The Sheffield Institute for Policy Studies
Showcasing Policy Research across Sheffield Hallam University
The Prisons and Courts Bill 2017, sets out the purpose of prisons as : “In giving effect to sentences or orders of imprisonment or detention imposed by courts, prisons must aim to— (a) protect the public, (b) reform and rehabilitate offenders, (c) prepare prisoners for life outside prison, and (d) maintain an environment that is safe and secure.”
As a feminist academic, my work often imbues my teaching and research practices with a firm sense of responsibility. It could be argued that the role of the feminist academic is to give voice to marginalised groups - particularly marginalised women, in order to expose inequalities, exclusion and stereotypes - 'to make everything less simple' as Mary Beard says. The feminist academic is often expected to challenge prevailing norms which impinge on the rights of 'marginalised groups'.
Addiction destroys individuals, their families, and whole communities. So in order to protect society should we just arrest addicts, put them in prison and throw away the key? Recent research has shown that some addictive behaviour is at least partly genetic, however it also affect individuals with no previous family history, suggesting that genes do not tell the whole story.
Spring appears to have finally sprung and with it so has the SIPS Spring Newsletter full of news of what we have been up to for the past few months.
The Sheffield Institute for Policy Studies 