معرفی
Kate O'Brien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Durham University, where she has been teaching since 2014 via the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Programme in HMP Durham, HMP Frankland, and HMP Low Newton women’s prison. As Co-Director of the Inside-Out Programme and Director of the MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice, her work bridges academia and carceral settings, emphasizing collaborative learning and gendered social justice.
Her research focuses on gender, crime, and social justice, utilizing ethnographic, feminist, and participatory methods. Key projects include HMPPS-funded evaluations like The Believed Project (supporting women with histories of sexual violence) and studies on motherhood in prison with NEPACS and Open Clasp. She also explores the intersection of drugs, alcohol, and nighttime economies, including e-cigarette use among teenagers and new psychoactive substances.
Her recent publications span books, chapters, and journal articles on topics like women's prison experiences, collaborative learning, and drug policy reform, reflecting her commitment to applied criminology. She contributes to editorial work as a former editor of YOUNG: Nordic Journal of Youth Research and consults for local authorities and the Home Office on women’s safety and licensing decisions.
Kate collaborates with organizations such as RSACC, NEPACS, Open Clasp, and the North East Sex Work Forum, integrating participatory theatre and training resources for prison staff. Her work highlights the intersection of academia, activism, and policy reform.
