Stefan Machura studied sociology and political science at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Germany). His doctoral dissertation dealt with the control of state-owned enterprises. In 1992, he started teaching sociology of law, sociology and political science at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. The perceived fairness of authorities and of procedures like court trials, lay participation in the administration of justice and the portrayal of the legal system in popular media and its effects form major aspects of his research. In 2000, he passed the second dissertation (Habilitation, Administrative Science) in Munich, to be followed by a Habilitation (Political Science) in Bochum in 2005.

In 2020, Stefan Machura received the International Prize Honorary Mention of the Law and Society Association (USA) in recognition of significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the field of law and society .

Since 2000, Stefan Machura is one of the editors of the "Zeitschrift für Rechtssoziologie. The German Journal of Law and Society", 2010-2014 main editor (info: https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/zfrs).

With Klaus F. Röhl, Stefan Machura co-edits the book series “Society and Law / Gesellschaft und Recht” (overview: http://www.lit-verlag.de/reihe/geure).

The Working Group on Law and Popular Culture of the International Sociological Association's Research Committee on Sociology of Law (RCSL) has elected Stefan Machura as Chair in March 2018.

Stefan Machura is board member the Sociology of Law Section in the German Sociological Association since 1998 (http://www.soziologie.de/index.php?id=275). In addition, he is a board member of the (German) Association for Law and Society “Vereinigung für Recht und Gesellschaft” (https://www.rechtssoziologie.info/).

He co-edits the Oxford Encyclopedia of Crime, Media and Popular Culture (http://criminology.oxfordre.com/browse?t0=ORE_CRI:REFCRI003).

Answer phone: 01248-382214

Email: s.machura@bangor.ac.uk

• Arall: Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education
  University of Wales, Bangor, 2009
• Profesiynol: Umhabilitation
  Ruhr-University Bochum, 2005
• PhD: Habilitation, dissertation "Fairneß und Legitimität"
  Universität der Bundeswehr München, 2000
• PhD: The control of state-owned enterprises
  Ruhr-University Bochum, 1992
• Arall: Diplom-Sozialwissenschaftler, dissertation on the political control of ministerial bureaucracy
  Ruhr-University Bochum, 1987

Teaching and Administration

Undergraduate Teaching

• SXY1007 Introduction to Criminology
• SXY2004/3004 Crime and the Media
• HPS2022/3022 Understanding Criminal Courts.

Postgraduate Teaching

• SXU4016 MA Dissertation (module coordinator)
• SXY4015 Key Issues in Criminology
• SXY4020 Comparative and International Criminal Justice.

Administration

• Exams officer (postgraduate taught degrees).

PhD students / postgraduate researchers currently supervised:

• David Ashworth: Driving Offences Under the Influence of Drugs
• Marc Lewis: Making Connections: The Socio-Economic Impacts of an All-Wales Integrated Transport System.

 PhD students previously supervised:

• Iossif Irhoumah: Satellite Television and Informal Social Control Institutions. Libyan Society in the Era of Globalization
• Yusuf Usman: The Renewal of Hostilities in the Nigerian Delta Region in 2016 and the Failure of the Presidential Amnesty 

Modules previously taught:

Undergraduate modules

• Actors in the Legislation Process
• Administrative Courts in Action
• Administrative Policy
• Americana film genre
• BA Dissertation module
• Contemporary Social Debates
• Courts and Lawyers in the Media – Media Content, Media Strat­egies, Media Effects
• Crime and Law in Film
• Emile Durkheim
• Interest Groups, Parties, Elections – Political Sociology
• Introduction to Political Science
• Introductory Criminology
• Law in Film
• Law, State and Social Development as Seen by Weber and Luhmann
• Max Weber
• Media and Politics
• Prison Films 1930-2000
• Procedural and Distributive Justice
• Procedures and the Construction of Collective Action
• Public Management
• Social Science Perspectives
• Sociology of Law
• Sociology of Organization and Public Administration
• The Criminal Procedure as Seen by the Defendant
• The German Courtroom Film

Postgraduate Modules

• Applied Research in Criminology
• Applied Social Research
• Comparative Criminological Research
• International Case Studies in Criminology
• Key Issues in Crime and Justice
• Social Science in Action
• The Research Process

Professor Machura's research interests are related to the areas of sociology of law, political sociology, criminology and criminal justice, popular culture including mass media and music. He is particularly interested in international and transdisciplinary research, and in cooperating with scholars and practitioners from various academic backgrounds and from different countries. In his work, he uses a range of research methods, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, cross-sectional and case studies, panel studies, randomised telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, court observation and systematic analyses of media content. 

