Professor Caroline Chatwin

Professor Chatwin is a criminologist working in the Kent Criminology Group. Her research interests include: global drug policy, new psychoactive substances, internet drug markets and the experience of imprisonment. She teaches level 6 optional modules on illegal drugs and the prison system. 

A desire to inform illegal drug policy making, particularly at the European and Global levels, is central to Professor Chatwin’s work. Publications have explored the desirability and viability of global approaches to drug policy making, developed strategies to achieve more effective drug policies, and evaluated recent international policies designed to control the emergence of New Psychoactive Substances and Human Enhancement Drugs.
More recently, Professor Chatwin has been involved in research which: considers the impact that technological developments can have on drug markets; provides a gendered analysis of online markets for the smart drug Modafinil; and explores seasonal magic mushroom markets.

• Professor Chatwin leads a team of researchers at the University in a Ministry of Justice funded evaluation of interventions aiming to improve outcomes for prison leavers.  

Professor Chatwin convenes popular level 6 modules in the fields of drugs and imprisonment and contributes to criminology teaching throughout the degree programme. Since 2016, she has convened a level 6 module – The Inside-Out prison exchange programme – which involves taking University students into HMP Swaleside to be taught alongside some of the men who are imprisoned there. The module is an innovative opportunity for students to participate in some experiential leaning and to acquire a different perspective of the criminal justice system. Finally, she offers a volunteering module, open to students from across the University which allows students to undertake work placements in the voluntary sector. 

Recent editorial

• LSE - While harmonising EU drug policies is unnecessary, it is important that states can learn from drug policy successes and failures in other countries
• World Politics Review - Global Insider: Coordination Remains a Problem for EU Anti-Drug Policies 
• The Guardian - Severe side effects of drug policy

Media appearances 

• Podomatic - Shamanic Freedom Radio episode 79: Caroline Chatwin and William Rowlandson at Breaking Convention, and a monologue about the England riots