Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge

07/09/2026

Women’s open prisons in England and Wales are struggling to fulfil their function as sites of resettlement, due to an increasing number of prisoners on short sentences.

This was the conclusion drawn by Daria Przybylska, a PhD student at the Prisons Research Centre, in her latest article in the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies’ Prison Service Journal.

Open prisons grant prisoners greater freedom and responsibility with minimal supervision, after a risk assessment has deemed them safe. In recent years, however, overcrowding in the closed prison estate has led to increased numbers of prisoners on shorter sentences being placed in open prisons. Przybylska wanted to explore the impact on the two women's open prisons in England and Wales.

She found that while women on longer stays continued to benefit from the open regime, there were increasing numbers of those who did not, because of the reduced time spent in open custody. This resulted in a dilution of open prisons' resettlement function.

🔗 Read the full story, and Przybylska's proposals for women's open prisons: https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/news/womens-open-prisons-risk-losing-their-function-due-changing-population-dynamic

05/09/2026

Join the Radzinowicz Library for a tour of their art collection.

As part of this year's Open Cambridge, the Radzinowicz Library is opening up to the public. Through self-guided tours, people will have the opportunity to view the library's collection of over 60 pieces of artwork, created by inmates in prisons and detention centres around the world.

These tours will be an excellent opportunity to see an unconventional collection from an overlooked part of society. Feel free to drop in.

📅 12 and 19 September 2026
🕰️ 10 AM - 4 PM

02/09/2026

One week until the MSt in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management opens for applications.

This MSt is open to senior professionals within probation and community justice, the voluntary and third sectors, the legal community, and allied professions. Attendees will learn cutting-edge theory and research in criminal justice and conduct their own research on these issues.

If you are a senior professional in criminal justice, this course is an excellent opportunity to enhance your practice. You can learn more about it here: https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/mst-applied-criminology-penology-and-managemen

02/09/2026

One week until the MSt in Applied Criminology and Police Management opens for applications.

This MSt is open to all senior officers and managers in policing, wider law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and security. It gives them a grounding in evidence-based approaches to crime reduction, while engaging with Cambridge's unique university culture.

If this course appeals to you as a senior policing professional, do not hesitate to apply. You can learn more about the course here: https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/mst-applied-criminology-and-police-management-police-executive-programme

26/08/2026

In two weeks' time, we will be taking applications for our MSt in Applied Criminology and Police Management.

This programme offers a two-year, part-time Master’s degree for officers and managers in law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and security. Attendees will learn about evidence-based approaches to crime reduction and justice and have the opportunity to apply this learning to pressing issues within their professions. While studying, they will be living at Cambridge, with the opportunity to experience this institution's unique history and culture.

All senior professionals are welcome to apply, regardless of their previous academic experience.

Learn more about the course: https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/mst-applied-criminology-penology-and-management

26/08/2026

In two week's time, we will start accepting applications for our MSt in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management.

This programme offers a two-year, part-time Master’s degree for senior professionals within criminal justice, including probation and community justice, the voluntary and third sectors, the legal community, and allied professions such as psychologists and psychiatrists. We will provide students with cutting-edge theory and research in criminology, as well as the opportunity to apply it to their work through independent research. While studying, they will be living at Cambridge colleges and receive individual teaching sessions in addition to lectures and seminars.

All senior professionals are welcome to apply, regardless of whether they have academic backgrounds.

Learn more about the course: https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/mst-applied-criminology-penology-and-management

13/08/2026

A policing workshop on 16 to 17 April allowed attendees to experience the difficulties faced by police officers, using virtual reality technology.

Assistant Research Professor Gabriela Diana Roman led the workshop, with technology supplied by Operator XR, alongside officers and researchers from the London Metropolitan Police, and other criminology researchers.

When attendees put on the device, they were able to enact common policing scenarios, including a stop-and-search of a suspect driving a stolen car, and responding to a suicidal individual.

The VR arrest simulations will anchor a much larger study, 'Building the Trust Bridge'. This study will set out to repair the fraying relationship between the public and the police, focusing on how trust is formed, damaged and rebuilt.

“Police reform is happening at different paces, and with some success," Roman explained. "What this project tries to do is rebuild the bridge of trust from the other end, to bring us closer to understanding the humanity of the officers behind the uniform.”

🔗 https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/news/virtual-reality-workshop-promotes-more-thoughtful-engagement-policing

12/08/2026

Dr Jake Phillips recently wrote in The Conversation about the challenges of prison reform, in response to early release of thousands of prisoners under the Sentencing Act 2026.

Phillips discusses the current overcrowding in the UK prison system in the context of public attitudes around punitiveness. In response, he proposes practical reforms that could increase capacity, while demonstrating procedural legitimacy to the public.

Read the full story:

What shapes leaders’ responses to issues of crime and justice is not that toughness wins, but that leniency-gone-wrong loses.

06/08/2026

Next month we will start accepting applications for our MSt in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management.

This programme offers a two-year, part-time Master’s degree for senior professionals within criminal justice, including probation and community justice, the voluntary and third sectors, the legal community, and allied professions such as psychologists and psychiatrists. We will provide students with cutting-edge theory and research in criminology, as well as the opportunity to apply it to their work through independent research. While studying, they will be living at Cambridge colleges, and receive individual teaching sessions in addition to lectures and seminars.

We welcome applications from all senior professionals, including those without academic backgrounds.

Learn more:
https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/mst-applied-criminology-penology-and-managemen

04/08/2026

Next month we will begin taking applications for our MSt in Applied Criminology and Police Management.

This programme offers a two-year, part-time Master’s degree for officers and managers in policing, wider law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and security. Attendees will learn about evidence-based approaches to crime reduction and justice and have the opportunity to apply this learning to pressing issues within their professions. While studying, they will be living at Cambridge colleges and receive individual teaching sessions in addition to lectures and seminars.

We welcome applications from all senior professionals, including those without academic backgrounds.

Learn more about the Policing MSt: https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/mst-applied-criminology-and-police-management-police-executive-programme