2022

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2021

• Wedi ei Dderbyn / Yn y wasgjava.lang.NullPointerException
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• CyhoeddwydÄmterpatronage
  Machura, S., 2021, Handwörterbuch des politischen Systems der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Andersen, U., Bogumil, J., Marschall, S. & Woyke, W. (gol.). 8 gol. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, t. 41-43 (Springer Reference Sozialwissenschaften; Cyfrol 8).
  Allbwn ymchwil: Pennod mewn Llyfr/Adroddiad/Trafodion Cynhadledd › Cofnod mewn Gwyddoniadur/Geiriadur › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
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2020

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2019

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• CyhoeddwydWhat Keeps Students from Driving under the Influence of Alcohol and Prescription Drugs? The Impact of Legitimacy of the Law, Prudent Behaviour and Perceived Dangerousness
  Machura, S., Matharu, S., Mepham, F., Smith, S. L. & Aston, J., 2019, Yn: Oñati Socio-legal Series. 9, 6, 25 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2018

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• CyhoeddwydRepresentations of Law, Rights and Criminal Justice
  Machura, S., 2018, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology. New York: Oxford University Press USA, t. 1-27 27 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Pennod mewn Llyfr/Adroddiad/Trafodion Cynhadledd › Pennod › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydThe Legal System in German Popular Culture
  Machura, S. & Böhnke, M., 2018, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology. New York: Oxford University Press USA
  Allbwn ymchwil: Pennod mewn Llyfr/Adroddiad/Trafodion Cynhadledd › Pennod › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2016

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• CyhoeddwydLegitimation
  Machura, S., Kopp, J. (gol.) & Steinbach, A. (gol.), 2016, Grundbegriffe der Soziologie. 2015 gol. Springer Verlag, t. 200-206
  Allbwn ymchwil: Pennod mewn Llyfr/Adroddiad/Trafodion Cynhadledd › Pennod
• CyhoeddwydRecht
  Machura, S., Kopp, J. (gol.) & Steinbach, A. (gol.), 2016, Grundbegriffe der Soziologie. 2015 gol. Springer Verlag, t. 280-285
  Allbwn ymchwil: Pennod mewn Llyfr/Adroddiad/Trafodion Cynhadledd › Pennod
• CyhoeddwydRecht im Film ̶ Themen und Formen des Unterrichts
  Machura, S., 2016, Yn: Zeitschrift für Didaktik der Rechtswissenschaft.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl
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2015

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2014

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2013

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2012

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2011

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• CyhoeddwydUnderstanding Law in Society: Developments in Socio-Legal Studies
  Machura, S. (gol.), Papendorf, K. (gol.) & Andenaes, K. (gol.), 2011, Zurich and Berlin: Lit Verlag. 287 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Llyfr/Adroddiad › Llyfr

2010

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2009

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2008

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2007

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2006

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2005

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2004

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2003

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2002

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2001

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2000

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2022

• What do audiences learn from tv and film about law?

  A major part of the tv and film audience’s diet is formed by stories about crime and law. Focusing primarily on fiction, the paper discusses what audiences can learn from these. It draws on a range of social science and media theories but also on a series of studies the author has conducted in Germany and the UK. On balance, tv and film suggest that it is good to have law, courts, and other institutions as well as the various professions involved. A predominantly positive picture is drawn, despite the need to have worthy opponents, “injustice figures” to use the term of Nicole Rafter, to produce interesting drama. Some subgenres do, though, paint a darker picture, namely, court martial films and films after notorious legal cases. Nevertheless, all in all, the audience learns to trust in the law, its personnel and institutions, but not blindly.

