Information on Loughborough

Forensic Research Centre to share expertise with East Midlands prison and probation services

Posted on 20/08/2009
University of Leicester

A collaboration between the University of Leicester Forensic Research Centre and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), East Midlands is to be formally launched on 20th August.

Research projects are led by Dr Emma Palmer, Director of the Forensic Research Centre, and Sarah Skett, the Regional Commissioning Manager for NOMS East Midlands.

There have been informal links between the University of Leicester and forensic psychologists in the local prison and probation services for a number of years, most notably through the contribution of teaching and provision of placements and dissertation research opportunities for students on the MSc courses in forensic psychology in the School of Psychology. In the past, some of these research projects have produced work of a quality that has been published in academic peer-reviewed journals, as well as making a significant contribution to forensic psychology practice.

This new development will build on these existing links to develop research opportunities and secure funding for research of mutual benefit, and assist the university in the development of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching provision in the area of forensic psychology. An additional benefit for NOMS East Midlands will be access to research expertise to assist in the research training of trainee forensic psychologists.

Sarah Skett saw this as a natural progression from the existing relationship and one which would afford greater benefits to both parties. As NOMS embraces commissioning, the accurate analysis of need, and therefore appropriate research, becomes absolutely fundamental to delivering a reduction in re-offending.

Dr Emma Palmer, Director of the Forensic Research Centre at the University, added: This is a wonderful opportunity for our two organisations to build on the working relationship we have enjoyed for a number of years. I am confident that, together, we can greatly enhance the knowledge base and practice of forensic psychology.

The framework agreement between the University of Leicester Forensic Research Centre and the NOMS East Midlands will be signed on Thursday 20th August at the University of Leicester, in the Vice Chancellor