Fourth International Correctional Research Symposium 2025
From Individual to Ecosystem: Sharing Research that Matters for Corrections
Join the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) and the European Organisation for Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris) for the fourth Correctional Research Symposium, hosted by the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS).
ICPA and EuroPris share the belief that quality research can help direct both the design and delivery of correctional services. The tradition of our Correctional Research Symposiums (CRSs) is an expression of that belief and an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to come together and discuss the challenges of getting from research to practice. Our fourth CRS will highlight a related belief; the fact that our rehabilitative efforts with justice-involved Individuals are not enough. We need to also engage with, be able to rely on, and steadily work to expand, support from the broader Ecosystem.
Who Should Attend?
Professionals from the following areas will find the International Correctional Research Symposium of interest:
-
Academics and Researchers
-
Prison and Probation Professionals
-
Prison-Community Directors / Governors / Director Generals / Higher Management
-
Social and Community Justice Service Professionals
The Programme
The Symposium will be held at the ICC Belfast International Convention & Exhibition Centre. Symposium events are open to all attendees. In addition to the two-day Symposium, there will be a set of post-Symposium tours of prison and community facilities on the 16 May 2025.
- Tuesday 13 May: Registration and Welcome Reception
- Wednesday 14 May: Plenaries and Workshops
- Thursday 15 May: Plenaries and Workshops
- Friday 16 May: Facility Visits (Optional)
Registration
Register for the Correctional Research Symposium 2025:
- Full Conference Pass: USD $560.00
Student discounts are available for eligible participants. The process involves:
- Complete the student discount application form here
- Wait for approval and receipt of your unique promo code
- Register at the official CRS website using your promo code
- Submit your valid student ID within 24 hours
Important Notes:
- Student tickets are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis
- Submission of the student discount form does not guarantee eligibility
- All student applications are subject to verification
- Registration is not complete until student ID verification is approved
Programme Highlights
Keynote Speaker
Professor Faye S. Taxman PhD
The "How to Improve" the Psychology of Criminal Conduct and Risk-Need-Responsivity Frameworks in Improving Corrections
PCC/RNR presents many implementation challenges that many correctional agencies find difficult to navigate. However, there are three actionable solutions that should be considered. First, make a commitment to managing organizations that promote the professionalism of staff. This means using techniques where staff are involved in problem-solving and facilitate implementation. Second, practice frameworks should be created and used to facilitate procedurally just and fair decisions. Practice frameworks are not restrictive but instead provide professionals with the knowledge and tools to make the best decisions. Third, update and modernize the three principles of RNR in terms of what we consider to be risky behaviors, an expansion of the needs that can be addressed by the social determinants of health during the correctional process, and a client-centered approach that embraces individualism. A more complete definition of risk, need, and responsivity should generate new options, including the use of non-criminal justice agencies and the use of a broader set of strategies to improve a person's quality of life (which should reduce criminal behavior). Organizations should commit to PCC/RNR as tools of desistance.
Keynote Speaker
Dr Gillian Buck
Peer Mentoring in Criminal Justice
Peer mentoring in criminal justice involves system impacted people supporting others in criminal justice settings. Peer-led support has exploded internationally in recent decades and has become a core part of the correctional ecosystem in the UK and beyond, yet research has not been commensurate. This paper will locate the practice of peer mentoring in historical and international criminal justice contexts, before focusing on findings from qualitative studies in England Peer Mentoring in Criminal Justiceand Scotland. These studies reveal the potential of peer mentoring to provide essential support; promote desistance from crime; and stimulate forms of solidarity and social justice focused action. They also reveal limitations and contradictions which need to be considered to ensure this practice is employed safely and effectively within broader, multi-paradigmatic corrections contexts. The practical implications of these potentials and limitations will be explored, before considering the place of peer mentoring within burgeoning lived experience movements, which have the potential to promote social inclusion and foster interventions that are more equipped to support a safer society.
Keynote Speaker - Track Two: Community
Loes Schoenmaker
Dr Maaike de Boois
This session presents an overview of the Dutch prison system's capacity challenges and structural measures program initiated since fall 2023. The program addresses acute capacity shortages caused by increased sentence lengths, higher juvenile detention rates, forensic care transitions, and staff shortages. The presentation outlines strategic approaches including inflow restriction, outflow promotion, and new detention concepts. Key statistics highlight that 75% of Dutch prisoners serve terms of 3 months or less, with current waiting lists totaling 600 years of detention. The program employs historical analysis, comparative organizational research, and scenario-based planning to develop sustainable solutions. Discussion focuses on international comparisons, solution categories, and assessment methods for structural measures' effectiveness.
Accommodation
The CRS conference will be held at the ICC Belfast. May is a busy time in Belfast, so we strongly encourage participants to book their accommodation as soon as possible. We have secured discounted room prices at three hotels, including the Hilton Belfast, Clayton Hotel Belfast, Maldron Hotel Belfast City and Travelodge Belfast Central.
Visit Belfast Deals
We invite conference attendees to extend their stay and discover the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Northern Ireland. Through our collaboration with Visit Belfast, delegates can access exclusive discounts on accommodations, attractions, and guided tours throughout the region.