  15 Gorff 2022

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Citizen Experiences and Trust in North Wales Police

  The presentation to police officers from Wales and Merseyside concentrates on introducing one study that aimed at the specific local and at the more general factors influencing trust in North Wales Police:

  Machura, Stefan, Jones, Stephanie O. P., Würgler, Alexandra, Cuthbertson, Joanna, and Hemmings, Alannah (2019). National Identity and Distrust in the Police: The Case of North West Wales. European Journal of Criminology, 16, 60-80.

  Article abstract: "Trust in the police, as defined by perceived procedural fairness, just decisions and effectivity, may be impacted by deep political divisions among the population, especially where citizens adopt opposing national identities. In Europe, North West Wales is one such area. Nationalism is intensified by language issues (Welsh vs. English) and historical experiences of UK institutions.

  A sample of 207 residents living within the local authority of Gwynedd were asked to take part in the study. A questionnaire survey addressed how much trust in the police ultimately depends upon national identity as expressed by preference for the Welsh language, trust in UK institutions and attitudes towards political symbols. Other factors tested included personal experience of the

  police, the influence of news reports and police TV series, as well as the perceived effectiveness of the police in addressing crime. Trust in UK institutions, preference for the Welsh language and news reporting were found to have most influence on trust in the police."

  30 Meh 2022

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• "Integrating teaching and research: Endeavours in visual criminology"

  The presentation shows how research and teaching can be integrated successfully. The presenter uses examples from his own work on "visual criminology". They range from confronting students with images and audio-visual material and observing their reactions during the teaching to conducting a full empirical study with an MA student seminar.

  27 Meh 2022

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Law and Crime in the Opera. Reading Recorded Opera Like a Film

  It is very typical of opera that the drama unfolds with transgressions against the law or social norms, and that character flaws and societal corruption are revealed. Opera forms a very rich combination of theatre and music, drawing on orchestral music, song, acting, stage architecture, and a plethora of other dramaturgical devices. The resulting overwhelming effect on the audience may well balance out the pronounced artificiality of this form of art and leave a lasting message, the content of which will depend on factors identified in the law and popular culture literature. For the analysis of opera, we suggest making use of recorded operas and compare the meaning created in the different performances.

  17 Meh 2022

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• “Exploring the Impact & Implications of Covid-19 on the Youth Justice System”

  “Exploring the Impact & Implications of Covid-19 on the Youth Justice System”, Manchester Metropolitan University. From website: "On Wednesday 27th April 2022, the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies (MCYS), along with the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ), hosted the Exploring the Impact and Implications of Covid-19 on the Youth Justice System (YJS) – End of Project Event. This was a hybrid event, both in-person and online via Zoom, attended by professionals from across all parts of the YJS, some of whom had been interviewed as part of the research. The aim of the day was to share our research findings in relation to the impact of Covid-19 on the courts, community, and youth custody. It provided an opportunity for delegates to discuss the findings and their own experience of how Covid-19 has impacted on their work and future challenges for the YJS coming out of the pandemic. Additionally, there was an expert panel of youth justice professionals that took part in a lively audience ‘Questions and Answers’ session."

  27 Ebr 2022

  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn gweithdy, seminar, cwrs (Cyfranogwr)

2021

• Engaging Diverse Communities with Welsh Law and Justice

  The talk deals with ways how the public can be engaged to take part in the discussion on the future legal system in Wales. It starts with an analysis of the development of society in Wales, different positions people take in relation to Welsh devolution, and the fragmented pattern in which society gets information on law and justice today.

  8 Hyd 2021

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Law and Crime in the Opera

  It is very typical of operas that the drama unfolds with transgression against the law and that character flaws and those of the society are revealed. Opera forms a very rich combination of theatre and music, drawing on orchestral music, song, acting, stage architecture, and a plethora of other dramaturgical devices. The resulting overwhelming effect on the audience may well balance out the pronounced artificiality of this form of art and leave a lasting message.

