Maria Cristina Dorado

María Cristina is a Research Associate at the Centre for Criminological Research. Dr Dorado has a Master?s degree in Latin American Studies (Sociology) from Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, and a doctorate in Political Science from Oxford University (St Anne?s College). Dr Dorado?s thesis examined the politics of Local Government in Pereira, Colombia. Post-doctoral research on the history of Pereira was conducted at the Universidad Nacional de Medellín, Colombia. 

Prior to joining the Centre of Criminology she worked as a consultant for the Colombian Embassy, London. Dr Dorado?s research interest focuses mainly on analysing social and political problems associated with drug trafficking. For this purpose she has conducted in-depth interviews of convicted female Colombian drug couriers imprisoned at Holloway (London), Carabanchel (Madrid), and Frankfurt (Justizvollzugsanstalt, Frauenhaftanstalt). 

Her current work is examines drug trafficking from the drug courier?s modality and the response by governments to this criminal offence.  The rationality of current anti-drug trafficking offences relies mostly on measures based on penal law with the application of harsh sentences that usually results in long-term imprisonment. Academic interest is thus limited to analysing how suitable this approach is in resolving problems associated with this type of offence. Dr Dorado?s current interest is to fill this gap by looking at aspects of this problem that show the limitations of penal law as a solution to drug couriering offences.