Desistance after Imprisonment Abroad

(Image L-R: Angelique Mulholland (IoC) Theo Cresser (Prisoners Abroad), Charlotte Flinterman (Prisoners Abroad), Caroline Lanskey (IoC))

Desistance Following Imprisonment Abroad Research Project (DIA) 

The DIA research project is a collaboration between the Institute of Criminology and Prisoners Abroad. The main aim of the project is to understand better the challenges of resettling in Britain after being imprisoned abroad,and including people’s experiences of desistance from crime.

Delivering a robust, empirical evidence base for improving our understanding of desistance following a prison sentence overseas, as well as the effectiveness of Prisoners Abroad and other organisations in helping recently released prisoners – this research project will shine a light on the successes and challenges of resettlement in Britain. The research is using a mixed methods approach, providing a vital quantitative and qualitative evidence base that will enable Prisoners Abroad to develop an influencing policy and practice strategy for the charity’s work in the future.

Dr Caroline Lanskey, a University Associate Professor at the Institute, is leading the study. She has substantial experience of research on imprisonment, resettlement and desistance. She has worked on the Big Lottery funded ‘Risk and Protective Factors in the Resettlement of Imprisoned Fathers with their Families’ study, and was Principal Investigator for the ESRC funded ‘Families and Imprisonment Research (FAIR)’ study. She has also conducted analysis of the Sheffield Desistance study data with Professor Sir Anthony Bottoms. She is assisted by Angelique Mulholland, whose recent PhD project from University College London has also focused on the desistance experiences of formerly imprisoned men. Angelique has also worked in prisons with people moving away from crime. 

The Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge 

The Institute of Criminology (IoC) has a worldwide reputation for excellence in research and has been awarded numerous prestigious international awards. Since its establishment in 1959, the Institute has worked closely with practitioners and policymakers and findings from many of its research studies have had a significant impact on the development of criminal justice policies in the UK and internationally.  

Find out more here. 

Prisoners Abroad 

Prisoners Abroad is a voluntary organisation which has been working for over 45 years to support British prisoners incarcerated overseas and their families both during and after their sentences. It is the only organisation in the UK with this focus. Working in around 100 countries across North America, Australasia, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, it provides a source of contact and support in the delivery of prisoner’s basic human rights and complements the legal services provided by organisations such as Fair Trials and Reprieve. 

Find out more here. 

Contact

Would you like to speak to a member of the DIA team? 
Please email us on dia@crim.cam.ac.uk

The DIA project is part of ongoing research at the Justice and Society Research centre. The Justice and Society Research Centre within the Institute of Criminology focuses on both criminal and associated social justice issues in a broad range of community and institutional settings. The Centre utilises rigorous, creative and participatory research methods to explore questions relating to gender, race, family, youth justice, probation, imprisonment, and victimisation.