  22 Medi 2021

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• RCSL Working Group on Law and Popular Culture 2021 meeting

  Meeting of the RCSL Working Group on Law and Popular Culture, following on the day after the RCSL (Research Committee on Sociology of Law in the International Sociological Association) 2021 virtual conference.

  22 Medi 2021

  Cysylltau:

  • https://rcsl.hypotheses.org/files/2021/09/rcsl_mt_2021_progForPublic.pdf
  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn gweithdy, seminar, cwrs (Trefnydd)
• An Interactive „Crime and the Media” Module

  In the UK, teaching aspects of Crime and the Media is part of the model curriculum for criminology as a subject. The paper introduces a concept for a “Crime and the Media” module, as offered at Bangor University (Wales) for undergraduates. Its roots go back to a “Law in Film” module taught by the presenter at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Germany), starting in 1995.

  A Crime and the Media module should take account of the findings from academic

  research and the students’ own contemporary experiences with media. The content of a module can be extraordinarily varied: drawing on different media from different times to highlight developments, and on examples from a range of countries.

  Students can be introduced to methods of systematic content analysis, for example, focusing on news values in news stories, or on entertainment values in films and tv series on crime.

  Through group discussions, student presentations, essays involving small-scale

  empirical research and other methods, students should be included as “active learners”.

  An additional attraction of such a module is that it supplements the lecturer’s own research on crime, media and audience reactions.

  9 Medi 2021

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Recognising extreme exploitation: modern slavery and perceived injustice

  While it is true that the globalisation of supply chains has brought with it the problem of labour exploitation in foreign countries, “modern slavery” is also present in the United Kingdom. The UK has introduced a Modern Slavery Act in 2015. It won’t be effective if extreme forms of exploitation that fall under its remit go unrecognised. In an empirical study (Machura et al. 2019), students and police officers were given seven scenarios developed from real cases and the literature. It turns out that police officers recognise most of the scenarios, in contrast to students. Identifying situations as modern slavery appears related to strong moral disapproval, resulting in preferences for harsher punishment. Disapproval of injustice drives peoples’ reactions and, if the public are made more aware of the issue, can form the foundation of more successfully addressing this category of crimes.

  Literature: Machura, Stefan, Short, Fay, Hill, Victoria Margaret, Suddaby, Catherine Rhian, Goddard, Ffion Elena, Jones, Sophie Elisabeth, Lloyd-Astbury, Emma Louise, Richardson, Luke, Rouse, and Chernise, Alexandra (2019). Recognising Modern Slavery. Journal of Human Trafficking, 5, 201-219.

  9 Gorff 2021

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Lawyers at the Magistrates’ Court: Observations

  The lower criminal court in England and Wales is the Magistrates’ Court. Here, cases are heard by panels of lay judges, supported by a legal adviser, or – less frequently – by professional judges. The Magistrates’ Courts have undergone sweeping changes in recent years, mainly under the flag of cost efficiency. Trials are most often brief, and the defendants tend to be economically destitute, or otherwise socially disadvantaged. For lawyers, these circumstances provide a challenging environment that is decidedly glamourless.

  The presenter has conducted observations in Magistrates’ Courts in England and Wales, in city courts and in semi-rural and rural courts (Machura, in print). The observations revealed striking differences between the youth court and trials against adults. The presentation focuses on the constraints that the social setting at Magistrates’ Courts imposes on lawyers and how lawyers adapt to them.

  Literature: Machura, Stefan (in print). “… and my right” ̶ The Magistrates’ Courts in England and Wales. In Shari S. Diamond, Valerie Hans, Sanja Kutnjak Ivkovich and Nancy Marder (eds.), Juries, Lay Judges, and Mixed Courts: A Global Perspective, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  11 Meh 2021

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• 2021 Annual Meeting of the Law and Society Association

  Presentation "Lay Judges at Courts of Appeals" at the 2021 Annual Conference of the Law and Society Association. And participating in the conference.

