Dr Alisa Stevens
Uwch Ddarlithydd
Ysgol y Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol
- StevensA9@caerdydd.ac.uk
- +44 29208 76638
- Adeilad Morgannwg, Rhodfa’r Brenin Edward VII, Caerdydd, CF10 3WA
- Sylwebydd y cyfryngau
- Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig
Trosolwyg
My research and teaching interests revolve around understanding experiences of imprisonment for, and the potential for the rehabilitation of, people in prison. I am particularly concerned with the prospects for positive change among people serving long sentences for violent or sexual offences, both through the prison’s provision of an enabling social milieu and through treatment programmes. I enjoy using qualitative methods, and draw upon a range of psychosocial theories and humanistic approaches to understanding offending behaviour and personal change. To date I have researched:
- prison-based therapeutic communities for serious offenders who present with personality disorders and psychopathic traits
- imprisoned sexual offenders participating in a new treatment programme in Scotland
- consensual and coercive sexual activity in prison, on behalf of The Howard League for Penal Reform
I hold a DPhil in Law and MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice, both from the University of Oxford. I joined Cardiff University as a Senior Lecturer in Criminology in January 2018, having previously worked at the Universities of Southampton and Kent.
Cyhoeddiad
2021
- Vladu, A., Kalebic, N., Audley, J., Stevens, A. and Taylor, P. J. 2021. Benefits and risks of conjugal visits in prison: A systematic literature review. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health 31(5), pp. 343-361. (10.1002/cbm.2215)
2020
- Stevens, A. 2020. Access-denied: Research on sex in prison and the subjugation of ‘deviant knowledge’. Criminology and Criminal Justice 20(4), pp. 451-470. (10.1177/1748895819839740)
2017
- Stevens, A. 2017. Sexual activity in British men's prisons: a culture of denial. British Journal of Criminology 57(6), pp. 1379-1397. (10.1093/bjc/azw094)
- Stevens, A. 2017. Rehabilitation. In: Kerley, K. R. ed. The Encyclopedia of Corrections. Wiley-Blackwell, (10.1002/9781118845387.wbeoc126)
2016
- Stevens, A. 2016. Therapeutic communities. In: Jewkes, Y., Bennett, J. and Crewe, B. eds. Handbook on Prisons. Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 497-513.
2015
- Stevens, A. 2015. 'Serious therapy' for serious female offenders: The democratic therapeutic community at HMP Send. In: Annison, J. and Brayford, J. eds. Women and Criminal Justice: From the Corston Report to Transforming Rehabilitation. Policy Press
2014
- Stevens, A. 2014. 'Difference' and desistance in prison-based therapeutic communities. Prison Service Journal 213, pp. 3-9.
2013
- Stevens, A. 2013. The 'Meanings' of female staff in male therapeutic community prisons: gender as symbolism and specialism. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 52(5), pp. 479-497. (10.1111/hojo.12039)
- Stevens, A. 2013. Prisoners' motivations for therapeutic community treatment. Probation Journal 60(2), pp. 152-167. (10.1177/0264550513478321)
- Stevens, A. 2013. Offender rehabilitation and therapeutic communities: Enabling change the TC way.. International Series on Desistance and Rehabilitation. London and New York: Routledge.
2012
- Stevens, A. 2012. 'I am the person now I was always meant to be': identity reconstruction and narrative reframing in therapeutic community prisons. Criminology and Criminal Justice 12(5), pp. 527-547. (10.1177/1748895811432958)
2011
- Stevens, A. 2011. A "very decent nick": ethical treatment in prison-based democratic therapeutic communities. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice 11(2-3), pp. 124-150. (10.1080/15228932.2011.537581)
2010
- Stevens, A. 2010. Introducing forensic democratic therapeutic communities. In: Shuker, R. and Sullivan, E. eds. Grendon and the Emergence of Forensic Therapeutic Communities: Developments in Research and Practice. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 7-24.
2007
- Stevens, A. 2007. Not Of Much Significance (yet): NOMS from the perspective of prison staff. Prison Service Journal 172, pp. 3-11.
