Catherine Heard

Catherine Heard is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (ICPR) at Birkbeck, University of London, where she directs the World Prison Research Programme. She joined ICPR in April 2016 to build upon the foundation of ICPR's renowned World Prison Brief database.

Her research interests center on prisons and the global use of imprisonment, encompassing international and regional trends in prison population levels, custodial sentencing policy and practice, pre-trial detention law and practice, prisoner human rights, prison health and healthcare, and alternatives to imprisonment.

• She has conducted comparative research across Europe, Brazil, the USA, South Africa, Kenya, India, Thailand and Australia
• Her work frequently involves collaboration with academic and civil society partners from multiple jurisdictions
• She has secured substantial research grants to fund ICPR's prison-related research initiatives

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on prison population trends, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on prison systems globally, international comparisons of sentencing practices, and the relationship between prison conditions and human rights standards. Her research demonstrates particular expertise in using comparative methods to identify effective policy approaches across different legal and cultural contexts.

• 2022 Birkbeck Public Engagement Award for public participation in research
• Extensive publication record in both academic journals and policy-oriented research reports
• Regular contributions to major edited volumes on criminal justice and human rights topics

Dr. Heard's research program demonstrates significant impact on criminal justice policy debates internationally. Her work with the World Prison Brief database has established her as a leading authority on global prison statistics, and she frequently provides expert commentary on prison trends and criminal justice reform efforts. She maintains active collaborations with researchers and practitioners worldwide, ensuring her work bridges academic research and practical policy development.