  27 Mai 2021 – 30 Mai 2021

  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd (Siaradwr)
• Lay Magistrates in England and Wales in International Perspective

  The magistrates of England and Wales are a unique legal decision-making group, compared with lay decision-makers in other parts of the world. They differ from juries (such as criminal juries in the USA) and they differ from lay assessors in mixed courts (such as the Schöffengericht at the German lower criminal court). For example, they acquire much more court experience. The prestige of the office also differs fundamentally: being a US juror is not perceived as a special honour. German lay assessors (Schöffen) may feel a sense of honour for being selected. But being a magistrate (“Justice of the Peace”) is more clearly a highly esteemed position in English and Welsh society.

  The magistrates essentially are the court: because they are the decision-makers. So they can develop a feeling of belonging to their bench, whereas it is difficult for Schöffen and impossible for jurors to develop a feeling of belonging to the court.

  The decision-making powers given to the three types of lay decision makers vary considerably. German lay assessors have the same rights as the professional judge in a running court hearing and are involved in all decisions here, but they are not involved in the pretrial phase. The magistrates take pretrial decisions, and they have comprehensive powers in the main hearing. The US jury typically only hears the evidence the judge permits and the prosecutor and defense attorney present in arguing their cases. To summarize, these are three very different forms of lay participation and the magistrates in England and Wales wield the most power in the cases they handle.

  30 Maw 2021

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Visual criminology

  Talk in the Seminar Series of the School of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences. Visual criminology as a field of research in criminology has been introduced. After a definition and an outline of the history of visual criminology and its relation to other areas of visual studies, examples of the methods of visual criminology and the findings they elicited have been presented.

  21 Maw 2021

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)

2020

• Visual Criminology and Its Methods – An Assessment

  Visual criminology concerns itself with how crimes and society’s reaction to crime are depicted and perceived. Jeff Ferrell, Keith Haywood and Jock Young have been credited for creating the term „visual criminology“ in their 2008 book „Cultural Criminology: An Invitation“ (Rafter 2017, 60), although research in this area goes back for much longer. Indeed, at the turn of the millenium, in numerous subject areas there was an increased interest in for example, visual research methods, the representation of institutions in the media, popular culture, including popular legal culture, and the public display of power, deviance and control. Criminologists, social psychologists, legal scholars and sociologists of law among others started systematic research and began to include aspects into their teaching as well as their publication output. So varied are the strands of scholarship, that any attempt to a full and encompassing review is bound to fail. The paper will discuss and assess the methods used by scholars engaging with visual criminology. This will include the author’s own (Machura 2007) analysis scheme for law-related films and its transferability to other areas of study. Machura, S. (2007). An analysis scheme for law films. Baltimore law review, 36, 329-345. Rafter, N. (2017). Crime films and visual criminology. In M. Brown & E. Carrabine (Eds.), Routledge international handbook of visual criminology, (pp. 53-61). London: Routledge.

  11 Medi 2020

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)

2019

• Shame - Shaming - Shamelessness

  Pesentation "Guilt and Shame in Popular Legal Culture: the German TV Movie "Die Konferenz"

  Abstract:

  Guilt and shame can be connected in a variety of ways. This is exemplified by the German TV film “Die Konferenz” (2004), which in the tradition of the classic American jury drama “12 Angry Men” (1957) has a conference of teachers deciding on the fate of a young man accused of raping a female student. The memorable plot and excellent acting in “Die Konferenz” further our understanding of the complexities involved in trying to find “truth” and “justice”.

  30 Tach 2019

  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd (Siaradwr)
• Milestones and Directions: Socio-Legal Studies in Germany and the UK

  Under the headings of “Rechtssoziologie” in Germany and “socio-legal studies” in the UK, scholarly traditions have developed that relate law to its social environment. The paper identifies key stages in the development the subject took in both countries and the directions of travel. The author takes his description of the German Rechtssoziologie (Machura 2012) as a starting point to find comparative milestones and directions in the UK. This includes the institutionalization of the subject along the lines of programmatic texts, inclusion into university education, establishment of research institutes, academic associations and specialised journals. Does the development tell something beyond sociology of law/socio-legal studies, namely about the relation of law and sociology, the parent subjects themselves, as well as about academic studies and professional/institutional practice?

  Machura, Stefan (2012). The German Sociology of Law: A Case of Path Dependency. International Journal of Law in Context, 8, 506-523.

