Professor Brian Francis

Professor of Social Statistics

Research Overview

I am a social statistician with interests in preference models, latent class methods for longitudinal data, mixture models and categorical data problems. Applications are crucial to my work. I primarily research into quantitative criminology -both methodological and substantive problems - focusing on the criminal careers of offenders and social and developmental change. I am also interested in analysing administrative and survey data and am investigating issues related to violence and serious offending, including sexual offending, homicide, trafficking, organised and cyber-crime. Recent work has focused on high frequency victimisation and gender based violence. More broadly I am working on child developmental studies in psychology.

Selected Publications


Dittrich, R., Francis, B., Hatzinger, R., Katzenbeisser, W. 04/2012 In: Statistical Modelling. 12, 2, p. 117-143. 27 p.
Journal article


Liu, J., Francis, B., Soothill, K. 06/2011 In: Journal of Quantitative Criminology. 27, 2, p. 175-196. 22 p.
Journal article


Reissland, N., Francis, B., Mason, J., Lincoln, K. 31/08/2011 In: PLoS ONE. 6, 8, 7 p.
Journal article


Soothill, K., Francis, B., Liu, J. 07/2008 In: British Journal of Criminology. 48, 4, p. 522-537. 16 p.
Journal article


Francis, B.J., Fligelstone, R., Soothill, K. 2004 In: European Journal of Criminology. 1, 1, p. 48-87. 40 p.
Journal article


Francis, B., Dittrich, R., Hatzinger, R. 2010 In: Annals of Applied Statistics. 4, 4, p. 2181-2202. 22 p.
Journal article


Francis, B., Liu, J., Soothill, K. 06/2010 In: International Criminal Justice Review. 20, 2, p. 188-204. 17 p.
Journal article


Francis, B.J., Elliott, A., Weldon, M. 04/2016 In: Journal of Developmental and Life Course Criminology . 2, 1, p. 113-133. 21 p.
Journal article


Francis, B.J., Bartolucci, F., Pennoni, F. 01/2007 In: Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A Statistics in Society. 170, 1, p. 115-132. 18 p.
Journal article


Aitkin, M., Francis, B., Hinde, J., Darnell, R. 2009 Oxford : Oxford University Press. 568 p. ISBN: 0199219133, 9780199219131.
Book


Francis, B., Dittrich, R., Hatzinger, R., Penn, R.D. 1/07/2002 In: Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series C (Applied Statistics). 51, 3, p. 319-336. 18 p.
Journal article


Francis, B.J., Soothill, K.L., Dittrich, R. 2001 In: British Journal of Criminology. 41, 4, p. 726-737. 12 p.
Journal article


Francis, B., Liu, J. 21/08/2015 In: Metron. 73, 2, p. 277-297. 21 p.
Journal article


Walby, S., Towers, J., Francis, B. 1/11/2016 In: British Journal of Criminology. 56, 6, p. 1203-1234. 32 p.
Journal article


Kirby, S., Francis, B., O'Flahery, R. 08/2014 In: Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency. 51, 3, p. 259-276. 18 p.
Journal article


18/12/2023 → 15/09/2026
Research


12/09/2023 → 31/12/2025
Research


01/02/2023 → 31/12/2024
Research


01/01/2022 → 30/06/2023
Research


01/10/2021 → 30/09/2026
Research


01/02/2019 → 31/03/2022
Research


01/01/2019 → 30/04/2024
Research


11/06/2018 → 10/10/2018
Research


01/01/2016 → 30/09/2019
Research


31/12/2014 → 30/09/2015
Research


01/10/2013 → 30/09/2016
Research


01/04/2013 → 30/09/2014
Research


01/01/2013 → 30/06/2017
Research


01/11/2012 → 31/10/2014
Research


01/03/2012 → 31/12/2016
Research


01/02/2012 → ،­
Research


01/01/2012 → 30/09/2017
Other


01/01/2012 → 31/03/2012
Research


01/10/2008 → 31/03/2012
Research


01/02/2007 → 30/09/2008
Research


01/01/2007 → 15/11/2007
Research


01/01/1997 → ،­
Other


01/01/1997 → 31/12/2000
Other


01/01/1997 → 31/12/1999
Other


01/01/1900 → ،­
Research


Membership of committee


Membership of committee


Membership of committee


Membership of committee


Editorial activity


Membership of committee


Editorial activity


Prize (including medals and awards)


Prize (including medals and awards)

  • Security Lancaster
  • Security Lancaster (Sociology)
  • Social and Economic Statistics