Articles
- Vladu, A., Kalebic, N., Audley, J., Stevens, A. and Taylor, P. J. 2021. Benefits and risks of conjugal visits in prison: A systematic literature review. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health 31(5), pp. 343-361. (10.1002/cbm.2215)
- Stevens, A. 2020. Access-denied: Research on sex in prison and the subjugation of ‘deviant knowledge’. Criminology and Criminal Justice 20(4), pp. 451-470. (10.1177/1748895819839740)
- Stevens, A. 2017. Sexual activity in British men's prisons: a culture of denial. British Journal of Criminology 57(6), pp. 1379-1397. (10.1093/bjc/azw094)
- Stevens, A. 2014. 'Difference' and desistance in prison-based therapeutic communities. Prison Service Journal 213, pp. 3-9.
- Stevens, A. 2013. The 'Meanings' of female staff in male therapeutic community prisons: gender as symbolism and specialism. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 52(5), pp. 479-497. (10.1111/hojo.12039)
- Stevens, A. 2013. Prisoners' motivations for therapeutic community treatment. Probation Journal 60(2), pp. 152-167. (10.1177/0264550513478321)
- Stevens, A. 2012. 'I am the person now I was always meant to be': identity reconstruction and narrative reframing in therapeutic community prisons. Criminology and Criminal Justice 12(5), pp. 527-547. (10.1177/1748895811432958)
- Stevens, A. 2011. A "very decent nick": ethical treatment in prison-based democratic therapeutic communities. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice 11(2-3), pp. 124-150. (10.1080/15228932.2011.537581)
- Stevens, A. 2007. Not Of Much Significance (yet): NOMS from the perspective of prison staff. Prison Service Journal 172, pp. 3-11.
Book sections
- Stevens, A. 2017. Rehabilitation. In: Kerley, K. R. ed. The Encyclopedia of Corrections. Wiley-Blackwell, (10.1002/9781118845387.wbeoc126)
- Stevens, A. 2016. Therapeutic communities. In: Jewkes, Y., Bennett, J. and Crewe, B. eds. Handbook on Prisons. Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 497-513.
- Stevens, A. 2015. 'Serious therapy' for serious female offenders: The democratic therapeutic community at HMP Send. In: Annison, J. and Brayford, J. eds. Women and Criminal Justice: From the Corston Report to Transforming Rehabilitation. Policy Press
- Stevens, A. 2010. Introducing forensic democratic therapeutic communities. In: Shuker, R. and Sullivan, E. eds. Grendon and the Emergence of Forensic Therapeutic Communities: Developments in Research and Practice. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 7-24.
Books
- Stevens, A. 2013. Offender rehabilitation and therapeutic communities: Enabling change the TC way.. International Series on Desistance and Rehabilitation. London and New York: Routledge.
Ymchwil
Prisons, as the ultimate form of punishment in the United Kingdom, are fundamental to our criminal justice system. If we are to make best use of them, they must be effective in helping people who have offended against others and against society to change for the better. These concerns – around prisons, prisoners, offender rehabilitation, and desistance from crime – underpin and inspire my research interests.
My passion for prisons and penal reform was initially sparked through voluntary work in prison, which led me to question the purpose and use of imprisonment, and the rehabilitative needs of people who live in prison. This led directly to my DPhil research (University of Oxford, 2005-9) at the therapeutic communities at HMPs Grendon and Gartree for men and HMP Send for women. Prison-based therapeutic communities offer serious (typically indeterminate sentenced, violent or sexually violent) offenders the opportunity to engage with an atypically humane, supportive, and pro-social environment while undertaking prolonged group psychotherapy. My research, conducted through ethnographic observation and interviews with residents (prisoners) and operational and clinical staff, produced a number of publications, notably an award winning article (‘I am the person now I was always meant to be’, Criminology and Criminal Justice 12 (5): 527-47) and a research monograph (Offender Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Communities, Routledge, 2013).
More recently, I was the academic consultant to the Howard League for Penal Reform’s Commission on Sex in Prison. Over two years, the Commission investigated the extent and nature of, issues raised by, and policy implications of, sexual activity in our prisons. Controversially, research access to serving prisoners was denied but I was able instead to interview former prisoners about their sexual experiences behind bars. My findings attracted media interest (BBC, The Guardian, The Independent) and were published in the British Journal of Criminology in 2017 (‘Sexual activity in British men’s prisons', 57 (6): 1379-1397). There remains a pressing need for substantial, mixed methods research on sex in prison.
I am currently writing up my findings from research with men undergoing in-prison treatment for sexual offending in Scotland, for which I observed treatment sessions and conducted life history interviews.
