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The prison system: does it really work?

This is a Criminology Subject Spotlight with John Greenan from Anglia Ruskin University. An interactive, cinematic course taster experience to allow students to gain insights into what it's like to study Criminology.

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In this fascinating Subject Spotlight, John Greenan, Course Leader for BA Criminology and Policing at Anglia Ruskin University, presents The prison system: does it really work? He begins the Spotlight by discussing the prison system and whether it works, with an introduction to prisons, an exploration of the societal and economic impacts of prison, and the challenges that prisons present. Episode 2 focuses on whether prisons are criminogenic, and looks at some of the theories behind prisons, including labelling theory, social learning theory, deprivation theory and importation theory. Following this, John presents a case study on Norway’s prison system, exploring Norway’s approach to deprivation theory and importation theory, and how it compares with the UK. In the final episode, John looks at funding in UK prisons, compares that to Norway, then presents a budgeting activity for you to have a go at. He then concludes with an overall summary of the Spotlight.

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About Anglia Ruskin University

Anglia Ruskin University is an innovative global university with students from 185 countries at our campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough and Writtle. These students are at the heart of our University, and we're delighted that our final-year undergraduates are positive about their educational experience. Our community is also incredibly important to us, and we're proud of the role we play in our cities and the wider region – including the positive effect on jobs and the local economy. It is this impact that helped us become the THE University of the Year 2023, a prestigious award that recognises our success in delivering high impact projects focused on the difference we make in the region and communities where we’re based as well as the contributions our students and graduates make to society.

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Meet the academics

John Greenan

John Greenan is a Lecturer and Course Leader for BA Criminology and Policing in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University. John is a criminologist whose research interests lie in terrorism, extremism, radicalisation, penology and specifically studying conditions that influence extremism in the prison system. John commenced his tenure with the criminology team at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in 2022, transitioning from a distinguished career within Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). As an adept prison specialist, he brings a wealth of expertise, particularly in counterterrorism and operational management. John's academic credentials include a Master of Science in Counterterrorism from The University of Central Lancashire. He is presently engaged in doctoral research at ARU, focusing on the factors influencing Islamist radicalisation within prisons in England and Wales. John teaches on a variety of modules across the criminology programme, focusing mainly on his specialist areas of counterterrorism, penology, and the criminal justice system. In his current capacity, John is leveraging his extensive professional network to foster collaborative ventures between prison management entities and academic circles. These collaborations are aimed at facilitating joint initiatives, encompassing research projects, symposiums, and training workshops. A testament to these efforts was the successful execution of a pilot conference at ARU in March 2023, centred on Prison Intelligence in the Eastern region. Following this achievement, John is actively engaged in consultations to elevate the 2024 conference to a national scale, aspiring to generate substantial societal impact. Concurrently with his doctoral studies, John is devoted to contributing to academic discourse through forthcoming journal publications, which include an exploration of the strategic approaches in managing terrorist prisoners, specifically addressing the debate between containment and dispersal strategies.

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Remarkable & relatable academics

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Interactive quizzes and activities

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Content to enhance students university applications

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Subject Spotlight?

Subject Spotlights fuse education and entertainment to bring you the new way of researching your university options.

Entirely free and available on-demand, you can choose to engage with the content in the way that best suits you - whether that's in bite-sized chunks or in binge-sessions!

Why should I check out Subject Spotlights?

Get a real, representative impression of what pursuing a subject at university is actually like, so that you can make the right decision for you.

Stand out from the competition by completing a Subject Spotlight to gain the most relevant references and evidence for your personal statement.

Who is this Spotlight for?

This subject spotlight is made for students aged 16 and above, that are considering applying to University, particularly to study the subject in the title, or similar areas.

How should I talk about completing a Subject Spotlight on my UCAS application?

Completing a Subject Spotlight shows the university you're applying to that you've taken time outside of school to engage with relevant content.

The easiest way to include it would be to briefly mention one or two things you learned from it and how/why those learnings have furthered your desire to study the subject. We don't want to prescribe an answer because it's your personal statement but this is a good starting point!