Leicester criminologist appointed to study issues of sex in prisons

One of our Criminology lecturers has signed up to work with a leading prison charity in a study of issues surrounding sex in prison – often seen as a taboo topic.

The Howard League for Penal Reform, which works to make communities safer and reduce numbers of people in prison, has invited our very own Dr Neil Chakraborti to join a new independent Commission on Sex in Prison.

The group, consisting of academics, former prison governors and health experts, will study consensual sex in prisons as well as aspects of coercive sex – including rape, harassment, intimidation and assault.

The Commission will also focus on the development of sexual awareness and intimate relationships among young people in prison.

By analysing these issues, the group hopes to understand the nature and scale of problems with the aim of developing recommendations to authorities in order to make prisons safer.