Alex Smethurst

About Alex Smethurst

Alex Jane Smethurst is a Graduate Tutor in the School of Social Sciences, Business and Law. She has a BSc and MSc in Forensic Psychology, both from Teesside University. Alex is currently studying for a PhD, under the supervision of Dr Kimberly Collins, Dr Nikki Carthy, Professor Becky Milne and Dr Karri Gillespie-Smith. The research is looking at scaffolding children's communication in investigative interviews. Alex is currently teaching on the module 'Introduction to Core Areas in Psychology'.

Alex also works as an intermediary for Triangle services www.triangle.org.uk/. Her work as an intermediary involves assessing the communication needs of vulnerable individuals who are participating in the criminal justice system. Based on the findings of her assessments she provides recommendations to the police and criminal courts on how best to question these vulnerable individuals. Alex is also a trained forensic interviewer and works, as an assistant psychologist.

Research interests

Alex is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society. Her research interests focus on the communication of vulnerable witnesses, during police interviews. Alex has also conducted research projects that look at jury decision making.

Publications

Smethurst, A., Wilson, C.J., & Collins, K. (2015). The Influence of fMRI Lie Detection Evidence on Jury Decision Making Following Post Trial Deliberations. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice, 11(3), 147-161.

View Alex Smethurst's Publications on TeesRep