Shona Minson finalist in ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize
I am delighted to be a finalist for this prize as it will bring more attention to the difficulties faced by children whose mothers are imprisoned, and the need for all those involved in sentencing decisions to ensure that the court has a full understanding of the consequences for children of a mother’s sentence, before that decisions is made.
The research I undertook as a DPhil student with Crown Court Judges and children whose mothers were imprisoned, led to me make films for criminal justice professionals entitled ‘Safeguarding Children when Sentencing Mothers’. These films are now embedded in judicial and probation training, and have influenced Government policy, probation and sentencing practice; ultimately improving the likelihood that children will not be separated from their mothers by the criminal courts. The research has influenced Government policy, has been referred to in several parliamentary debates and led to the Joint Committee on Human Rights holding an enquiry into the right to family life of children whose mothers are in prison.
It is heartening as an Early Career Researcher to recognise that the work we do at DPhil level has the potential to be a catalyst for significant societal change.
The ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize, now in its seventh year, is an annual opportunity to recognise and celebrate the success of ESRC-funded researchers in achieving and enabling outstanding economic or social impact from excellent social science research.
Entrants' applications were reviewed by academics, engagement and knowledge exchange experts and research users, and shortlisted applicants were invited to an interview, along with non-academic supporters who helped describe the impact of the work. All finalists have been invited to an awards ceremony at the Royal Society in London on 9 July 2019 where the winners will be announced.