Dr Andreas Aresti and Dr Sacha Darke, leaders of Convict Criminology’s Westminster Network, organised the Convict Criminology at Westminster Symposium 2023: Insider Prison Perspectives in Europe and the Americas. The event ran for four days across the University and three different prisons, giving people the chance to find out about different prison experiences across the globe.
The Convict Criminology at Westminster Symposium was held across different locations, from HMP Coldingley, HMP Pentonville to HMP Grendon, and finally culminating at the University of Westminster. The symposium provided a comparison of the prison experience in different countries, prompting meaningful conversations and expanding perspectives.
The four-day conference was the first ever symposium held within a prison and brought together a diverse group of individuals who are dedicated to making a difference. It left all who took part feeling inspired, enlightened and more determined than ever to impact the world positively.
The symposium began at HMP Coldingley, where inside and outside students participated alongside academics and activists. The shared passion among attendees set the stage for a transformative event, emphasising the power of collective knowledge and lived experiences.
Day two took place at HMP Pentonville, a men’s prison and young offender institution in London, and focused on celebrating the Making Links project. The project is a partnership between the University of Westminster and HMP Pentonville and enables students from each establishment to study together. During the event, project graduates, alumni and teaching assistants showcased its transformative impact through inspirational stories and they were joined by a special guest from the Prison Reform Trust, Adeyinka Olufemi Laryea-Adekimi, who enriched the discussion with his insights.
The third day was held at HMP Grendon, a unique therapeutic community prison in Europe. Inside, students had the opportunity to present their abstracts to esteemed scholars, overcoming challenges to share their work confidently, helping them grow in their resilience and determination.
The final day of the symposium was hosted at the University itself, with remote participation from prisons in the UK, Brazil and Italy. This global reach highlighted the
symposium's significance in fostering connections and promoting positive change worldwide.
Reflecting on these four days of collaboration, learning and inspiration, Dr Darke, Reader in Criminology in the School of Social Sciences, said: "We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants, presenters and supporters who made this symposium a resounding success. We must also mention three dedicated members of the network and Global Criminology MA, Ella Walsh, Irene Sangaletti and Valentina Serra, who supported the organisation of this successful and momentous event. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the world and look forward to future endeavours that continue to drive positive change.”
Dr Aresti added: “The symposium was exceptional, as it brought together people from around the world to engage in a conversation about, HE in prison, but the most important thing for me, was that we were able to include our brothers and sisters in prisons, from not only the UK, but from South America…this is what made it really special.”
Find out more about Criminology and Sociology courses at Westminster.
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