James Tyler Young

Profile

I am a third-year PhD student in the School of Law. My research concerns digital vigilantism and its relationship with formal criminal justice institutions – particularly how informal and formal policing interact with, and complement one another. My MSc by Research from the University of Huddersfield explored how public perceptions of Paedophile Hunters lend credibility to their actions, and my PhD was a natural step forward from my masters thesis and subsequent publication.

Research interests

Utilising qualitative interviews with Paedophile Hunters, the police, and legal professionals, alongside documentary data, the thesis aims to explore and develop the position of Paedophile Hunting within broader criminological frameworks and its relationship with the criminal justice system, focusing on its impact, challenges, and implications for practitioners. My thesis does this by answering the following research questions:

• How does Paedophile Hunting align with or challenge existing criminological theories on vigilantism, policing, and community justice?
• What are the contributions, methods, and broader societal impacts of Paedophile Hunting?
• How do Paedophile Hunters perceive their role, objectives, and relationships with the criminal justice system?
• What are criminal justice practitioners’ perspectives on the activities, legitimacy, and challenges associated with Paedophile Hunting?

Qualifications

• PhD in Law (2023-)
• MSc by Research in Criminology/Criminal Justice (2021-2023)
• BSc (Hons) Policing and Investigation (2018-2021)