Vulnerability Research Network
- About the group
- Forthcoming Events
- Past Events
- Joining and staying in touch
- Contact the Network
- Websites
The British Society of Criminology Vulnerability Research Network offers a means for discussion, critical analysis, and knowledge sharing among diverse and dispersed members of the British Society of Criminology and others. As such, its aims are as follows:
- To provide an arena for BSC members and non-members to critically explore the use of term ‘vulnerability’. As noted above, the term is widely used and is generally recognised within numerous situations and across many criminal justice and other agencies. This network will address the ways in which it is used whilst also being critical of its (over)-use and impacts.
- To provide an arena for BSC members and non-members to share research and experience on vulnerability from academic, policy and practice perspectives.
- To advance understandings and stimulate debate on vulnerability across the spheres of research, policy and practice.
- To promote the inclusion of vulnerability and its manifestation within the criminal process, and connecting areas of socio-legal concern, into criminological teaching and learning strategies, curricula and/or benchmarks.
- To foster opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange among interested parties, including researchers, policy makers, civil society organisations and the public, among others.
- To engage with and involve service users and those with lived experience.
- To share opportunities for research and scholarly development amongst members, including forming networks for bids and studentships.
Website
Hosted by the Centre for Criminology at the University of South Wales, the VRN has its own website: https://criminology.research.southwales.ac.uk/bsc_vrn/
Chairs
Dr Harriet Pierpoint (University of South Wales) (Co-chair)
Dr Roxanna Dehaghani (Cardiff University) (Co-chair)
Steering group
Dr Harriet Pierpoint, Co-chair
Dr Roxanna Dehaghani, Co-chair
Theme leads
Policing and vulnerability: Dr Sam Weston and Laura Briody, University of Keele
Intersectional vulnerabilities: Prevention and early intervention: Dr Sam Weston and Laura Briody, University of Keele
Online Vulnerabilities: Dr Lisa Sugiura, University of Portsmouth
Vulnerable victims: Dr Cheryl Allsop, University of South Wales
The vulnerable accused: Dr Samantha Fairclough, University of Birmingham (Dr John Taggart is covering the theme lead role while Sam in on maternity leave).
The Chair will be responsible for the smooth running of the Network, and will normally serve for a term of three years. The Chair will appoint a Steering Group from amongst members to assist with the running of the Network. Approximately six months prior to the expiration of the Chair’s term, all members of the Network will be contacted, inviting those who are eligible to stand for the position. If more than one candidate comes forward, a vote of all Network members will be held. If no candidate comes forward, the existing Chair may serve for an additional 12 months.
Future events will be communicated to members.
Online, July 13, 2021
The British Society of Criminology Vulnerability Research Network offers a means for discussion, critical analysis, and knowledge sharing among diverse and dispersed members of the British Society of Criminology and others. The network seeks to advance understandings and stimulate debate on vulnerability across the spheres of research, policy and practice and foster opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
This event comprised flash talks for people interested in sharing their interests/ideas and keen to collaborate. Members/followers gave a 3 minute lightening talk and took part in discussions.
BSC Vulnerability Network Launch Event
Tuesday 20th October 2020 16:30-19:00
The British Society of Criminology Vulnerabilities Research Network was pleased to be holding its launch event at the University of South Wales.
The use of the term ‘vulnerability’ is increasing in public, political and academic discourse and has become a key concern of criminologists and criminal justice practitioners internationally.
This network provides a forum for discussion on the complexities inherent to researching vulnerability within the context of crime and justice. To this end, it intends to bring academics, practitioners, and policy makers together to establish a ‘state of the art’ criminal justice vulnerabilities research agenda, paying particular attention to:
- Identifying needs and gaps in the research capacity of academics, practitioners, and policymakers;
- The range and adequacy of theoretical and methodological tools used in criminal vulnerabilities research, and the ethics of such research;
- relationships between statutory and non-statutory agencies in responding to vulnerabilities crime;
- The factors that shape these criminal justice responses to vulnerabilities crimes.
The launch event was co-chaired by Associate Prof Harriet Pierpoint (University of South Wales) and Dr Roxanna Dehaghani (Cardiff University) (Co-Chairs of the VRN) with a keynote speech by Professor Emeritus Gisli Gudjonsson CBE entitled, ‘What does it mean to be vulnerable and what are the challenges?’.
The principal focus of this event was to promote the network with a view to garnering membership at all levels.
Tenure for the chairs is 3 years, although renewable under the following arrangements. Re-electing the chair/co-chair will involve asking members for expressions of interest or nomination with an election if there is more than one candidate.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the field of vulnerability. If you would like to become a member of the Network, please contact bscvrn@gmail.com. You can follow us on twitter @bsc_vrn. However, the best way to stay in touch and hear news from the Vulnerability Research Network is to subscribe to our mailing list.
If you would like to know more about the Network, please contact bscvrn@gmail.com
Twitter: @bsc_vrn
https://www.appropriateadult.org.uk/