Research projects

SUCPS bids for and manages projects related to prisons and imprisonment. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of our membership, we are able to develop proposals that can draw upon a diverse range of expertise. This allows us to develop a wide range of research proposals for projects ranging from an exploration of the impact of imprisonment on specific groups of prisoners to the relationship between prison architecture, health, and prison order.

Prisons in Romania

Elaine's visit to Romania (2009) coincided with the signing of a Cooperation Agreement by the Chief Commissioner of Prisons, Mr. Ioan Bala. Dr. Elaine Crawley and Mr. Andrei Marga, Director of Babes-Bolyai University acknowledged the need for collaboration between academics and the National System of Penitentiaries in the training and re-training of prison personnel. The University's Center for Life Long Learning, which is coordinated by Professor Doctor Rodica Mocan, will have a central role in this process. This momentous occasion was attended by reporters from news agencies across Romania.

The first formal activity occasioned by the signing of the cooperation agreement was a conference by Dr. Crawley, the title of which was "Penitentiaries in the 21st century - the need for training, specialization and the professionalisation of custodial staff".

Consequently, SUCPS and the National Administration of Penitentiaries are engaged in an ongoing process of research development. One of our current projects is the development of a multi-partner analysis of prison staff training needs in 5 EU countries, i.e. Romania, UK, Norway, Ireland and Portugal.

Prisons in India

SUCPS is collaborating with academics in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Banasthali University, Rajasthan, India. Our most recent joint research proposal focuses on the experiences of women prisoners in India as compared to the UK. Our research partner is Dr. Anupma Kaushik, Banasthali University, India.

Prisons in Russia

SUCPS will shortly renew its Memorandum of Understanding with the Academy of Law and Management, Ryazan, Russia. This provides the formal basis on which to develop collaborative prisons research in Russia and the UK.

Prisons in the USA

SUCPS continues to have a working relationship with the Correctional Training Academy at Sea Girt, New Jersey. The most recent visit to the Academy was a joint one by SUCPS and staff from HMP Manchester.