Gary is the Associate Head of School, and leads on all matters relating to the student experience, quality assurance and accreditation. Prior to this, he was the LLB Course Director with responsibility for all undergraduate-level courses run within the School. He has extensive and varied experience of teaching law at University, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. He has designed and developed a number of innovative courses and modules in law which has ultimately led to recognition as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In addition, he is a member of the Society of Legal Scholars, Socio-legal Studies Association, British Society of Criminology, and Association of Law Teachers.

Research:

Upon completion of Gary’s doctoral thesis on Sentencing Convicted Thieves: Principles, Policy and Practice, he has continued to pursue active research in criminal law and justice. In particular, he has an interest in the interplay between sentencing policy and practice, and the use of judicial discretion in this context. Dr Betts has written on the courts’ application of sentencing guidelines, the relevance of previous convictions, and the sentencing of corporate offenders.

He welcomes expressions of interest from prospective research students who wish to undertake postgraduate study in sentencing, corporate crime or criminal law.

Area of Expertise:

• Sentencing theory, policy and practice
• Corporate Criminal Liability
• Criminal law, particularly offences against property