International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research (ICCCR)
Events
As well as holding regular staff meetings to discuss collaborative research and course production, the International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research (ICCCR) hosts an annual conference and regular research seminars. The annual conference specifically aims to bring together academics from overseas, and from a variety of disciplines, into contact with practitioners, policy makers and the press. The research seminars usually include a number of papers focused on a single issue. Details of conferences and seminars (both past and future) are given below. To receive e-mail details about the events and activities of the ICCCR, please add yourself to our mailing list using the contact information on our contact page.
Upcoming events
ICCCR Annual Conference
7- 8 July 2011
Location: The Open University, Milton Keynes
The International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research (ICCCR) will be holding its annual conference at The Open University on 7 and 8 July. The conference will start at noon on 7 July and finish at 15:00 on 8 July. The theme of the conference is 'constructions of evidence' and the emphasis is on legal evidence. One of the aims of the conference is to foster new collaborations, so the conference has welcomed contributions from both academics and practitioners in a wide range of disciplines including law, psychology, computing, engineering, social sciences and humanities.
Day 1 of the conference will feature presentations on a range of evidential issues. These include a symposium entitled 'Picturing the truth? Drawing, seeing, evidence: Visual practices in research and law which will include presentationsby Dr Jill Gibbon (OU);Unveiling the arms trade: the possibility of satirical drawing as evidence; Dr Andrew Hill and Dr Claudia Aradau (OU); The Politics of Drawing: children and violence across borders and Dr Johanna Motzkau: (OU), Visualising credibility: The role of the visual in psychological research and child witness practice. A range of other topics will also be discussed including Improving presenting legal evidence using Bayesian Networks, by Prof Norman Fenton (QMUL); Truth and proof: what constitutes evidence, Prof John Hatchard (OU).
Day 2 will focus on issues surrounding expert evidence. Lord Justice Leveson (most senior judge in England and Wales) will give a special address on expert evidence to open the session. There will then be presentations by Dr Itiel Dror on Fingerprinting, DNA and implications for the wider judicial system, Prof Jim Fraser - Where Science Meets the Law and Dr Ailsa Strathie - Expert evidence? The scientific credibility and legal admissibility of expert testimony based on Facial Image Comparison techniques. This session will also feature a debate on the use of 'expert' evidence. One of the key features of this debate is that it will provide discussion between key legal experts (e.g. Lord Justice Leveson, Maggie Scott QC, Scotland), academic research and policy (Dr Itiel Dror, Cognitive Neuropsychologist, UCL; Prof Jim Fraser, Director of the University of Strathclyde's Centre for Forensic Science and Associate Director of the Scottish Institute for Policing Research ) as well as lay/police perspectives (Iain McKie - ex-policeman and campaigner on behalf of his daughter Shirley McKie). This debate will also focus on key differences between the Scottish and English legal systems.
Conference Convenors: Hayley Ness, Graham Pike and Nicola Brace
Conference Programme (PDF document, 42 KB, Updated: 9 June 2011)
If you would like to attend please e-mail SocSci-ICCCR-Events@open.ac.uk or contact Sarah Batt, ICCCR Centre Secretary on 01908 654704. There is no delegate fee for attendance.
Seminar - Criminal Justice in Scotland: Current State and Future Directions
Thursday, 10 February 2011, 13:30-16:30
This event is by invitation only
Following the publication in late 2010 of Criminal Justice in Scotland edited by Croall, Mooney and Munro (Willan/Routledge), The Open University in Scotland along with the International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, The Open University and CjScotland are hosting this Seminar to develop thinking around the key themes in the book, namely the relationships between crime, inequalities, criminal and social justice and the distinctiveness or otherwise of Scottish criminal justice. It seeks to provide an opportunity for informed debate and discussion about the current state of criminal justice in Scotland and its likely directions following the UK General Election of 2010 and more significantly the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2011. What are the strengths of criminal justice in Scotland? What are the main problems with it - and what changes are desirable - and achievable?
Seminar Programme (PDF document, 24 KB)
The number of places is strictly limited and reservations will be on a first come, first served basis.
