Lords Committee takes evidence from academics on prisons
The Justice and Home Affairs Committee is holding its eighth evidence session as part of its inquiry on prison culture. The session will focus on the prison system in Norway, as well as England and Wales.
Meeting details
At 10:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry
Prison culture: governance, leadership and staffing
Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Director of the Prisons Research Centre at University of Cambridge
Professor of Penology and Criminal Justice and Deputy Director of the Prisons Research Centre at University of Cambridge
Associate Professor of Sociology at University of Agder
The Justice and Home Affairs Committee continues its inquiry into prison culture: governance, leadership and staffing. Today, academics will speak to the Committee about their research on prisons in Norway as well as prisons in England and Wales. The session will look at the experience of prisoners in different jurisdictions, the role and purpose of prisons, and the value of international comparisons in respect of prisons.
Possible Questions include:
- What is the purpose of prisons and is there a consensus on that purpose on the part of prison leaders and staff?
- What can academic research about the experiences of prisoners tell us about prison culture?
- What is the value of international comparisons between prison regimes?
- What are the key aspects of staff-prisoner relationships in England and Wales, and how do they compare with staff-prisoner relationships in other jurisdictions?
- How do you identify a successful prison?
- How is the debate on prisons policy shaped by political culture and the wider media environment?