  24 Medi 2019

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Linking Generations for Global Justice

  Presentation on Law in German Film and Television and organizing two sessions on popular legal culture

  19 Meh 2019 – 21 Meh 2019

  Cysylltau:

  • http://www.iisj.net/en/workshops/congresos/linking-generations-global-justice
  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd (Siaradwr)
• Laypersons in law

  Delivered key note "Laypersons - attitudes to, experiences with law".

  International conference organised by the French-German research institute Centre Marc Bloch in cooperation with Humboldt University Berlin

  8 Mai 2019

  Cysylltau:

  • https://www.cmb.hu-berlin.de/zentrum/neuigkeit/call-for-papers-laypersons-in-law/
  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd (Siaradwr)
• Tolstoy's War and Peace on Screen

  A discussion of the US/Italian and Soviet films based on Leo Tostoy's novel "War and Peace". The presentation highlights the differences of the films and traces them back to the forces governing film production in the 1950s in the USA and in the Soviet Union of the 1960s.

  28 Chwef 2019

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)

2018

• “Globalisierung der Rechtskultur – der Beitrag populärer Medien”

  English title: "Globalization of legal culture - the contribution of popular media".

  The presentation at the session "“Herausforderungen der Globalisierung – Soziologische und rechtssoziologische Perspektiven”, organised by the Sociology of Law Section of the German Sociological Association was invited by the section chair. Content of the presentation: The popular media project an idealized image of US or "Western" justice to a world-wide audience. The typical message amounts to an endorsement of the court system, the legal profession and generally a liberal concept of law. The audience member is even assigned a role: in any legal conflict, they are supposed to mobilise the (state) law.

  26 Medi 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Unterhaltungswert: Recht und Film in Fernsehen (Entertainment Value: Law and Film in Television)

  The presentation develops criteria for the entertainment value of law-related TV broadcasts. There are: conflict, violation of norms, humour, threats and rewards, representation of the viewers/identification, strong and weak authorities (heroes), discovery/mistery, self-reference, stories and believability. These factors can be endlessly varied and the producers can count on the viewing public's interest. In addition, law, legal personnel, and institutions tend to be portrayed positively. A liberal political perspective is being advocated.

  14 Medi 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Socio-legal studies in Germany

  I have been invited to present the German case at the Featured Session "Mapping the Current State at Socio-legal Studies II". My presentation covered the range of disciplines in the field and the different approaches taken to be heard by legal scholars. The Ehrlich-Kelsen debate and its historic effect was a key which has disadvantaged Sociology of Law. Lawyers have later taken a range of views how socio-legal studies can be integrated into the study of law. This ranges from the view that they are an integral part of a combined legal science, to being an "auxiliary", to not being relevant at all. The presentation also covered the problems of finding secure institutional ground for socio-legal studies at German universities.

  11 Medi 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Consumption and Effect of Law-related Media: Changing Patterns?

  The presentation at the "Developments in Popular Legal Culture II" panel contributed to the activities of the RCSL Working Group Law and Popular Culture. The author has conducted a number of studies over recent years that investigate people's opinion on the courts, lawyers and the police. In this context, as one of the explanatory variables, the consumption of law-related TV shows, and the influence of novels, TV and film has been tested. The presentation investigated if there is a change regarding the consumption and influence of those media.

  10 Medi 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Theoretical Tools to Understand Law in Film and Television

  After a lot of scholarly work went into discussion of individual films and shows, into genres and some into research methodology, it is about time to look at the theories that can be employed to illuminate this area of popular legal culture. Sociology of law has a surprising variety of approaches that can be of help here. They can be rounded up by theories developed in film studies.

  The systems theory of Niklas Luhmann states that society has its subsystems for law, media, art and so on and makes assumptions how systems are reacting to events and developments. It also consequentially defines society as world society, which chimes well with the international, almost universal appeal of some of the products of popular legal culture.

  Why do people take an interest in the depiction of the law anyhow? Here, we can draw on Durkheim’s sociological theory in which basically every member of society has an interest to see the key social norms upheld. Where there is increased social change, this motivation is only to get stronger. Later approaches add to this the fairness of procedures employed by the authorities and the qualities of decision-makers. All this is mirrored in numerous law-related films and TV shows.

