Numerous scholarly books and texts designed for classroom use about the field of corrections have been researched, written and published. The overall tenor of these works, however, is conservative, emphasising a management perspective, and outlining the nuts and bolts of how prisons work, the job functions of correctional workers, conditions inside correctional facilities, the different types of inmates, etc. There is an underlying logic to this instructional content. To begin with, corrections is typically taught in community colleges and universities as part of a larger curriculum in Crimino ..read more

When I started working in a prison, one of the first things to hit me was the noise. There was a constant clang of prison gates and cell doors, and conversations and confrontations echoed through the landings. As the sounds of prison life became increasingly familiar, I noticed more about the prisoners themselves. Some were clearly under the influence of drugs and many were visibly physically or mentally unwell. A high proportion were Black. Many were also foreign nationals, often held without time limit beyond the end of their criminal sentence by the immigration authorities and desperate for ..read more

Vladimir Putin is immensely corrupt, an evil dictator who has dismantled Russian democracy, repeatedly kills his political enemies, meddles in the affairs of foreign countries, invades his neighbours, and leads a life of opulent luxury. Aleksei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader, is an idealistic activist and dissident, who willingly went to prison, thereby taking his fight against the corruption of the Russian elite to the extreme. So far, so indisputable. The politically correct interpretation of these facts is that Putin should be regarded as the ultimate enemy of the present liberal ca ..read more

Have you ever wondered why drug prohibition continues, despite its obvious failure to end drug use and the rising toll of drug-related deaths? My latest findings have revealed that the answer is that drug policy is not based on research evidence, but on the moral commitments and material interests that motivate political action. I call these the ‘ethico-political bases’ of drug policy making. They bring together ethical ideas about right and wrong with political ideas on how power should be wielded. The main ethico-political bases of drug policy making in the UK are compassion, traditionalism ..read more

Sophie, her new baby and her toddler spend a lot of time visiting prison. Sophie’s partner was initially held on remand awaiting trial, so she was able to visit most days. Sophie came while she was pregnant, soon after the baby was born, and at least twice a week once her partner was sentenced. Sophie struggles financially but continues to pay for bus fares to the prison, phone calls, her partner’s spending money at the prison canteen, and the clothes that he needs. This stops Sophie from paying off their debts, thus driving the young family deeper into poverty, especially as her partner is no ..read more

Justice is a universally desired quality, and people who are detained in police custody have the same right to justice as anyone else, however much they are demonised or simply ignored by most people.    The police, however, have all the power in custody, and that power affects the behaviour of everyone else involved, even when it does not turn into the neglect and abuse of detainees.   Mobile phone video recording of police misconduct has given much more impact to the resistance to police power, and is being channelled into campaigns for justice, most significantly Bl ..read more

In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Nick Gibbs, author of The Muscle Trade, about the rise in the use of image and performance enhancing drugs, why people take them and how they get them. They talk about how the reasons for people taking these drugs goes beyond sporting skill and physical prowess, the difference between online and offline supply, avenues for future research and ways of reducing the harm caused. Listen to the podcast here, or on your favourite podcast platform:   The Muscle Trade by Nick Gibbs is available here for £80, or £27.99 for the EPUB, on the Bristol Universit ..read more

In an anonymous post, a detainee at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre writes: “I know if something wrong happens to me, it will not bother the Home Office as I, along with all other detainees, are just numbers for them rather than human beings.” The issue of immigration detention is a sensitive and complex one, often overshadowed by policies and statistics. Looking beyond this narrative and paying closer attention to the experiences of those affected reveals the impact of these structural processes on people’s lives, especially for women who are detained within UK Immigration Removal Cent ..read more

Brought to you by Bristol University Press and its imprint Policy Press, Transforming Society tells the stories at the heart of the research we publish, to try to help bring about positive social change. Here are our most-read articles from 2023:   1. Abuse of political power is the abuse of people. When are we going to stop re-electing dictators? Elena Cherepanov, author of Do dictators have borderline personality? And does it matter? for the Journal of Psychosocial Studies, examines the rise of authoritarian tendencies.   2. ChatGPT: The world’s largest bullshit machineDan McQuill ..read more

On the Transforming Society podcast this year we’ve spoken to authors and editors about how their work can help us understand and react to the key social challenges of the moment. Here are our most listened to episodes from 2023: 1. Why we need to apply psychology to politics How do rogue goals hinder our growth? How can we make necessary changes without using blame? What strategies could we implement for a psychology-informed progressive society? Mick Cooper, author of Psychology at the Heart of Social Change, reveals why we need to apply psychology to politics.   2. The war on dirty m ..read more