Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative (HERC)

Description

The Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative (HERC) is based in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at The Open University. It was formed in 2015 out of what was known as the International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research (ICCCR), which itself had been established in December 2003. From 2010-2020 was formally partnered with the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies.

HERC is a unique multidisciplinary and cross faculty initiative drawing on expertise from Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (social policy and criminology, psychology, history and sociology) and Health and Social Care (youth justice); and from the affiliated International Centre for the History of crime, policing and justice; and the affiliated Higher and Distance Education in Prison research interest group, based in the Institute of Educational Technology. HERC unites contemporary practice-based research and critical policy analysis in crime, harm, policing, criminal justice and criminalisation, with an awareness of historical, psychological and social contexts. Its core focus can be summarised by the theme, “Harmful Evidence and Evidencing Harm”.

HERC is organised around three substantive (but inter-related) research questions:

• Does Harm Matter more than 'Crime'?
• The Uses and Abuses of Evidence in Criminal Justice?
• From Criminalisation to De-Criminalisation?

The Initiative approaches these questions:

• through a shared commitment to comparative and innovative methodologies
• via a general commitment to public and stakeholder engagement

Offers funding

No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

Founding year

2015

Contact details

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University affiliation(s)

The Open University
Walton Hall
Kents Hill
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA