Reform and Research: Re-connecting Prison and Society in the 21st Century

• Main Author: Peter Scharff Smith
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Queensland University of Technology 2015-04-01
• Series: International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy
• Subjects: Prison; research; reforms; what works; penal populism; human rights.
• Online Access: https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/view/202
• ISSN: 2202-7998; 2202-8005

<p class="AbstractTxt">IIn this contribution I briefly outline some of the historical and current trends in prison research and question how a prison researcher can work towards influencing policy and practice. I discuss the current role of ‘what works’ research and the way it is sometimes utilized in a time of penal populism and rising prison populations. I argue in favour of a broader approach which recognizes the wider societal effects of imprisonment and I provide a concrete example of how one can attempt to plan research and project work in order to facilitate progression from research and knowledge production to action and implementation. Finally I discuss some of the scientific and ethical implications which can arise when working with reform and implementation projects.</p>