News & Events

Dr Gill Buck presented her first keynote speech at the Correctional Research Symposium 2025. Practitioners and researchers joined the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) and the European Organisation for Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris) for the fourth symposium, hosted by the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) in Belfast.

 The event explored quality research to direct the design and delivery of correctional services, and to address current challenges of moving from research to practice.

The events key message was that rehabilitative efforts with justice-involved Individuals are not enough and emphasised the importance of being able to engage with, expand and support a broader ecosystem.

Explore Dr Gill Buck’s open access publications on peer-mentoring here

📚 including her paper on The Core Conditions of peer-mentoring

📚 More open access resources on Lived Experience Criminal Justice research

‘Prisoner Leaders: Leadership as Experience and Institution’ is a new innovative book from editors Paula Harriott and Marion Vannier that explores opportunities for the systematic development of prison leadership.

Co-editor, Paula Harriott explains, “Prison leadership is an unmined sea of knowledge, strengthening people as they pass through the justice process.”

The launch event held on the 16 June, brought together practical proposals from a range of authors on facilitating leadership not stereotypes, reducing violence, promoting recovery, and developing meaningful work opportunities. The book is a new step in elevating transformative actions and exploring how fundamental changes to criminal justice can better society as a whole.

Our amazing research team members Kemi and Tasha Ryan talk about Life After Prison in a new podcast. If you’ve not yet heard from the force that is Reformed Development, treat yourself to a listen. Sharing essential messages for social work and criminal justice on love, a human approach and recognising the minefield that is post-prison ‘rehabilitation’.

“We had to create our rehabilitation, and that’s a sad thing”.
Tasha Ryan, Reformed Development

In the episode host Jules speaks to the sisters, who’s organisation was born out of the rejection and discrimination they experienced after coming out of prison. To inspire changes, they work to support other people who have been to prison, and to empower communities with a holistic approach to rehabilitation. Listen to the podcast here…

Trigger warning: podcast references sensitive topics.