Joyce Albrecht

Joyce Albrecht is an affiliated researcher at the Crime & Society Research Group (CRiS) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. She holds a Master's degree in Criminological Sciences (2023) and a Master's in Public Management (2016) from Ghent University, alongside a Bachelor's in Criminology (2014). Her research focuses on children with incarcerated parents, emphasizing their unmet needs and societal impacts. She combines academic research with full-time work as a project coordinator for Stad Leuven and collaborates with organizations like VZW De Huizen and Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk.

• Education:
• Master's in Criminological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2023)
• Master's in Public Management, Universiteit Gent (2016)
• Bachelor's in Criminology, Universiteit Gent (2014)

Her research interests center on the psychological and social challenges faced by children of incarcerated parents. She has published on topics like family dynamics in criminal justice systems and the long-term effects of parental detention. Her award-winning thesis, The Invisible Needs of Children With An Incarcerated Parent, highlights systemic gaps in support for these children.

• Awards:
• Recipient of the Jeanine Segers prijs (2023) for her thesis.

Albrecht actively engages in public advocacy, delivering workshops, lectures, and podcasts on her expertise. She serves on the steering committee for the 'Kindreflex in gevangenissen' project (2024–2025) and has presented at academic conferences, including talks on prison impacts and stigma reduction.