Please email Jenny Robertson, J.C.Robertson@open.ac.uk, by 14 January 2011 at the latest, stipulating name of person attending, name of institution or agency and email address (if different from reply address).
ICCCR Seminar Series
There are currently no events planned.
Past Events
ICCCR/IARS - Strategic Discussion on the Future of Restorative Justice in the UK
22 November 2010
This event is by invitation only
All ICCCR members are cordially invited to attend a closed, strategic discussion on the future of restorative justice in the UK.
The event, hosted jointly by the Independent Academic Research Studies (IARS) and the International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research (ICCCR), aims to bring together around 25 key stakeholders in the restorative justice field including policymakers (e.g. Home Office, Youth Justice Board), academics, funders and senior practitioners.
The current policy, political and economic climate, and the proposed legislation and institutional changes provide a unique opportunity to discuss strategically about the next steps for the restorative justice movement in the UK.
Dr Caroline Lanskey - Education for Young People in Custody in England: Reflections on Policy and Practice
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Location: The Open University, Milton Keynes
In April 2010 local authorities took over responsibility for the education of young people in Young Offender Institutions and Secure Training Centres in England. The recent legislative changes provided a timely opportunity for reflection on the provision of education for young people in secure institutions in this country. Drawing on examples from recent policy and research the paper reflected on tensions in the relationship between educational and penal agenda, with particular regard to notions of 'punishment' and 'citizenship' and the classification of young people as 'offenders'.
Jury Symposium - Special theme: visual evidence
Friday, 11 June 2010
Location: The Open University, Milton Keynes
This one-day symposium on visual evidence aimed to bring together psychologists, legal professionals and expert witnesses to discuss issues concerning the presentation of scientific evidence in Court. The symposium discussed issues concerning all aspects of visual evidence (e.g. CCTV, computer animations and simulations). Of particular interest were the role of the expert witness; how visual evidence is described to a jury; what impact visual evidence has on decisionmaking and whether presenting certain types of evidence visually is prejudicial or facilitative.
Specific talks included:
- Juror perceptions of crime scene re-enactments
- Brain imaging and the law
- The use of video clips in sentence hearings in the US
- 3D visualisations of crime scenes
- Expert testimony and forensic facial evidence
- Surveillance footage as evidence in 1935
- The 'CSI' effect
- Multi-sensory law
- Visual evidence from a legal perspective
Speakers included: Prof Gerry Derksen, Dept of Design, Winthrop University; Dr Colette Brunschwig, Dept of Law, University of Zurich; Prof Burkhard Schafer, Dept of Law, Edinburgh University; Prof Richard Neave, Practitioner in forensic face and body mapping; Dr Minhua Eunice Ma, School of Computing, University of Derby; Dr Rhonda Wheate, School of Law, Glasgow Caledonian University; Dr Chris Williams, History Dept, Open University; Dr Graham Pike, Psychology Dept, Open University.
Prof Nigel South - 'Climate Change, Crimes and Conflicts'
Wednesday, 25 March 2010
Location: The Open University, Milton Keynes
Nigel South is Professor in the Department of Sociology, a member of the Human Rights Centre, and currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Law and Management at the University of Essex, COLCHESTER, UK. He has previously taught in London and New York. His research interests include green criminology; drug use, health and crime; inequalities, crime and citizenship; and theoretical and comparative criminology. He has served on various editorial boards and continues to serve on the international editorial board of Critical Criminology and as an editor of the journal, Deviant Behaviour.
Dr Joanna Adler - Engaging to "Prevent": case studies on anti radicalisation and hate crimes
Wednesday, 25 November 09
Location: The Open University, Milton Keynes
This was a two pronged seminar considering work on preventing violent extremism and on hate crimes. Dr Joanna R. Adler, Forensic Psychologist, from Middlesex University outlined some research in progress and previous projects. She facilitated discussion about the practicalities and ethics of engaging with government core strategies and the roles of psychology, criminology and social policy in such processes.
Workshop - 'Policing the British Empire in the 19th and 20th Century'
16-17 September 2009
Location: The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
This was the first in the series of four workshops examining imperial policing within a European context. These workshops will be held in collaboration with the GERN.
