https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/140897 Sun, 05 Jul 2026 04:57:51 GMT 2026-07-05T04:57:51Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146862 Title: Stalking and harassment : an analysis of the impact of this crime on tertiary educators in Malta Abstract: Despite increasing awareness of the emotional and professional risks posed to educators by stalking and harassment, local studies within tertiary education remain limited. This study explores how tertiary-level educators in Malta experience, interpret, and respond to such behaviours. The aim is to identify the relational, institutional, and socio-cultural factors that shape vulnerability and influence reporting. Using a qualitative design, the study employed semi-structured interviews and a focus group involving individuals with strong professional links to Maltese tertiary education, and to issues surrounding stalking and harassment. The resulting data were analysed thematically. The findings reveal that unwanted behaviours emerge across both physical and digital spaces, often facilitated by blurred boundaries, heightened expectations, and Malta’s small-island dynamics. Stalking and harassment were shown to have significant emotional, psychological, and professional impacts, contributing to anxiety, avoidance behaviours, and long-term shifts in educators’ confidence and sense of safety. The study also identifies substantial barriers to reporting, including fear of retaliation, reputational concerns, and perceived institutional inconsistency. Drawing on these insights, the dissertation proposes a set of evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening safeguarding frameworks, enhancing reporting structures, and fostering supportive institutional cultures. The study offers important new empirical insights into an underexplored area in Malta, and underscores the importance of placing educators’ wellbeing at the centre of institutional responsibility. Description: M.A. (Crim.)(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146862 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/141174 Title: Queering justice : a study of the lived experiences of LGBTIQ+ offenders Abstract: This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of LGBTIQ+ individuals who have or had contact with the criminal justice system. The aim of this dissertation was to critically examine how LGBTIQ+ identities intersect with systemic structures of justice and to uncover ways in which these individuals experience, resist or are affected by justice systems. This inquiry was necessary because, despite Malta’s progressive legal protections for LGBTIQ+ people, there remains a significant literature gap in understanding how LGBTIQ+ individuals wholly experience justice in practice. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with five LGBTIQ+ offenders who have or had contact with various institutions within the Maltese criminal justice system. Data analysis revealed themes of marginalisation, resistance, identity negotiation and moments of positive engagement with professionals. These manifested through narratives of navigating justice systems as ‘the other,’ marked by stigma, discrimination and hypervisibility. While some experienced affirming relationships and self-advocacy, a number of participants expressed facing institutional erasure and systemic betrayal. Nevertheless, their narratives reflected notable resilience and agency. Findings suggest that identity-based marginalisation and structural inequalities shaped LGBTIQ+ individuals’ experiences within the justice system, even in contexts with progressive legal frameworks. This study contributes to the limited body of research on queerness and criminalisation in Malta, highlighting the urgent need for intersectional, culturally-sensitive and identity-affirming reforms within the criminal justice system. These include sensitivity training for justice professionals, inclusive policies and stronger support services tailored to LGBTIQ+ offenders. Ultimately, this study implies that structural change is needed to move beyond tokenism and effectively tackle systemic inequality within the justice system. Description: M. Prob. Serv.(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/141174 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z