Dr Ashwill Ramon Phillips is a criminologist and lecturer in the Department of Criminology at the University of the Free State. He holds a PhD in Criminology and specialises in youth gang subcultures, pathways to gang involvement, and the influence of occult practices on gang identity and behaviour. His research has contributed to the development of a new typological framework for occult-influenced gangs. Dr Phillips has published widely, presented at national and international conferences, and is actively engaged in advancing dialogue on contemporary developments in youth misconduct, child justice and gang subculture.

Published Peer-reviewed Articles

Phillips, A.R. 2025. Gangs, diabolatry and witchcraft: Towards a contemporary typology of occult-gangs. Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1):1-23

Phillips, A.R. 2025. Trajectories into gang membership: Exploring risk exposure, protective factors and the factors motivating involvement in devil-worshipping gangs. Social Work / Maatskaplike Werk (Accepted: Publication forthcoming)

Phillips, A.R. & Cronjé, M. 2024. Forged in secrecy, sealed in blood: The origin, initiation, symbolism, hierarchy and power dynamics within devil worshipping gangs in the Free State Province. South African Journal of Criminal Justice, 37(3):313-339

Phillips, A.R. 2022. Exploring the influence of exposure to school-based criminogenic risk factors in a sample of youth detainees in the Northern Cape province. Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology and Victimology, 35(2):33-49

Phillips, A.R. 2022. Crime and desistance: Exploring the perceptions of detained youths regarding the risk and protective factors associated with misconduct in Kimberley, South Africa. Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 34:1-20

Phillips, A.R. 2021. Composite risk: A criminological appraisal of community disorganisation as a predictor for youth misconduct. Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology and Victimology, 34(2):88-102

Phillips, A.R. 2021. Youth in conflict with the law: A criminological exploration of the social factors perpetuating misconduct. Journal of Law, Society and Development, 1(7):1-29

Phillips, A.R. 2021. Pathways to deviance: exploring the relationship between peer affiliation, gang membership and youth misconduct. Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 33(1):1-18

Phillips, A.R. 2020. Youth experiences of alcohol and illicit substance use in the family and community context. Child Abuse Research: A South African Journal, 21(2):1-10

Petrus, T., Roelofse, C., Phillips, A.R. & Maritz, L. 2018. Rethinking occultism and crime: Satanism, the occult and youth gang subcultures in the global and South African context. Acta Criminologica: The African Journal of Criminology, 31(2):168-185

Phillips, A.R. & Maritz, L. 2015. Gang subculture: An exploration of youth gangs in the Free State province. Acta Criminologica: The Southern African Journal of Criminology, CRIMSA 2015 Conference Special Edition, 5: 52-66

Coetzee, L. & Phillips, A.R. 2011. ‘Taking a lead in life’: The fundamentals of criminology in practice. Acta Criminologica: The Southern African Journal of Criminology, CRIMSA 2011 Conference Special Edition, 1:16-25

Published Peer-reviewed Articles

Phillips, A.R. 2025. Gangs, diabolatry and witchcraft: Towards a contemporary typology of occult-gangs. Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1):1-23

Phillips, A.R. 2025. Trajectories into gang membership: Exploring risk exposure, protective factors and the factors motivating involvement in devil-worshipping gangs. Social Work / Maatskaplike Werk (Accepted: Publication forthcoming)

Phillips, A.R. & Cronjé, M. 2024. Forged in secrecy, sealed in blood: The origin, initiation, symbolism, hierarchy and power dynamics within devil worshipping gangs in the Free State Province. South African Journal of Criminal Justice, 37(3):313-339

Phillips, A.R. 2022. Exploring the influence of exposure to school-based criminogenic risk factors in a sample of youth detainees in the Northern Cape province. Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology and Victimology, 35(2):33-49

Phillips, A.R. 2022. Crime and desistance: Exploring the perceptions of detained youths regarding the risk and protective factors associated with misconduct in Kimberley, South Africa. Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 34:1-20

Phillips, A.R. 2021. Composite risk: A criminological appraisal of community disorganisation as a predictor for youth misconduct. Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology and Victimology, 34(2):88-102

