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Prisoners’ Round, painted by Vincent van Gogh, February 1890.

Fortresses of Iron Coffins: Prisons in England and Wales in Historical Context

In this weeks blog, Dr David Scott, senior lecturer in Criminology at the Open University, discusses the history of prisons. If interested in this topic, why not listen to Dr David Scott on the BBC Radio 4 Programme ‘Prison Break’ (episode 4, How did it come to this?) on May 14th, 2021.  To listen to this episode, see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000vz86

30th April 2021

Is Nothing Sacred: The Creation of a Criminal Other

Andy Diaper is an independent social researcher. He works with vulnerable and excluded people within the community. His main research interests are groups that are excluded, harmed, and criminalised, including indigenous populations. His most recent blog at how cultural genocide has led to the Australian indigenous population to be viewed as a ‘criminal other’.

30th April 2021

Policing, Violence and State ‘Truths’

This blog from Professor Joe Sim of Liverpool John Moores University and Professor Steve Tombs of The Open University was also published by the Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion: https://ccseljmu.wordpress.com/ 

26th April 2021

Why deaf prisoners have been in a state of lockdown since well before COVID-19

This week Laura Kelly-Corless, University of Central Lancashire, and Daniel McCulloch, The Open University, write about the d/Deaf prisoner experience. This article has been republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

 

15th April 2021
Mesh implants used "with no clinical evidence" (Screenshot)

Mesh: Denial, half-truths and the harms

In this article, Sharon Hartles critically discusses the harmful impacts of mesh medical devices against the backdrop of disempowerment, denial and half-truths. Sharon Hartles was awarded an MA in Crime and Justice (with distinction) from The Open University and is a member of the Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative.  

20th March 2021

Launch of The School of Psychology and Counselling's Research Centre

The School of Psychology and Counselling at the Open University will launch its new School research centre on Tuesday 6th July. Please find more information on this here.

23rd February 2021

Reflections on COVID-19, Prisons and Legal Activism

In todays blog, Dr. David Scott, The Open University, and Prof. Joe Sim, Liverpool John Moores University, reflect upon COVID-19, Prisons and Legal Activisim. 

22nd February 2021

Brexit, migration and homelessness: the new terrain

In this article, Sharon Hartles and Dan McCulloch explore the potential impact of new immigration rules for non-UK nationals sleeping rough in the UK. Sharon Hartles was awarded an MA in Crime and Justice (with distinction) from The Open University and is a member of the Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative (HERC), and Dan McCulloch is a Lecturer in Criminology and Social Policy at The Open University.

3rd February 2021
Seeking human kindness - https://unsplash.com/@breakyourboundaries4?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText

Homelessness beyond criminalisation: Surviving in a global pandemic

Sharon Hartles critically reflects on the year 2020 and explores the shifting approach towards rough sleepers within an unprecedented global pandemic. Sharon Hartles was awarded an MA in Crime and Justice (with distinction) from The Open University and is a member of the Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative (HERC). 

Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash

20th January 2021

Demanding a new agenda: what must be done to stop women dying in prison?

In todays blog, Dr Kathryn Chadwick and Dr Becky Clarke, from Manchester Metropolitan University, discuss what must be done to stop women dying in prison. 

15th January 2021

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