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Our work has impacted positively on the lives of prisoners, influenced prison-education practice, and contributed to public- and third-sector debates around the penal system. We achieved this by the production, dissemination and evaluation of Free to Write, an anthology combining cultural-historical analysis with prisoners' writing; through research on the experiences of prisoners in the past; and in the publication of a well-received series of crime novels challenging assumptions about criminality. Through practice-based and academic research, knowledge exchange with practitioners in public- and third-sectors, and creative outputs directed to specialist and non-specialist audiences, staff explored the role of creative writing in prisoner rehabilitation, addressing recidivism and in raising public awareness of the complex nature of offending.
This case study reflects on Professor Joe Sim's work, and his public engagement with the academic, political, public and policy debates, around penal policy and deaths in custody. The underpinning aims of Sim's research are to: alleviate the pains and harms associated with deaths in custody for bereaved families; highlight the experiences of those staff committed to humane reform; engage critically with policies around penal reform in order to develop alternatives to custody based on humanity and social justice; and attempt to hold to account those who deliver penal policy. The ultimate aim is to heal the individual offender, reduce victimisation and protect wider society.
This impact case study emanates from two ESRC grants. The impacts yielded by it are theoretical, in that they advance thinking in relation to identities, penal theory and research methodology; policy related in that they have already impacted on National Offender Management Service (NOMS) prison related policies; and practical, in that they have changed the practices in the prison where the research was undertaken.
Through her research at UWE Bristol, Marie Mulvey-Roberts has enhanced public understanding of imprisonment and political contributions made by prisoners from the nineteenth century to the present day. The underpinning research covers cases such as an inmate from a Victorian asylum through to an imprisoned Suffragette and contemporary prisoners facing capital punishment in America. By showing through writing how prisoners have exposed conditions and other aspects of their ordeal, she has raised the quality of public debate and wider understanding of basic standards of wellbeing and conceptions of human rights. The research has stimulated events at which members of the public have engaged with the issues raised and benefited the school curriculum.
In 2008 Mary Cooper was commissioned by Clean Break Theatre, London and Action for Prisoners' Families (APF) to write a short drama which would address issues particular to women in prison and their families. The drama toured women's prisons in 2009. In 2010 Cooper was commissioned to adapt the stage play as a short film, which went on to win the IVCA Gold Award for Best Drama 2010. It is now widely recommended by leading charities and agencies and regularly used as a training tool throughout England and Wales to increase understanding of family relationships within prisoners' families.
Easton's research on prisoners' rights has contributed to the policy debate on prisoners' voting rights and has been used as evidence by lobby groups which are seeking policy change in this area.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2005 that the UK's laws disenfranchising most sentenced prisoners serving their sentences at the time of the election breached the right to vote under the European Convention on Human Rights (Hirst v UK). A change in the law would affect more than 87,000 prisoners in English and Welsh prisons. Easton contributed responses to both government consultations on the issue and her research has been used by groups calling for change. Easton's research has also been cited in the Parliamentary briefing paper on prisoners' voting rights and her work on this topic has also been used to provide information to the Joint Committee currently reviewing the Draft Voting Eligibility Bill and possible options for change.
Research carried out at the University of Bradford has directly and indirectly influenced how prisons in England and Wales respond to issues of diversity and equalities; consequently impacting the lived experience of those working and residing in prisons. The research has contributed to the development of a national equalities policy framework; the development of new national and local policies and guidance for the care and management of transgender offenders; revisions to and widening of the mechanisms for prisoner reporting and investigation of discrimination and inequality, and the development of human capital through a more equalities literate workforce and prisoner population.
The case study refers to research conducted by the Centre for Applied Criminology (CAC), which has focused on HMP Grendon. This document evidences the following impacts:
* Effects on and changes and benefits to policy and practice within and beyond HMP Grendon.
* Reduction or prevention of harm / negative effects upon staff and prisoners at HMP Grendon.
* Effects on awareness and understanding of needs specific groups of prisoners at HMP Grendon.
* Changes and benefits to opportunities available for HMP Grendon prisoners and applicants.
* Benefits in terms of awareness of penal issues amongst audiences of specific media.
Research undertaken on prison quality and moral performance by the Cambridge Prisons Research Centre (PRC) has been used to develop the Measuring Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) and Staff Quality of Life (SQL) surveys for HM Prison Service. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has adopted the MQPL survey in routine performance and audit measurement of all 138 prison establishments in England and Wales. The survey is also used to assess prison quality abroad. The research underpinning the MQPL has enabled the implementation of HM Prison Service's `decency agenda' for evaluating the treatment of prisoners. MPQL survey results influenced the development of HM Prison Service practices linked to a reduction in suicides in prisons.
This research has made a sustainable and long-term impact on law and policy in relation to prisoners, families and global human rights, not only in the UK but in Europe and the rest of the world. The research directly informed the decision of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the Dickson v UK case concerning the reproductive rights of prisoners and their partners, which has had a significant and demonstrable impact on the lived experiences of prisoners and their families, including enabling prisoners' partners to gain access to fertility services in order to become pregnant. This research has also informed the design and delivery of prison intervention programmes for offenders and their families.