Solitary Confinement and Supermax Prisons: Lessons from America

Criminology expert to discuss solitary confinement in a public lecture at the University of Leicester on Wednesday 22 May.

The consequences of strict isolation of prisoners in ‘supermax’ prisons in America will be examined in a lecture at the University of Leicester.

As part of the Scarman Lecture Series, hosted by the Department of Criminology, Dr Sharon Shalev will give her lecture, Solitary Confinement and Supermax Prisons: Lessons from America on Wednesday 22 May.

One of the most striking features of the American criminal justice system at the turn of the century was the mass proliferation of supermax prisons: large, high-tech prisons especially designed and specifically dedicated to the long term, strict isolation of hundreds of prisoners each.

It is estimated that, alongside older segregation units in general-population prisons across the US, supermax prisons hold as many as 100,000 prisoners in conditions of solitary confinement at any given time. But to what end, and at what cost?

The lecture will examine the supermax phenomenon and some of its consequences, and asks what we can- and should – learn from the American experience with large scale prolonged solitary confinement.

Dr Shaley, a human rights worker and a criminologist, is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford, and an Associate of the International Centre for Prison Studies. She is also a Fellow of the Mannheim Centre for Criminology, London School of Economics.

She has authored various publications on the subject of the supermax, including the Sourcebook on Solitary Confinement, a practitioner’s guide to the health effects of solitary confinement and to human rights and professional standards relating to its use.

Her book, Supermax: controlling risk through solitary confinement (Willan, 2009) was awarded the British Society of Criminology’s Book Prize for 2010.  She is currently working on a pilot project entitled ‘Excluding the excluded: European practices of solitary confinement, past and present’ whilst continuing to manage the informational website http://www.solitaryconfinement.org/

Professor Yvonne Jewkes, from the Department of Criminology said: “The Department is delighted to welcome Dr Sharon Shalev. She has spent two decades researching the use of solitary confinement in American ‘supermax’ prisons, and is currently turning her attention to European practices of solitary confinement.

“At a time when ‘Titan’ prisons are once again being discussed and debated in this country, Dr Shalev’s talk promises to be timely and of relevance to anyone with an interest in justice and human rights.”

Solitary Confinement and Supermax Prisons: Lessons from America will be held in Frank and Katherine May lecture theatre in the Henry Wellcome building at 5:00pm, followed by a wine reception.

The event is free and open to all but places must be booked in advance.
For more information and to book a place please contact Russell Knifton on 0116 252 5780 or email: rk191@le.ac.uk.

Source: The University of Leicester Press Office

New forensic institute at the University of Leicester will help police forces solve ‘unusual crimes’

New Forensic Science Institute named after DNA fingerprinting pioneer Alec Jeffreys

The University of Leicester is establishing a new forensic science Institute which aims to help UK police forces solve unconventional crimes.

The Alec Jeffreys Forensic Science Institute is a new multi-disciplinary centre at the University of Leicester which aims to help police forces with some of the requests handled by the former Forensic Science Service (FSS).

The new Institute aims to be a leader, innovator and agenda setter in the field of forensic science and is named after the world renowned University of Leicester scientist Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, of the University’s Department of Genetics, who pioneered techniques for DNA profiling and fingerprinting which are now used globally by police forces.

Professor Jeffreys said: “This is a very exciting new initiative, and I am so proud to have it named after me. The provision of forensic science in the UK has undergone major and potentially damaging changes in recent years, so this Institute has real potential to provide much-needed breadth and depth of expertise, especially in complex casework, as well as a voice for the proper funding of forensic science research in the UK”.

The Institute will initially involve the departments of Chemistry, Criminology, Engineering, Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine and will involve local and national police agencies in its running.

The project has been undertaken by Dr John Bond, a senior lecturer in Forensic Sciences in the Department of Chemistry who was awarded an OBE last year for his services to forensic science, and Dr Lisa Smith, a lecturer in the Department of Criminology. Dr Bond’s work on Visualizing Fingerprint Corrosion of Metal was voted one of the top 50 inventions of 2008 by Time Magazine and one of the inventions most likely to change the world in 2009 by BBC Focus Magazine

Dr Bond said: “The time is now right for forensic science research in the UK to be put on a sounder footing, with proper funding streams provided by the UK research councils so that institutions such as the University of Leicester can undertake meaningful and productive research to enhance the use of forensic science to detect crime both in the UK and overseas.

