Robert Peacock is a Full Professor in the Department of Criminology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, and honorary Research Fellow at the Jindal Institute of Behavioural Siciences (JIBS), O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, India. Prof Peacock served as the President of the World Society of Victimology (with Special Category consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and the Council of Europe) and is the Immediate Past President of the World Society of Victimology. Since the apartheid years in South Africa, Prof Peacock has been working actively in the field of criminology and victimology with child justice and institutional victimisation as particular focus areas. With the dawn of democracy in South Africa, he enjoyed Ministerial appointment as a National Chairperson of the Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards of South Africa. In pursuit of the advancement of an African Victimology that is both regionally and globally relevant, he is the editor of the textbook Victimology in Africa (2019), endorsed by the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. As a National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated scientist, he has been playing an active role within the scientific community with the presentation of research findings at various regional and international symposia, service to scientific committees and editorial boards or as a visiting professor to Higher Education institutions across the globe. Prof Peacock is a founding member and course co-director of the African Postgraduate Course of Victimology, Victim Assistance and Criminal Justice of the World Society of Victimology (WSV). He has been the recipient of a number of awards and is widely published. 

Access to Justice

Criminology 

Critical Victimology 

Macro and micro links between interpersonal victimisation and victimisation in broader society.

Identity, decolonisation and justice  

Victimology in Africa 

Criminal Justice

Transitional justice

Restorative justice

Select list of publications:

• Peacock, R. (2023). Victimología en África: Un nuevo paradigma. Revista de Victimología, 16: 187-200.

• Cronje, M. & Peacock, R. (2023). A comparative study of recidivism factors associated with different offense categories in South Africa. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, doi.org/10.1080/15377938.2023.2182393

• Peacock, R. (2023). Restorative justice and access to justice: critical reflections of the global North-South divide. International Journal of Restorative Justice, 6(2): 191-206.

•  Peacock, R. (2023). Prologue Victimologia y violencia: Conectar con las victimas. Pamplona: Thomson Reuters. 

• Peacock, R. (2021). Covid-19 and victims of special vulnerability: an analysis of the main circumstances of risk (in M.M.A. Carceles & C.C. Lerma (eds.) Covid-19 y victimsa de especial vulnerabilidad. Madrid: Centro des estudios de la Universidad de Murcia.

• Peacock, R. (2021). Crime and victimisation in the era of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. E3S Web of Conferences, 317, pp. 1 - 10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202131701001

• Pophaim, J.P. & Peacock, R. (2021). Pathways into and out of homelessness: Towards a strategic approach to reducing homelessness. Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology & Victimology 34(2): 68-87.

• Peacock, R. (2020). Reconceptualising hate crime in a restorative framework. International Journal of Restorative Justice, 3(3): 458-460.

• Peacock, R (2020). A Victimological Exploration of the African Values of Ubuntu. (in J. Joseph & S. Jergenson (Eds). An International Perspective on Contemporary Developments in Victimology) Springer: Berlin.  

• Peacock, R. (2019). Victimology in Africa. Pretoria: Van Schaik. 

• Cronje, M. & Peacock, R. (2015). Exploring the nature of the relationship between self-esteem and offence type of a group of recidivists. Acta Criminologica, Southern African Journal of Criminology. Change in African Corrections: From incarceration to reintegration. Special Edition 2: 79-93. 

• Groenhuijsen, M.S.; O`Connel. M.; Peacock, R. & Aertsen, I. (2015). A reflection on victims` experiences to inform a process that is respectful, dignified and compassionate to attain healing, recognition and redress. (in JL de la Cuesta (Ed). Por Una Justicia realmente humana). Audienca del Papa Francisco. Ciudad del Vaticano. Villematier: G.N. Impressions. 

• Peacock, R. (2014). Institutional and Structural victimization: Apartheid South Africa. (in D Roth & D Kauzlarich (Eds). Towards a Victimology of State Crime).Oxford: Routledge.