Addysgu
I have been teaching topics in penology, criminology, and criminal justice for over a decade. My undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience includes the creation of new modules; the re-design or ongoing continuous improvement of existing modules; delivering lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials; running fieldtrips to prisons; and providing individual supervision for undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and doctoral research. I hold a postgraduate teaching qualification (PGCHE) and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
At Cardiff, I continue to contribute wide ranging teaching, at all levels of tertiary education, and particularly enjoy providing research-led teaching on prisons and prisoners.
Bywgraffiad
Addysg a chymwysterau:
- 2011: Tystysgrif Addysg Uwch Ôl-raddedig, Prifysgol Caint
- 2009: DPhil yn y Gyfraith, Prifysgol Rhydychen
- 2005: MSc Troseddeg a Chyfiawnder Troseddol, Rhagoriaeth, Prifysgol Rhydychen
- 2004: BSc (Anrh) Polisi Cymdeithasol, Dosbarth Cyntaf, Y Brifysgol Agored
Anrhydeddau a dyfarniadau
- Gwobr Addysgu Cyfadran am arloesi a rhagoriaeth mewn addysgu, Prifysgol Southamton (2017)
- Gwobr Cyflawniad Staff Cyfadran am ragoriaeth mewn gwella profiad myfyrwyr, Prifysgol Southampton (2015)
- Gwobr Brian Williams am yr erthygl orau - '"Fi yw'r person nawr roeddwn i fod i fod': Ailadeiladu hunaniaeth ac ail-lunio naratif mewn carchardai cymunedol therapiwtig', Troseddeg a Chyfiawnder Troseddol 12 (5): 527-47 - cyd-enillydd , Cymdeithas Troseddeg Prydain (2013)
- Ysgoloriaeth Canmlwyddiant Sara A. Burstall ar gyfer y reserch doethurol gorau, Ffederasiwn Graddedigion Merched Prydain (2008)
- Ysgoloriaeth Deringer Freshfields Bruckhaus, Cyfadran y Gyfraith, Prifysgol Rhydychen (2006)
- Gwobr Cronfa Cymorth i Raddedigion Cyfadran y Gyfraith, Prifysgol Rhydychen (2005)
- Gwobr Roger Hood am y canlyniad gorau ar yr MSc Troseddeg a Chyfiawnder Troseddol, Canolfan Troseddeg, Prifysgol Rhydychen (2005)
Aelodaethau proffesiynol
- Cymrawd yr Academi Addysg Uwch (FHEA)
- Aelod o Gymdeithas Droseddeg Prydain
- Cymrawd Howard League for Penal Reform
Safleoedd academaidd blaenorol
- 2018 ymlaen: Uwch Ddarlithydd mewn Troseddeg, Prifysgol Caerdydd
- 2013-17: Darlithydd mewn Troseddeg, Prifysgol Southampton
- 2009-12: Darlithydd mewn Cyfiawnder Troseddol a Throseddeg, Prifysgol Caint
- 2006-09: Cynorthwy-ydd Addysgu i Raddedigion Cyfadran y Gyfraith a Thiwtor Coleg Oriel dros Gyfiawnder Troseddol a Phenoleg, Prifysgol Rhydychen
- 2006-07: Cynorthwy-ydd Ymchwil, Canolfan Troseddeg, Prifysgol Rhydychen
Pwyllgorau ac adolygu
- Grant reviewer, ESRC and The Leverhulme Trust
- Journal reviewer: Aggression and Violent Behaviour, Criminal Justice and Behavior, Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, International Journal of Social Research Methodology, Journal of Social Policy, Mental Health Review Journal, Policing and Society, Qualitative Inquiry, Sociological Forum
- Member of the Editorial Advisory Panel for Criminology, Oxford University Press, 2015-16
- Member of the Research Advisory Group, HMP Grendon, 2013 onwards
Meysydd goruchwyliaeth
I am currently co-supervising (with Kirsty Hudson) Faye Vanstone's research on imprisoned sexual offenders. Faye, who is ESRC funded, transferred with me from the University of Southampton.
I warmly welcome enquiries from prospective PhD researchers on all aspects of penology and offender rehabilitation:
- The use and experience of prisons and imprisonment
- Comparative penology
- Offender rehabilitation, especially psychosocial approaches for violent and sexual offenders
- Desistance from crime and resettlement