Phillips, A.R. 2021. Youth in conflict with the law: A criminological exploration of the social factors perpetuating misconduct. Journal of Law, Society and Development, 1(7):1-29

Phillips, A.R. 2021. Pathways to deviance: exploring the relationship between peer affiliation, gang membership and youth misconduct. Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 33(1):1-18

Conference and Workshop Presentations – International

Phillips, A.R. 2025. ‘Gangland pathways’: An exploration of risk factors for youth gang membership and the protective factors promoting rehabilitation. Paper presented at the International Conference on Law and Social Sciences (ICLSS 2025). International Institute of Justice and Police Sciences, Bengaluru, India (Online), 29-30 March

Phillips, A.R. 2025. Exploring the influence of gang membership and programme responses to rehabilitation in a sample of gang members, non-gang-affiliated offenders and service providers. Paper presented at the International Conference on Law and Social Sciences (ICLSS 2025). International Institute of Justice and Police Sciences, Bengaluru, India (Online), 29-30 March

Phillips, A.R. 2024. Devil worshipping youth gangs: Exploring risk, victimisation and the protective factors in occult-driven youth violence. Paper presented at the 13^th International Conference on Victim Assistance. O.P. Jindal University, India (Hybrid), 11-12 November

Phillips, A.R. 2024. Exploring the enigmatic: A contemporary perspective on the nature, dynamics symbolism and initiation rites in ‘devil-worshipping’ youth gang subcultures. Paper presented at the Stockholm Criminology Symposium on Trust and Legitimacy in the Work to Combat Crime. The National Council for Crime Prevention, Sweden, 10-12 June

Conference and Workshop Presentations – National

Pophaim, J. & Phillips, A.R. 2023. ‘Seeking refuge in the street’: An exploration of the interconnection between pathways into youth homelessness, gang membership and recruitment in the Bloemfontein district. Paper presented at the 2023 CRIMSA Biennial Conference. Misty Hills Country Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa, Johannesburg: South Africa, 15-18 August

Petrus, T. & Phillips, A.R. 2023. ‘Brotherhood of secrecy’: An inter-disciplinary cross-cultural comparative perspective on gangs and secret societies, and its applicability to the South African context. Paper presented at the 2023 CRIMSA Biennial Conference. Misty Hills Country Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa, Johannesburg: South Africa, 15-18 August

Phillips, A.R. 2021. Pathways to deviance: A socio-criminological exploration of the factors perpetuating youth misconduct. Paper presented at the 27^th Annual South African Sociological Association (SASA) Congress. Online, 27-30 June

Phillips, A.R. 2021. Exploring the school to prison pipeline: Youth perceptions of the socio-criminogenic risk factors promoting misconduct. Paper presented at the 27^th Annual South African Sociological Association (SASA) Congress. Online, 27-30 June

Phillips, A.R. 2019. Youth in conflict with the law: A qualitative exploration of socio-criminogenic risk factors. Paper presented at the 2019 CRIMSA Biennial Conference. Protea Hotel Ranch Resort, Polokwane: South Africa, 27-30 August

Phillips, A.R. 2019. A contemporary perspective on school-based violence and gang-related activities. Keynote address presented at the National School Safety Summit, Free State Department of Education, Bloemfontein: South Africa, 22-23 February

Pophaim, J. & Phillips, A.R. 2017. The plight of the homeless: Out of sight, out of mind? Paper presented at the 2017 CRIMSA Biennial Conference. Indaba Lodge, Sandton, Johannesburg: South Africa, 2-4 August

Phillips, A.R. & Maritz, L. 2017. Fear in the Free State: Contemporary developments in youth gang subcultures. Paper presented at the 2017 CRIMSA Biennial Conference. Indaba Lodge, Sandton, Johannesburg: South Africa, 2-4 August

Coetzee, L. & Phillips, A.R. 2015. An organisational sub-systems approach to service learning in Criminology: A six-year cycle. Paper presented at the 2015 CRIMSA Biennial Conference. Zevenwacht Country Inn, Cape Town: South Africa, 21-23 September