• Peacock, R. (2014). Interrelationships between victimisation and the identity structure, process and content of the adolescent. (in E. Weitekamp & P Shaefer, Establishing Victimology. A Festchrift for Prof. Dr Gerd Kirchhoff. Hamburg: Mounchengladbach University Press.

• Peacock, R. (2013). (Ed). Victimology in South Africa. Pretoria: Van Schaik. 

• Peacock, R. (2012). Institutional Victimisation: Legislative Framework and Youth Marginalization in Post Apartheid South Africa. (in H Morosawa, JJP Dussich, GF Kirchhoff (Eds) Victimology and Human Security: New Horizons. Nijemegen: Wolf Legal Publishers. 

• Peacock, R (2011). The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission- Challenges to Reconciliation (in R. Lecther, A Bouwer, A Pemberton (Eds) Victimological approaches to international crimes with a specific focus on Africa. Antwerp: Intersentia.

• Peacock, R. (2009). Victimisation of the adolescent in South African prisons (in O. Hageman, P. Schafer & S. Schmidt (Eds.), Victimology, Victim assistance and Criminal Justice: perspective shared by international experts at the Inter-University Centre of Dubrovnik. Monchengladbach: University of Monchengladbach.

• Peacock, R. (2008). Adolescent identity, the criminal event and criminal justice in South Africa. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, Special CRIMSA conference edition 1: 58-73.

• Peacock, R. (2008). Pain as punishment. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology. 21(2): i-iv.

• Peacock, R. (2008). Experiences of discrimination and the impact on the identity development of the incarcerated adolescent in South Africa. Journal of Ethnicity in Crime and Criminal Justice, 6(2): 151-166.

• Peacock, R. & Theron, A. (2007). Identity development of the incarcerated adolescent with particular reference to prison gang membership. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 20(3): 61-74.

• Peacock, R. (2007). Identity and the criminal event. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology. 20(2): 1-3.

• Peacock, R. & Booyens, K. (2005). Victimisation vulnerability of children. (in L. Davis & H.F. Snyman, (Eds.), South African handbook of victimology. Pretoria: Van Schaik.

• Peacock, R. (2002). Macro and micro links between interpersonal violence and violence in broader society: An integrated etiological perspective. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 15(3): 39-44.

• Peacock, R. (1994). Street children. Africa Insight, 24(2): 138-143.

• Peacock, R. (1993). Family stress in the lives of street children. Social Work: A Professional Journal for the Social Worker, 29(2): 173-180.

• Theron, A. & Peacock, R. (1992). Die swart straatkind se portuurgroep as ondersteuningsgroep en kriminogene faktor wat tot die pleeg van misdaad kan bydra [The peer group of the street child as support system and crime precipitating variable]. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 5(2): 56-62. 

• Peacock, R. (1992). Situacion socio-politica y sistema de justicia penal en Sudafrica: Especial referencia al problema de los ninos negros en prision [The relationship between the socio-political situation and the criminal justice system in South Africa with specific reference to the problem of black children in prison]. Revista Juridica de Castilla la Mancha, Milano: 57-71. 

• Peacock, R. (1992). The relationship between the role personality determinant and crimes committed by street children. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 5 (1): 69-74. 

• Peacock, R. & Theron, A. (1992). Die verband tusssen straatkinders se emosionele en biologiese behoeftes en die tipe misdade wat deur hulle gepleeg word [The relationship between the emotional and biological needs of street children and nature of offences committed]. South African Journal of Sociology, 23(1): 26-30. 

• Peacock, R. (1991). The interaction between personality, the social environment and crime: A theoretical synthesis. Journal of Human Sciences, 2: 11-16.

• Peacock, R. (1990). El nino negro de la calle: Victima della sociedad Sudafricana. Sociologia del Diritto, 17(3): 119-124.

