Why we need decency in prisons, and why women are repeatedly criminalised (Part of the Villiers Park 'Inspiring Excellence' initiative)

Activity: OtherPublic engagement, outreach and knowledge exchange - Public Lecture/debate/seminar

Description

Since March 2015, I have been invited back every year as an evening keynote speaker at Villiers Park Educational Trust's annual Law: Corporate and Criminal Issues course; a week-long residential course for high ability young people aged 14-19 from less advantaged backgrounds. Part of VP's 'Inspiring Excellence' programme, my role within the programme is to meet with young people from across England and Wales and introduce them to core criminological issues, based on my own personal experiences (as a member of the Independent Monitoring Board and through my ESRC-funded research), but also to inspire them to develop a passion that may inspire them to take up criminology in FE or HE. 
These sessions directly inform young people about key debates in criminology, and facilitate the development of critical thought, as well as influencing potential future career avenues. 
Evidence - anonymous feedback from VP attendees 2019 'Dr Wright provided me with knowledge about the treatment of people in prison that I would not have otherwise known. Her insight was extremely valuable to my own opinion on the matter'.'I felt privileged to hear Dr Wright talk about her research on women in prison and the reasons they commit crime. It put a lot of the other legal work we did this week into perspective'.
Period7 Mar 2019
Held atVilliers Park Educational Trust, United Kingdom
Degree of RecognitionNational