University expert contributes to audiobook investigating the impact of being falsely accused of serious crime

An expert in forensic psychology at University of Gloucestershire has contributed to an audiobook exploring the impact of falsely being accused of a serious crime on the victim, their family, and the community.

Dr Amy Grubb was invited to contribute to the audiobook You Are Accused based on her expertise as a forensic psychologist and academic who teaches and conducts research into the psychological processes underpinning the legal and criminal justice systems.   

Author Raphael Rowe, who was himself falsely convicted for a murder he did not commit, tells the stories of people who have been through the transformative experience of accusation, including victims of the British Post Office scandal, and US student Amanda Knox who spent four years in prison following a wrongful conviction for murder.

Dr Grubb (pictured left), an Associate Professor of Forensic Psychology and Chartered Psychologist, said: “I was honoured to be invited to take part in this project and to contribute to the audiobook, which provides a unique multi-party perspective on the process of being accused.  

“Raphael has used his personal experience of being falsely accused to delve into and explore the impact of such accusations on the various people connected to the accused, on a personal and professional level.

“He is uniquely positioned as an expert-by-experience to investigate the concept of accusation by drawing upon his experience to connect with those encountering accusations of crime in various contexts. 

“His approach explores the concept from a variety of angles and perspectives, enabling a multi-faceted understanding of accusation to be developed, drawing upon psychology to enhance understanding of the legal and criminal justice processes involved.”

Dr Grubb is a member of the British Psychological Society Division of Forensic Psychology Training Committee and is the Programme Director of the BPS-accredited MSc Forensic Psychology programme at the University. 

She has experience of teaching, developing and leading forensic psychology courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and has involvement with the quality assurance of the subject discipline via external examining and Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) committee involvement. 

Dr Grubb’s research expertise focuses on the application of psychology within police and investigatory settings, with an emphasis on police hostage and crisis negotiation and the effective use of crisis communication to resolve conflict. 

She has published extensively on this topic and has worked with police forces both nationally and internationally in a research, training, and consultancy capacity.