 Select list of peer reviewed conference participations:

Peacock, R. (2023). UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: The Inequality of Victimisation and Victim Assistance. Paper presented at the 12^th International Conference on Victim Assistance. Delhi: 7-9 September.

Peacock, R. (2022). Keynote address. Advancing research methods in Victimology. Paper presented at the 11^th International Conference on Victim Assistance. Delhi: 19- 21 October.

Peacock, R. (2022). Keynote address. Gender-based victimisation. Paper presented at the International Conference on Legal Contours of Victimology: Theory and Practice. Hyderabad, India: 9-11 September.

Peacock, R. & Pearson, A. (2022). A special tribute to Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu. Paper presented at the 17th International Symposium of   the World Society of Victimology, Donostia/San Sebastian: 5-9 June.

Peacock, R., Nel, J.A. & Van Wyk, H. (2022). Responding to and connecting with victims of LGBTQI+ hate crime. Paper presented at the 17th International Symposium of the  World Society of Victimology, Donostia/San Sebastian: 5-9 June.

Peacock, R. (2021). Keynote address. Victim Empowerment and Access to Justice: Critical reflections from Africa. Paper presented at the 4^th Annual Forensic Victimology and  Victim Support conference Victimology and Victim Support Conference. Nairobi: 22-24   November.

Peacock, R. (2021). Keynote address. Decolonising victimisation and justice: An African framework of a ‘peoples oriented’ Victimology. Paper presented at the 4^th International  conference on Victimology, North Maluku, Indonesia: 13-15 November.

Peacock, R. (2021). Welfare, empowerment and victim assistance. Paper presented at the 10^th International Conference  on Victim Assistance. Sonipat, India: 21-23 October.

Peacock, R. (2021). Keynote address: Crime and Victimisation in the era of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 6th International Conference on Energy, Environment, Epidemiology and Information System (ICENIS). Semarang, Indonesia: August 4th – 5^th.    

Peacock, R. (2021).  Keynote address: Researching Africa: Critical Socio - Legal Reflections. Law and Governance in a Dynamic Environment. Gaberone: 25 March.

Peacock, R. (2021). Justice for victims of crime and abuse of power: Challenges for policy, practice and research in the global North-South divide. Intervention presented on occasion of the 35^th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power (Victim Support Europe, WSV and Justice Section of the UNODC). 14^th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Kyoto: 7 – 12 March.  

Peacock, R. (2021). Creating an inclusive model of rehabilitation of victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Intervention presented together with O.P. Jindal Global University (Delhi). 14^th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Kyoto: 7 – 12 March. 

Peacock, R. (2020). The role of victim assistance in times of Covid-19. Paper presented at the 9^th International Conference on Victim Assistance. Sonipat, Delhi India: 30-31 October.  

Peacock, R. (2020). Keynote address: Victimology in the Global South: Critical Reflections. 3^rd Annual Forensic Victimology and Victim Support conference. Victim Resilience in Changing times. Nairobi: 12-13 October.   

Peacock, R. (2019). Victimology in Africa: Towards a new horizon. Paper presented at the CRIMSA International Biennial Conference. Polokwane: 27-30 August.

Peacock R. (2018). A restorative appraisal of heteronormativity in the ‘normalisation’ of the victimisation of the LGBTI+ community. 16th International Symposium of the World Society of Victimology, Hong Kong, China, 10–14 June.

Peacock, R. (2018). Keynote address: Emerging victimization patterns: A critical appraisal of conceptual theoretical frameworks with reference to the uniqueness of local context, generalizability and praxis in a globalized world, IXth Annual Conference of the Victimological Society of Serbia. New and old forms of victimisation: Challenges for victimology theory and practice. Belgrade, Serbia, 29–30 November.

Peacock, R. (2017). A cross-contextual analysis of the interrelationships between victimisation and the identity processing style of the adolescent. 6th International Conference on Victim Assistance. O.P. Jindal Global University. Delhi: 27 – 28 October.

