Miss Jessica Cleary

Jessica Cleary is an ESRC funded second year Doctoral Researcher in the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research within the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling. She has previously completed a Masters of Research in Applied Social Research (Criminology) and a BA with Honours in Criminology and Sociology.

Her PhD research critically explores the influence desistance scholarship has on the experiences of Community Justice initiatives and policies for women in Scotland. In particular, her study explores how women with convictions could be better supported in the community to both, progress gender-informed justice provision; as well as contribute to and enhance the evidence base which advocates that community sentences are a viable and often more suitable sentencing option than prison. Additionally, her research interests examine the legitimacy of penal and criminal abolitionism within both a theoretical and political policy space

Within the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stirling Jessica teaches on a number of undergraduate modules including Crimes of the Powerful; Women, Crime and Justice; The Development of Social Theory; Understanding Social Policy; Social Differentiation; and Crime and Criminal Justice.

She has completed two doctoral internships. First in 2018, Jessica conducted a socio-legal doctoral training partnership evaluation for the SSCJR. Then in 2019 she worked as a member of the Data and Evidence team for the Independent Care Review evaluating and evidencing the methodologies employed throughout the review’s duration in partnership with Evaluate Support Scotland. She was also successfully granted a research award by the Mitacs Globalink UK Research and Innovation scheme to conduct a 3month research project at the Université Laval, Canada, examining the influence national variables have on the desistance process, which will begin early 2021.

If you would like to read more about Jessica's work please visit her website: www.jessicacleary.me

Jessica’s research interests include:

The Sociology of Punishment and Criminalisation – institutional cultures, policies, practice and lived experiences

Prison Abolitionism and Social Justice

Women and Criminal Justice

Rehabilitation, Resettlement, (Re)integration and Desistance from crime

Qualitative methodologies