Conferences
Seventh Annual Conference
Conference on 'Ethnicity, Crime and Justice; Contemporary and Historical Perspectives'
Tuesday, 8 June - Wednesday, 9 June
Location: The Open University, Milton Keynes
This two day conference on 'Ethnicity, Crime and Justice; Contemporary and Historical Perspectives' aimed to bring historians and criminologists together around common themes. The conference partly came out of a recent ESRC-funded research project on ethnicity, crime and justice in England in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and the desire of Peter King and John Carter Wood, who are writing a book out of this research, to bring together historians and criminologists working in this field.
The conference began with overview papers - by two speakers who have recently written general texts in the area of research - one an historian and the other a criminologist. This was followed by sessions on a range of topics - policing, prisons, hate crime etc and by sessions looking more specifically at the treatment of black offenders/victims and at Irish and Jewish minorities and their experience of the criminal justice system in the past.
The main focus was research on Britain but speakers from Africa, North America and France brought a broader geographical range. The aim was to have 2 or 3 25 -30 minute papers and then allow plenty of time for discussion in each of the 6 consecutive sessions.
Speakers included: Coretta Phillips, Marty Wiener, Paul Iganski, and Rene levy
Homicide: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives
Friday 4 December 2009, 10:00-16:30
Location: The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
The European Centre for the Study of Crime, Policing and Justice at the Open University hosted a one-day Conference. Five papers were presented; full details are given on the programme.
Sixth Annual Conference
Deviance, Crime and Prevention in a Punitive Age (EU funded)
17-19 June 2009
As part of a consortium from 10 European countries ICCCR hosted the final in a series of conferences on Deviance, Crime and Prevention in Europe.
The aim of CRIMPREV, over the course of three years, is to provide an overall assessment of the current knowledge of crime, crime prevention and deviance in Europe. The CRIMPREV consortium is made up of 31 universities and research institutes spread across Europe from 10 European countries. The Open University's ICCCR (International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research) is one of four British university-based research groups in the consortium. The work of CRIMPREV has been broken into six carefully structured work packages:
- Factors of Deviant Behaviours
- Criminalisation
- Perceptions of Crime
- Interactions (between different forms of deviance, organised crime etc)
- Public Policies of Prevention
- Methodology and Good Practices Guidelines
Conference Programme (PDF document, 36 KB)
Research-Practice Conference
Lost in Application: Child Witnesses and Psychological Research on Trial
10 June 2009
Loctation: Hilton Hotel, Timbold Drive, Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes
Fifth Annual Conference: The Metropolis on Trial
10-12 July 2008
This 3 day conference celebrated the completion of the Old Bailey online project. Proceedings of the Old Bailey from 1674 to 1834 but also those of its successor, the Central Criminal Court, from 1834 to 1913 are now available at www.oldbaileyonline.org. Speakers included Carloyn Conley (Alabama), Martin Weiner (Rice), Bob Shoemaker (Sheffield), Peter King (Open), Patrick Curran QC, Bruce Holder QC , James Sharpe (York)
Fourth Annual Conference: The Progressive Prison? Historical Narratives; Contemporary realities
21-22 June 2007
Speakers included Alison Liebling (Cambridge), Richard Sparks (Edinburgh), Joe Sim (Liverpool), Pat Carlen (Keele).
Third Annual Conference: Youth Justice and the Antisocial
31 March 2006
This one day conference critically explored the impact of antisocial behaviour legislation in England and Wales and Scotland. Key note speakers included Rod Morgan (YJB), Lesley McAra (Edinburgh), Jim Whitfield (ICCCR), Bill Pitt (Respect Task Force) and Matt Foot (ASBOConcern).
Second Annual Conference: New Directions in Community Safety
3 December 2004
The one-day conference New Directions in Community Safety was organised in conjunction with the British Society of Criminology and Birmingham CityPride. Its main aim was to critically interrogate contemporary community safety practice, policy, theory and research. Key note speakers included Peter Neyroud (Thames Valley Police), Rene van Swaaningen (Rotterdam) and Ian Loader (Oxford).