Peacock, R. (2015). Keynote address: 15th International Symposium of the World Society of Victimology. `I am what I am because of who we all are`: A victimological exploration of the African values of Ubuntu. Perth 5- 9 July.

Peacock, R. & Mutsiwa, A. (2015). Baited or Trapped? An African Victimological Approach towards the Protection of Traditional Knowledge in Africa. 15th International Symposium of the World Society of Victimology. Perth 5- 9 July.

Peacock, R. (2012). Victimisation, vulnerability and resilience of street children. Paper (Moderator Round Table) presented at 14th International Symposium on Victimology: Justice for Victims: Cross- cultural perspectives on Conflict, Trauma and Reconciliation. The Hague (20-24 May 2012).

Peacock, R (2010, February). Interrelationships between the inmate code and the identity development of the incarcerated adolescent in South Africa. Paper presented at Beyond our boundaries: The inclusivity of Criminal Justice Sciences. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Conference, San Diego: USA.

Peacock, R (2009, August). Victimology in South Africa. Paper presented at the XIII International Symposium on Victimology, Mito: Japan. 

Peacock, R (2009, August). Institutional victimisation: Legislative framework and youth marginalisation in post apartheid South Africa. Paper presented at the XIII International Symposium on Victimology, Mito: Japan.

Peacock, R (2008, July). Victimisation in prison and the impact and consequences on the identity development of the incarcerated adolescent in South Africa. Paper presented at the XV World Congress of the International Society of Criminology, Barcelona: Spain.

Peacock, R (2007, March). Children in prison. Paper presented at the World of the Youth Offender Seminar presented by the Department of Social Work and Criminology of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria.

Peacock, R (2007, August). Adolescent identity, crime and criminal justice in South Africa. Paper presented at the Perspectives on Crime and Criminal Justice in Africa  CRIMSA Conference, Pretoria.

Peacock, R (2004, August). Institutional, structural and interpersonal violence: An integrated aetiological perspective (plenary speaker). Paper presented at the Violence in South Africa: Critical perspectives workshop of the Open Society Foundation of South Africa, Cape Town. 

Peacock, R (2003, July). Marginalisation and multiple victimisation: A critical appraisal. Paper presented at the XI th International Symposium on Victimology, Stellenbosch: South Africa.

Peacock, R (2002, May). Macro and micro links between violence in broader society and interpersonal violence: An integrated etiological perspective. Paper presented at the 6th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Control, Montreal: Canada.

Peacock, R (2000, August). Children: Symptom-bearers of prejudice, discrimination and conflict. Paper presented at the 10th International Symposium on Victimology: Beyond boundaries: Research and action for the 3rd Millennium, Montreal: Canada

Peacock, R (1997, August). South Africa: From retribution towards restorative justice. Paper presented at the 9th International Symposium on Victimology, Amsterdam: The Netherlands.

Peacock, R (1994, August). The effects of victimisation on the formation of a spoiled identity with special reference to the incarceration experience of the black adolescent in South Africa. Paper presented at the 8th International Symposium on Victimology, Adelaide: Australia.

Peacock, R (1993, August). The phenomenon of street children as symptomatic of socio-political change in South Africa, with specific reference to the criminogenesis of a street lifestyle. Paper presented at the 11th International Congress on Criminology, Budapest: Hungary.

Peacock, R (1990, May). The black street child: A victim of the South African Society. Paper presented at the 6th International Institute of Victimology, Guipuzcoa: Spain.

Peacock, R (1989, March). The street child: Victimising constitutional determinants. Paper presented at the 7th National Congress of the South African Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, Cape Town. 

Chair of conference (plenary) sessions:

• Reduced Inequalities” of the 12th International Conference on Victim Assistance. O.P. Jindal Global University, Delhi (7-9 September 2023).

• Justice for Victims: Cross-cultural perspectives on Conflict, Trauma and Reconciliation. 14th International Symposium on Victimology. The Hague (20-24 May 2012).