  A theory of entertainment values can be used to understand what kind of stories on law are being told. It has similarities to Niklas Luhmann’s news value criteria among which conflict and deviance from norms are already mentioned.

  10 Medi 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• “The Magistrates’ Courts in England and Wales”

  “Lay Magistrates in England and Wales”

  Lay Participation, Juries and Other Forms of Law Participation, Criminal justice,

  In England and Wales, numerous tribunals and courts have lay participation. The most prominent is certainly the jury. However, the greatest influence is arguably exerted by the Lay Magistrates who have some civil law responsibilities, but most importantly, all criminal cases pass through their courts. Today, developments such as the increasing use of professional judges in the Magistrates’ Courts to shift cases quickly, the proliferation of diversionary measures away from court trials and the closing down of many local, outlier court venues have left Magistrates concerned. Our presentation will focus not only on the environment in which the lay judges operate, but will also ask for the experiences that citizens have who appear at the Magistrates’ Courts.

  In England and Wales, numerous tribunals and courts have lay participation. The most prominent is certainly the jury. However, the greatest influence is arguably exerted by the Lay Magistrates. They have some civil law responsibilities, but most importantly, all criminal cases pass through their courts. Today, developments such as the increasing use of professional judges in the Magistrates' Courts to shift cases quickly, the proliferation of diversionary measures away from court trials and the closing of many local, outlier court venues have left Magistrates concerned.

  7 Meh 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Observations in Magistrates' Courts: Space and Interaction

  Stefan Machura

  Observations in Magistrates’ Courts: Space and Interaction

  I am reporting experiences from observations in Magistrates’ Courts, adult and juvenile section. Some of the observations were conducted with students as part of an MA research module. A key insight is that Magistrates’ Courts and the behaviour observed vary considerably. Some if it relates to the layout of the courtroom. Where defendants and professionals sit enables or disables their participation. This not only applies to the well-known issues around the us of “secure docks” for defendants.

  In addition, youth courts were found to facilitate procedurally just treatment of defendants much more than courts for adults. One could say they are less of a pure “object” of the procedure. Though, most of them are not mature enough to use this to their advantage. The more paternalistic action of the youth magistrates, the contributions of the YOT representatives and defence lawyers, just occasionally interventions of parents and of key workers of institutionalised defendants, fill in the gap left by the defendants’ weakness.

  In terms of sociological and social psychological theory, the observations resonate with procedural justice theory as put forward by Gerald Leventhal and Tom R. Tyler, but also with aspects of Niklas Luhmann’s theory of the court procedure.

  30 Ebr 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)

2017

• Law and Film in 2017

  The talk provided an overview on how the academic field of "Law and Film" has developed up to 2017. It covered research methods and main findings. Aspects of film productions, the messages for the audience and the effect on audiences were covered.

  13 Hyd 2017

  Cysylltau:

  • http://saxoinstitute.ku.dk/calendar/the-rule-of-law-the-humanities-and-history/
  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Driving under the Influence of Alcohol and Prescription Drugs”

  Drivers unfit to steer their vehicles form a major road hazard and they commit a crime. In February 2016, 423 students from Bangor University (Wales, UK) took part in a questionnaire study. They have been asked if they would be driving a car after a) drinking alcohol and b) when taking prescribed medication coming with a warning not to drive. A variety of variables are considered to explain the inclination to drive under those conditions. They include the inclination to engage in imprudent behaviour, perceived dangerousness of driving, and perceived legitimacy of the law. The results suggest that while inclination towards imprudent behaviour affects driving under the influence of medication, driving under alcohol is related to perceived general dangerousness of driving. Driving under medication is also related to legitimacy of law; the difference may come from how public discourse deals with the two types of behaviour.

