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 → 01/10/2026
Research


01/02/2023 → 31/12/2024
Research


01/01/2022 → 30/06/2023
Research


01/10/2021 → 30/09/2026
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


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