• 9^th International Conference on Victim Assistance.  O.P. Jindal Global University. Sonipat, Delhi (30-31 October 2020).

• Victimological approaches to International Crimes. Kigali (Rwanda): Hosted by Intervict, Institute of Legal Practice and Development, National University of Rwanda and Together against Impunity. 

• Victimology and Human Security. XIII International Symposium on Victimology Mito, Japan (23-28 August 2009). World Society of Victimology Africa and Middle East. XIII International Symposium on Victimology Mito, Japan (23-28 August 2009). World Society of Victimology.

• Crimsa Bi-Annual Conference. Pretoria, South Africa, (28 - 30 September 2009). Criminological and Victimological Society of Southern Africa.

• 6th International Conference on Victim Assistance. Evolving Perspectives in Victimology. O.P. Jindal Global University. Delhi (27-28 October 2017).

Public lectures:

• Peacock, R. Victimology in Africa: A new horizon. KU Leuven 23 January 2024 (Belgium).

• Peacock, R. Advancing Victimology in Africa: The need and recognition for empowerment. University of Limpopo. Polokwane: 18 September 2019 (South Africa)

• Peacock, R. A criminological analysis of hate or “message” crimes in post-apartheid South Africa: Lessons for Belgium at the K.U. of Leuven. With discussant Nathalie Lauwers: 18 October 2010 (Belgium). 

Macro and micro links between interpersonal victimisation and victimisation in broader society

Victimology, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Restorative Justice, Child Justice, Transitional Justice, Marginalisation, Criminal Behaviour, Street child phenomenon, Children deprived of their liberty

Courses developed and instruction provided:  

Postgraduate supervision, modules and qualifications:

(CRIM6834) Advanced Victimology: The application of advanced victimological knowledge, principles and practices to local, regional and international contexts, also of relevance to the administration of justice within a framework of judicial pluralism.  

victimological knowledge, principles and practices of vulnerable individuals, groups and communities, also of relevance to both civil society and the criminal justice process.

(CRIM6844) Transitional Justice, Human Rights and Development : The aim of CRIM 6844 is to equip with fundamental knowledge, principles and practical application of the transitional justice, human rights and development. This module aids an understanding of transitional justice as a full range of processes and mechanisms associated with attempts to come to terms with international crimes and the legacy of large-scale human rights violations and abuse of power. Such measures involve judicial and non-judicial mechanisms with differing levels of international involvement in order to serve justice and to achieve accountability, reconciliation, reparations, peacebuilding, institutional reform and development.

(CRIM6800) Honours research project: Independent postgraduate research project

(CRIM8900) Master of Social Science with specialisation in Criminology 

(CRIM9100) Doctor of Philosophy with specialisation in Criminology 

Engaged Scholarship: 

• 2022-2024 Immediate Past President of the World Society of Victimology (The World Society of Victimology is a not-for-profit organisation with Special Category consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and the Council of Europe)
• 2018 - June 2022:  President of the World Society of Victimology (see http://www.worldsocietyofvictimology.org/)
• Honorary Research fellow at Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences (JIBS), O.P. Jindal Global University, Delhi, India
• United Nations Liaison Committee of the World Society of Victimology
• Expert evidence (Expert Witness)
• Just Detention International - South Africa/Los Angeles (Board of Directors)
• Board of Advisors of the Centre of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Victimology. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (India)
• Expert participant on the Research Line of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium).
• Senior Editor Global Advances in Victimology and Psychological Studies 
• Journal of Ethnicity and Criminal Justice (Editorial Board)
• Temida: Serbian journal of Victimology (Editorial Board)
• Journal of Victimology and Victim Justice (Editorial Board)
• Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology and Victimology (Editorial Board)
• Mediarres: Rivista sulla Mediazione: Rivista su transformazione dei confltti (Scientific Committee) 