“We aim to provide a forum whereby problems in policing can be aired and ways found to overcome them.  We will do this by involving local and national agencies in the running of the Institute and by focussing on problem areas identified to us by the police service.”

The ways in which forensic work is carried out is currently going through a period of change, with much work now contracted out to private companies – but staff at the University of Leicester hope the new Institute will be able to help police forces with unusual requests.

Dr Bond said: “What we do want to offer is the ability to consult on unusual cases or pieces of evidence. A recent example was a request made to the University to oversee the analysis of evidence from a 80-year-old murder case as the University was seen to have specific skills in that area.”

Dr Smith said: “This new Institute is unique in its multidisciplinary approach to forensic science and criminal justice services.  By bringing together the various disciplines at the University (who traditionally work separately from one another), we will be able to provide the Criminal Justice System with a wider range of expert consultancy, research and innovation, teaching and continuing professional development.”

It is hoped existing forensic science courses, including the new distance learning MSc in Forensic Science and Criminal Justice, will be run from the new Institute.

The institute will be formally launched at the University on Monday 19 November in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Robert Burgess and Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys.
Source: The University of Leicester Press Office

Students that take the International Foundation Year at the University of Leicester International Study Centre can progress on to undergraduate degrees including Chemistry, Criminology, Engineering, Genetics, and Biological Sciences. For more information, please visit the website.

Student sleuths sought for CSI-style summer school

Applications open until April 4 for forensic science skills-based course

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 20 March 2012

Student sleuths from around the world hoping to enter the field of forensic science are set to take part in the University of Leicester’s CSI-style summer school.

The event which attracts international students to a skills-based course takes place from July 30 to August 17 at the Department of Chemistry.

The CSI Leicester forensic summer school creates a unique learning environment where students can be part of an investigative team and experience what it is like to work at the cutting edge of forensic science.

For three weeks students will immerse themselves in the role of a forensic scientist to investigate a crime scene and, by examining the evidence, to get to the truth of ‘whodunnit’.

The intensive course combines theory and practice and whilst the crime they investigate is a simulation, the materials and equipment are the same as those used by real forensic scientists, making the experience as authentic as possible.

Under the supervision of an international multi-disciplinary teaching team, led by Professor Rob Hillman and Dr John Bond OBE of the Department of Chemistry and Dr Lisa Smith of the Department of Criminology, the investigative team will also visit a national forensic laboratory and a police crime laboratory.

As well as arranged social activities and sight-seeing, the programme culminates in a final formal evening dinner where awards are presented to students and both students and their tutors enjoy a farewell meal.

Dr Bond said: “Over the past few years it has become clear that students have gained a great deal from attending CSI Leicester, not only academically but also in terms of their cultural experience and building friendships with fellow students from across the world.

“It is a real privilege to be able to particulate in such an event as this and I would urge students looking for some experience of working as a forensic scientist, and also wishing for international experience, to register for this course.

“As the home of DNA profiling and the centre for some current world recognised research in forensic science, there is no better location than the University of Leicester for this course.”

The programme is open to anyone from all over the world aged 18 or over and no specific scientific expertise or background is necessary. Applications can be made from now until April 4 via http://www.le.ac.uk/csi-leicester.

Anyone interested in applying for the programme can find out more by contacting Alex Goddard at: csi.info@le.ac.uk

Source: University of Leicester Press Office

University of Leicester Criminologists deliver course for international development workers online

A team of academics led by Adrian beck, head of the University of Leicester’s Department of Criminology, have designed a course to meet the needs of international development workers who are deployed in countries dealing with post-conflict security problems. The course focuses on giving students the skills, understanding and knowledge to help countries in transition.

App will allow students to access materials in low internet connectivity areas

Because of the difficulties these students might face in connecting to the Internet in these post-conflict countries, the course was designed to be downloaded onto an iPad and accessible via an app.

If the app and the course prove successful, the department has plans to make other degree courses and learning materials available via similar a similar system.

This is just another example of how the University of Leicester academic staff are constantly providing the highest standards of teaching and learning .

If you are an international student and you are interested in studying Criminology or International Relations at Leicester,  you can enrol on the Society and Culture International Foundation Year and access the degrees on successful completion of this programme.