Blog

In this series of blogs, HERC takes a multidisciplinary approach to exploring harmful evidence and evidencing harm. We consider the roles of harm and crime, uses and abuses of evidence in criminal justice and criminalisation to de-criminalisation.

** All views in the blogs are the author’s own.

Defining Zemia

In today's post, Avi Boukli discusses Zemiology's relationship with criminology.

8th May 2017
Do new laws on phone use whilst driving fully reflect scientific knowledge?

Gemma Briggs explores new law news on phone usage when driving and whether they reflect current scientific knowledge in this article.

31st March 2017
My Life Began At Forty

As co-Directors of HERC, we’re delighted and privileged to publish this contribution from ‘outside’ the OU. As you read this stunning piece, you will understand why it absolutely belongs here. Vickie Cooper and Steve Tombs.

19th March 2017
Britain’s dark history of criminalising homeless people in public spaces

In this post, Victoria Cooper and Daniel McCulloch discuss the history of criminalising the homeless.

10th March 2017
How the last man to see Sylvia Plath alive was punished for his quiet homosexuality

Today's article comes from Christopher Bissell and Avi Boukl, who examine the punishment of distinguished twentieth-century art historian and curator Trevor Thomas for homosexuality.

26th February 2017
Prison Abolition in Question(s): Part One

In the first part of this two part blog post, Deborah H. Drake and David Scott explore questions relating to prison abolitionism.

22nd February 2017
Learning lessons from the past: What the Government can do right now to do to radically reduce the prison population

David Scott outlines how to urgently reduce the prison population in today's article.

17th February 2017
Anaesthetising the Pain: Prison chaos and the enormous demand for drugs

In this blog, David Scott explores the demand for drugs in prisons.

14th February 2017
Prison is not a safe place for people with mental health problems

In this post, Deborah H. Drake and David Scott explore mental health problems and prisons.

6th February 2017
Anti-racist criminology? A recall

In this important article, Rod Earl discusses the need to recall anti-racism in criminology.

13th January 2017