Matthew Cracknell

Dr Matthew Cracknell is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Sociology at Brunel University London, based in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies within the School of Social and Political Sciences (College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences). With over nine years of academic experience and prior roles in prisons, probation services, and substance use treatment, he bridges theoretical criminology with practical criminal justice knowledge.

Education: His qualifications include a BA (Hons), Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, MA, PhD, and Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Research Focus: Cracknell specializes in prison and probation policy, resettlement processes, short prison sentences, the lived experience of punishment, and mass supervision. His work critically examines systemic failures in criminal justice transitions, highlighting tensions between policy intent and operational realities through ethnographic and practitioner-focused methodologies.

Publication Trends: Analysis of his 2018-2023 publications reveals persistent examination of resettlement policy failures across prison-community transitions, with recurring themes of 'revolving door' imprisonment, practitioner workload pressures, and the 'invisibility' of short-sentence prisoners. His scholarship consistently connects historical policy shifts to contemporary challenges in desistance and rehabilitation.

Scientific Awards: No specific awards or fellowships beyond professional recognition (FHEA) were documented in source materials.

Supervision & Grants: He has supervised numerous undergraduate/postgraduate dissertations and currently mentors a PhD candidate investigating race and probation. His active research includes the Prisoners Abroad resettlement project examining post-release challenges for individuals returning from foreign imprisonment. Professional affiliations span the British Society of Criminology, European Society of Criminology (Community Sanctions group), Howard League for Penal Reform, Probation Institute (Academic Advisory Panel), and NAPO.