We were sad to hear of the passing of former Institute of Criminology Librarian Dr Martin Wright. Martin was the Librarian of the Institute at a crucial stage of its early development. He was appointed in circa 1963 and held the post until 1971. Although Martin’s main achievements came after he had left the Institute, we remember him for the important role that he played in that first decade of the Institute’s life.
Martin was the Institute’s second Librarian, and played a key role in consolidating the work of the Library as the Institute grew into its work during the 1960s.
Martin was also deeply interested in various aspects of criminology, especially the treatment of offenders. When he left the Institute, it was therefore not to a further library post, but to become the Director (now known as the Chief Executive) of the Howard League for Penal Reform, a post that he held with distinction from 1971 to 1982. During those years and subsequently, he became a leading figure in campaigns for penal reform. He was an outspoken advocate for policies of restorative justice, writing several books on the subject. In 2023, the Howard League honoured him with a special event titled ‘Martin Wright: A Torchbearer for Penal Reform and Restorative Justice’. He was also elected as the Patron of the charity called ‘Restorative Justice for All’ (‘RJ4All’), which has posted a full-length tribute to him since his death (‘Remembering Martin Wright (1930-2025): A Pioneer of Restorative Justice’).