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Institute of Criminology

 

The Justice and Society Research Centre hosts the annual Bill McWilliams Memorial Lectures. These lectures are given in the spirit of Bill McWilliams's work and represent an important contribution to thinking about contemporary probation practice.

Bill McWilliams, who died in 1997, had a prestigious career as a probation practitioner and writer. Now in their 23rd year, these lectures are given in the spirit of Bill McWilliams's work. They represent an important contribution to thinking about contemporary probation practice.

Past recordings

2025: McWilliams Probation Lecture with Lord Timpson OBE

Speaker: Lord Timpson OBE, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending.

Watch here on YouTube

2023: Probation unification: Stories, symbols and belonging.

Speaker: Professor Lol Burke, Liverpool John Moores University.

Watch here on YouTube

 

2022: Can Probation be Rehabilitated?

Speaker: Gwen Robinson, University of Sheffield

Watch here on YouTube

 

2021: Public Policy and Probation: is there a Welsh way?

Speaker: Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS (First Minister of Wales)

Watch here on YouTube

 

2018: Why Punish?

Speaker: Rob Canton

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2017: Helping, Holding and Hurting: A Dialogue about Penal Supervision

Speaker: Fergus McNeill

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2016: Penal Reform and Probation in Europe

Speaker: Vivian Geiran

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2015: Grace under Pressure: The Role of Courage in the Future of Probation Work

Speaker: Anne Worrall

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2014: Why Probation Matters

Speaker: Sue Hall

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2013: The Death Knell of a Much-Cherished Public Service?

Speaker: Paul Senior

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