  17 Medi 2017

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Recognizing Modern Slavery

  “Modern Slavery” comprises of forms of extreme labour exploitation. With its Modern Slavery Law 2015, the UK is said to be at the forefront of international efforts to address the crime. But to be effective, members of the public and officers of government agencies need to be able to recognize situations as modern slavery. Students and police officers were given seven scenarios developed from real cases and the literature. It turns out that police officers recognise most of the scenarios, in contrast to students. Respondents were more likely to do so if they advocated more severe punishments. This supports the assumptions of thinkers like Emile Durkheim that violations of the law are responded to with moral judgements.

  6 Gorff 2017

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• “Sociology on Sociology of Law as Empirical Science - The Case of Germany"

  Presentation of the German case on the roundtable “Sociology on Sociology of Law as Empirical Science”, Research Committee on Sociology of Law, International Sociological Association

  23 Meh 2017

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• “The Socio-legal Labour Market in the UK and Germany”

  Presentation for the Graduate Student Workshop at the conference

  20 Meh 2017 – 23 Meh 2017

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Driving under the Influence of Alcohol and Prescription Drugs

  As for ESC Conference in Cardiff, September 2017

  15 Mai 2017 – 16 Mai 2017

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• “Recognising Modern Slavery”

  Students and police officers have been asked to participate in a questionnaire study in order to find out if they can recognise cases of modern slavery. Further questions aimed at identifying the antecedents.

  15 Mai 2017 – 16 Mai 2017

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)

2016

• Abschaffung des Rechts?

  Fourth meeting of the German-speaking sociology of law associations (those from Austria, Germany and Switzerland). The conferences attract a wide spectrum of scholars from law, social sciences and related subjects. They are the leading events for them in those countries. There also are participants from neighbouring countries, including the UK:

  I have been a member of the programme committee and involved in the decisions leading up to the conference since 2016.

  1 Ion 2016 – 15 Medi 2018

  Cysylltau:

  • https://easychair.org/smart-program/basel2018/
  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd (Siaradwr)

2009

• Bangor WISERD (Cyhoeddwr)

  Co-editor of the “Menai Papers”

  2009 – 2012

  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)

2005

• Oxford University Press USA (Cyhoeddwr)

  Encyclopedia of Crime, Media, and Popular Culture, co-editor

  2005 →

  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)

2004

• Research Commitee on Sociology of Law, International Sociological Association (Cyhoeddwr)

  Presiding editorial board of the RCSL newsletter which goes out to members worldwide and is available online.

  2004 →

  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)

2003

• Lit Verlag (Cyhoeddwr)

  “Gesellschaft und Recht” (Society and Law), book series, co-editor

  2003 →

  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)

2000

• Zeitschrift für Rechtssoziologie - The German Journal of Law and Society (Cyfnodolyn)

  Co-editor of the journal since 2000. 2003 ‒ 2010 book review editor, 2010 ‒ 2014 main editor

  1 Ion 2000 →

  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)
• Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft (Cyhoeddwr)

  Co-editor: "Schriften zur Rechtspolitologie" book series

  2000 – 2008

  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)

• Report for the Gwynedd and Anglesey Local Safeguarding Children Board

  01/10/2011 – 29/06/2012 (Wedi gorffen)

  Cysylltau:

  • https://www.bangor.ac.uk/history-philosophy-and-social-sciences/documents/2%20Machura%20LSCB%20study%20Vers%201-1%2031%20December%2011.doc.pdf

At Bangor University, Stefan Machura has conducted a series of empirical studies on the public perception of police and courts. The studies focus on citizen’s direct and indirect sources of information ranging from contacting police and appearing in court to the effects of popular TV series and of having family and friends in the police or the legal profession.

2015 and 2016, in collaboration with Penny Darbyshire (Kingston University), trials at youth courts were systematically observed and interviews with judges, lawyers, social workers and prosecutors, as well as experts, conducted. Stefan Machura continued these studies in the following years.

In 2016, Stefan Machura investigated the inclination of students to drive while under the influence of alcohol or of a prescription drug which comes with a warning that it impairs the ability to control a car. 

In collaboration with Fay Short (School of Psychology) and North Wales Police, Stefan Machura studied how police officers and members of the public react to cases constituting a breach of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Data were sampled in the first half of 2017, resulting in more than 800 returned questionnaires.