Welcome to Imagining Possible Futures
Our ambitious plan is to undertake the first large scale, participatory study of lived experience-led criminal justice across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Former prisoners and criminalised people take active roles as researchers, lecturers and trainers, practitioners (peer supporters, prison council and equality representatives, co-producers and leaders of services), policy and practice advisors, and (academic) authors advancing criminological theory. Despite growing forms of participation in criminal justice internationally, there is a need for a fuller evidence base.
The project has 3 core aims
To document a history lived experience-led criminal justice.
To critically examine current models of participation, coproduction and lived experience-informed criminal justice practice.
To use artistic and speculative design practices to explore future possibilities for participatory criminal justice.
If you are interested in being a participant in the research or collaborating on a project, get in touch, Gill Buck g.buck@chester.ac.uk
Meet the Team
Publications
Explore our list of publications for valuable insights and information
Free Resources
View and download our range of free resources
Photo & Artefact Gallery
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News & Events
- Imagining Possible Futures at the European Society of Criminology
Image: Paula Harriott with the Prisoner Leaders book. In September 2025, team members attended the European Society of Criminology conference in Athens, Greece. Gill Buck, along with Professor Ben Crewe from the University of Cambridge, were invited to an ‘Author meets Critic’ session. They responded to the excellent book ‘Prisoner Leaders‘, by Paula Harriott and… Read more: Imagining Possible Futures at the European Society of Criminology - New publication on Women in prison…
Women in prison have key insights into problems and solutions related to imprisonment but their voices are often peripheral, or they are constructed as ‘pathetic’. There is unrealised potential for prison regulators to network women in prison and families with other regulators (e.g., voluntary sector) to deepen understanding of problems for broader social benefit. Prison… Read more: New publication on Women in prison… - New paper published on suicide prevention
A new paper co-authored by Dr Gill Buck and Dr Philippa Tomczak explores Suicide in prison: The potentials and pitfalls of film-research collaborations. When somebody dies in prison, grief may not be openly acknowledged. Trauma can be embodied, difficult to express in words. Collaborative film can centre and validate lived experiences, emotionally engage people, influence… Read more: New paper published on suicide prevention - REFORMED partners launch new development programme
📣In September 2025 our partners Tasha and Kemi from Reformed Development will launch a new empowerment programme. The Mindset Programme is aimed at women with convictions. It will run for 12 weeks from 3rd September and focus on: ✨️Employability.✨️Goal Setting.✨️Increased self-belief and confidence. To register your interest, visit: https://www.reformed16.com/mindset