., Pritchard, J., ‘Anti-social behaviour law and policy in the United Kingdom: Assessing the impact of enforcement action in the management of social housing’ International Journal of Law in the Built Environment, May 2010.   

Research Reports    

- Hoffman, S., Mackie, P.,‘Homelessness Legislation in Wales: Stakeholder perspectives on potential improvements’, March 2011, WISERD, Cardiff.                                                                                                                                                                                                           -Hoffman, S., Macdonald, S., ‘Evaluation of the Tiered Approach to Youth Anti-social Behaviour in Swansea’, WAG, February 2010.

Selected Papers    

- ‘Children’s citizenship and housing: the dilemma of property law’, COBRA, Paris, 2010.                                                                            

- ‘Anti-social behaviour and the child’s right to assembly, association and recreation’ Play Research and Development Seminar Event, Swansea, May 2010.
- ‘Social Housing and Anti-social Behaviour: Social Housing, the Compounded Disadvantage of the Social Tenant, and Homelessness’, FEANTSE research conference on homelessness, Paris, September 2009.
- ‘A ‘Rights-based Approach’ to Security of Tenure Entitlement in Social Housing’, European Network for Housing Research, Prague 2009
- ‘Housing policy and poor housing: a return to rights?’, European Network for Housing Research, Prague 2009
- ‘Social Housing and Anti-social Behaviour: Issues of Community Engagement and Accountability for Non-profit Housing’, presented at the European Network for Housing Research, Prague 2009

Relevant Activities   

Member of:
•        Society of Legal Scholars
•        Socio-legal Studies Association
•        Wales Centre for International Affairs

Member of the Wales Monitoring Group on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Research Supervision     

I would welcome proposals or enquiries for post-graduate research into law and social policy.

I am currently involved in supervision of research (PhD) on:
•    Devolution and UK health policy. 
•    The human rights of the frail elderly.