• Peacock, R. (2022). Restorative Justice and Access to Justice: Critical reflections of the global North-South Divide. Special guest speaker of the Annual Lecture Series of the International Journal of Restorative Justice, Donostia/San Sebastian, Spain: 8 June 2022.
• Peacock, R. (2022). On invitation of the Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi National Law University in India participated on 17 January in a capacity building development programme on Critical Criminal Law with a presentation on a Critical Perspective on the Evolution of Criminal Law.  Professor Martha Minow, former Dean of Harvard Law School, Professor Alan Norrie from the University of Warwick and Professor Pande from the University of Delhi were also participants.
• Peacock, R (2022). Inequality of Victimisation. Paper presented at the Inaugural Session of the 1^st International Victimology Colloquium on Victim Empowerment through Social and Legal Initiatives organised by the Centre for Criminology, Criminal Justice and Victimology, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab, India.
• Peacock, R. (2020/2021). Expert consultation on Model Provisions regarding Victims of Terrorism, organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Spain. Vienna.
• Peacock, R. (2020). Development of Victim and Witness Empowerment Policy. Kenya Victim Protection Board, Nairobi: 9-10 October, 2020. 
• Peacock, R. (2020). Moderator: Restorative Justice, Victim Assistance and Faith-based Organisations: NGO Alliance for Crime and Criminal Justice, United Nations. New York: 5 October 2020.
• Peacock, R. (2020). Victimology in the Global South: Victims’ Rights and Restorative Justice. International webinar. Criminological Research and Development Organisation, India: 19 June 2020. 
• Peacock, R. Restorative Justice: Reflections, past, present and future. One day National Seminar presented by the Centre for Applied Psychology (University of South Africa) and the Restorative Justice Centre. Pretoria: 9 November  2010.
• Peacock, R. (2015). Consultative Forum for Qualification Development of Offender Release, Placement and Parole Board System. Department of Correctional Services. Durban: 25th - 26th February 2015. 

Service on scientific committees of international symposia:

• 17th World symposium of Victimology. Victimisation in a digital world: Responding to and connecting with victims. San Sebastian (Spain): 5-9 June 2022.

• 10th Annual Conference of the Victimology Society of Serbia. Victimisation and diversity: Towards a holistic approach to victimology and victims’ rights. Belgrade: 28-29 November 2019.

• 6th International Symposium of the World Society of Victimology.Victims and Victimisation. Hong Kong: 5-9 July 2018.

• VIII Annual Conference of the Victimology Society of Serbia, Victims between security, human rights and justice: Local and  global context. Belgrade 30th November -1st December 2017.

•  Seventh Annual Conference of the Victimology Society of Serbia. Security and victimization: Challenges of social reaction and victims` protection, Belgrade: 24th - 25th November2016. 

• Sixth Annual Conference of the Victimology Society of Serbia. New Trends in Victimology Theory and Practice: Dilemmas and Challenges in Protecting Victims, Belgrade: 26th - 27th November 2015.

• Fifth Annual Conference of the Victimology Society of Serbia. Victims` protection: International law, national legislations and practice. Belgrade 27th - 28th November 2014.

• 15th International Symposium of the World Society of Victimology. Victimistion, justice and healing: Challenging orthodoxies. Perth, Australia: 5-9 July 2015.

• Fourth Annual Conference of the Victimology Society of Serbia, Victims and contemporary responses to crime: between protection and misuse. Belgrade: 28- 29 November 2013.

• Third Annual Conference of the Victimology Society of Serbia, Victims and contemporary social context: theory, practice, and activism. Belgrade: 22-23 November 2012.

• 14th International Symposium of the World Society of Victimology. Justice for Victims: Cross-cultural perspectives on conflict, trauma and reconciliation. The Hague: 20-24 May 2012.

• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ international conference: Beyond our boundaries: The inclusivity of Criminal Justice Sciences, San Diego: 23-27 February 2010.

• 13th International symposium of the World Society of Victimology. Victimology and Human Security. Tokiwa: Japan 28 August 2009.