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We sponsor research to bring about change in how women and girls are dealt with in the criminal justice system

Our research listings

Research Papers and Briefings

At the end of their year on the Griffins Society Fellowship Programme, Fellows produce a 10,000 word Research Paper on their findings. Research Papers are available here to view or download as a PDF (the size of each file is given).  

For all papers you will find the REPORT IN FULL, and also a single-page ABSTRACT.  For more recent papers, an EXECUTIVE SUMMARY is also available.

Fellows' research can be freely copied and distributed as long as the author and the Griffins Society are credited.

 

Arts intervention with female offenders

Author: Carlotta Goulden
Published: 2007

The research looks at the uses of museum and gallery education with female offenders. It aims to:
• provide evidence that working with the arts has a positive effect on the rehabilitation of female offenders;
• argue that participation in arts projects for offenders is their cultural entitlement and should be facilitated by the authorities as a human right;
• investigate the problems that arts organisations have in delivering projects to female offenders and suggest ways to overcome these problems.
This qualitative research used observations, questionnaires, field notes and semi-structured interviews through to participation and action research. Projects were undertaken with the Victoria and Albert Museum (the V&A), in HMP Askham Grange and in HMP Holloway.

Download PDF - 87.36 KB
Download PDF - 5.23 MB

On detention: The use of prison for girls aged under 18

Author: Sarah Clarke
Published: 2007

The objective of this project was to examine the processes that assist with effective resettlement for juvenile girls with specific reference to the work of the Rivendell Unit* by:
• identifying the concerns that young women and staff have about effective resettlement specifically in terms of gender;
• identifying successful current practice for this group in resettlement;
• identifying barriers to effective resettlement; and
• charting the experience of resettlement for these young women and follow-up issues over a set period of time.

Download PDF - 89.3 KB

Exploring provisions for women in approved premises

Author: Gilliam McLeish
Published: 2005

This study explores female need and provision within Approved Premises settings, primarily the particular needs of female residents/offenders including bailees, probationers
and licensees. The study examines the structure of support to help women regain control of their lives, to empower them to progress to the next stage, ie. semi independent/independent living. It aims to highlight the strengths, weaknesses and, effectiveness of regimes in reducing offending for women; and to identify
any gaps which exist.
NB. The term Approved Premises refers to (Home Office) defined standards of practice.

Download PDF - 87.79 KB

Self-employment opportunities for female ex-offenders

Author: Juliet Dempster
Published: 2004

This purpose of the study was to investigate and identify the self-employment opportunities available for female offenders on release from custody and in the community. The research involved interviews with women in custody, business support organisations, financial institutions and entrepreneurial women who have had experience of the
criminal justice system. A key aim of the research was to produce information about self-employment in a guidebook format for the use of women in custody and the community — the ‘Self-employment Guidebook’.

Download PDF - 88.23 KB