Phillips, A.R. & Maritz, L. 2015. Gang subculture: An exploration of youth gangs in the Free State province.  Paper presented at the 2015 CRIMSA Biennial Conference. Zevenwacht Country Inn, Cape Town: South Africa, 21-23 September

Coetzee, L. & Phillips, A.R. 2011.  ‘Taking a lead in life’: The fundamentals of criminology in practice. Paper presented at the 2011 CRIMSA Biennial Conference. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban: South Africa, 28-30 September

Session Chair – International and National Conferences

Phillips, A.R. 2025. Session Chair: Social inequality, gender and law. International Conference on Law and Social Sciences (ICLSS 2025). International Institute of Justice and Police Sciences, Bengaluru, India (Online), 29-30 March

Phillips, A.R. 2024. Session Chair: Children and youth, criminal networks and criminal exploitation 3. Stockholm Criminology Symposium on Trust and Legitimacy in the Work to Combat Crime. The National Council for Crime Prevention, Sweden, 10-12 June

Phillips, A.R. 2023. Session Chair: Gender-based violence. CRIMSA Biennial Conference. Misty Hills Country Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa, Johannesburg: South Africa, 15-18 August

My areas of interest include gang subculture, child justice, youth misconduct, criminal behaviour systems and contemporary crime issues

CRIM 3724: Understanding Child Justice 

CRIM 6824: Selected Issues in Criminology 

CRIM 8900: Research Dissertation

CRIM 9100: Research Thesis

External Committees, Portfolios and Projects

2025: Member of the Scientific (Abstract Review) Committee: ASASWEI International Conference on Advancing Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice, Peace Building, and Sustainable Development through Teaching, Research and Practice

2025: Member of the Free State Provincial Child Justice Forum

2024 – 2027: Council member of the Criminological Society of Africa (CRIMSA)

2024 – 2027: Member of the Conference Organising Committee for the Criminological Society of Africa (CRIMSA)        

2024 - 2027: Member of the Finance Committee for the Criminological Society of Africa (CRIMSA)

2024 – Present: Experiential Learning Programme, Department of Correctional Services (DCS): Research Project Leader

2023 – Present: Editor of the DHET Accredited Journal Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology and Victimology

2021: Facilitator: Five-part Colloquium Series on Transformation and Creating an Inclusive Criminology hosted by CRIMSA 

2020 – 2023: Assistant Editor of the DHET Accredited Journal Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology and Victimology

2020 – Present: Co-facilitator of the Experiential Learning Programme, Department of Correctional Services (DCS)

2018 – Present: Editorial Board Member for the DHET Accredited Journal Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology and Victimology

2018 – 2020: Transformation Portfolio Committee Member of the Criminological Society of Africa (CRIMSA)

2018: Member of Provincial Multidisciplinary Gang Reduction Team in collaboration with the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO), the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), the Department of Education (DoE) and the Department of Social Development (DSD)

2015 - 2020: Council member of the Criminological Society of Africa (CRIMSA)

Institutional Committees, Portfolios and Projects

2025: Postgraduate Programme Coordinator: Masters and Doctoral Degrees, Department of Criminology, University of the Free State

2023 – Present: Engaged Scholarship Committee member for the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State

2023 – Present: Finance Committee member for the Department of Criminology, University of the Free State

2021 – Present: Marketing Committee member for the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State

2021 – Present: Marketing Committee member for the Department of Criminology, University of the Free State

2017 – 2023: Research Committee member for the Department of Criminology, University of the Free State

2017: Supervisor: Postgraduate students facilitating diversion and primary crime reduction programmes at NICRO in collaboration with the Department of Criminology, UFS

2011 – 2014: Supervisor: Postgraduate students facilitating and presenting the ‘Take a Lead in Life’ rehabilitation programme at the Winkie Direko Secure Care Centre on behalf of the Department of Criminology, UFS      

Professional Memberships

2018 – 2021: Member of the World Society of Victimology (WSV)

2015 – Present: Member of the Criminological Society of Africa (CRIMSA)

2007 – Present: Member of the Golden Key International Honor Society  

2017: Supervisor: Postgraduate students facilitating diversion and primary crime reduction programmes at NICRO in collaboration with the Department of Criminology, UFS