Inaugural Conference: The Persistent Prison
12 and 13 December 2003
The inaugural conference of the ICCCR - 'The Persistent Prison' was held at Walton Hall on 12 and 13 December 2003. It aimed to interrogate the fundamental assumptions behind the continued use of the prison as the primary form of punishment in the United Kingdom, and to bring together academics and policy makers in a frank discussion of its future. Academic speakers included Prof. Pieter Spierenburg (Erasmus University) and Prof. Michael Hough (King's College, London University). Practitioners speaking included Rod Morgan (HM Chief Inspector of Probation) and Martin Narey (Home Office Commissioner for Correctional Services).
Please follow this link for full details of the Persistent Prison Programme. The conference proceedings have been published, by Francis Boutle.
Selected Seminars/Lectures
2 April 2009 - Ending violent careers: Stories from Milan and Moss Side
Speaker: Dr Phil Edwards
26 February 2009 - The Abolition of Capital Punishment in Britain: Political, Cultural and Penal Change in the Mid-Twentieth Century
Speaker: Prof Tim Newburn
13 November 2008 - 'Let it be? Researching Russia's Hidden Penal Community'
Speaker: Dr Laura Piacentini
25 April 2008 - Controlling the streets 1890-1970
Speakers included: Margo de Koster (Louvain, Belgium) and Maureen Scollan (The Open University)
17 April 2008 - Public Criminology
Speaker: Ian Loader (Oxford)
12 December 2007 - Histories of Crime and the Media
13 March 2007 - Policing Modern Hungary
Speakers: Zsuzsa Tolnai (Hungarian Police College), Mark Pittaway (The Open University)
16 February 2007 - Policing and Violence After and Between Wars
Speakers: Clive Emsley (The Open University), Stefan Nyzell (University of Malmo), Louise Jackson (University of Edinburgh), J Carter Wood (The Open University)
1 December 2006 - Moral Panics, News Media and the Law in Eighteenth Century England
Speakers: David Lemming (All Soul's College, Oxford)
20 October 2006 - Policing, Crime and Space in the 19th and 20th Centuries
Speakers: Chris Williams (The Open University), Mike Esbester (University of Reading), Colin Chant (The Open University), Maureen Scollan (The Open University)
19 October 2006 - Duelling, the Press and the Law in late Eighteenth Century England
Speaker: Donna Andres (University of Guelph, Toronto)
13 July 2006 - Community Policing and the Antisocial (ESRC funded)
Speakers included Elizabeth Burney (Cambridge) and Gordon Hughes (Cardiff)
10 April 2006- Juvenile Rescue and Reform: historical and contemporary perspectives.
Speakers included: Peter King (ICCCR), Abi Wills (Oxford), and Pam Cox (Essex)
10 February 2006 - Policing and Punishment in Inter-War Europe
Speakers included Clive Emsley (ICCCR) and Stef Slater, (Royal Holloway College)
17 January 2006 English Law and Scottish Masters
Prof Douglas Hay (Osgoode Law School, Toronto)
18 January, 2005 - Transnational Crime: Its Nature, Threats and Mitigation
Rob McCusker (Institute of Criminology, Australia)
18 June 2004 - Heritage and History of the UK Criminal Justice System
This one-day conference brought together academics and practitioners to discuss a wide variety of intellectual and policy issues pertaining to the preservation of police records and their communication to the public. The conference proceedings - Giving the Past a Future - have been published, by Francis Boutle.
15 June 2004 - The Uncertain Promise of Risk
The ICCCR held the first in a series of public lectures on 15 June at the Open University's Walton Hall Campus. Prof Pat O'Malley, Canada Research Chair in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University, Ottawa, spoke on 'The Uncertain Promise of Risk', discussing different examples of policies using risk management from around the world, with a particular focus on governing the drugs problem.
4 May 2004- Eliciting information from eyewitnesses and victims of crime
This conference was funded by the British Psychological Society.
To receive regular updates concerning the activities of the International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research (ICCCR), please add yourself to our mailing list using the contact information on the contact page. For details of the various seminars and events held by the research clusters which make up the ICCCR, see the Research Clusters page.