Mary Corcoran

Professor Mary Corcoran is a leading Criminologist at Keele University, serving as Professor of Criminology and Deputy Director of the Keele Institute for Social Inclusion (KISI). She holds a PhD in Criminology from Liverpool John Moores University (2004) and has held academic roles at Liverpool John Moores University, Bath University, and Keele University since 2005. Her academic trajectory includes promotions to Senior Lecturer (2014), Reader (2019), and Professor (2021).

Her research focuses on reducing societal reliance on imprisonment, with expertise in political imprisonment, women in custody, voluntary sector roles in justice, and marketization of penal systems. She collaborates with NGOs, governments, and international organizations to develop humanitarian alternatives to punishment. Key projects include 'Generative Justice' (2022, ISRF grant) and studies on palliative care in criminal justice settings (2018).

Teaching specializations include penal theory, prison ethics, and employability. She has secured over £300,000 in grants, including a Leverhulme Trust project on voluntary sector resilience (2015–17) and a HEFCE-funded initiative linking classroom learning with work experience (2017). She advises the Probation Institute, Staffordshire Police, and academic journals' editorial boards.

• Education: PhD in Criminology (Liverpool John Moores University, 2004)
• Roles: Deputy Director, KISI; Academic Advisory Board Member
• Grants: Over 10 funded projects since 2006, totaling £300k+
• Advising: Supervised 8 completed PhDs and currently guides research on transgender imprisonment, fraud assessment, and prison governance

Her work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing collaborative solutions to systemic injustices and advocating for marginalized groups within criminal justice systems.