Dr Claire Fitzpatrick
Reader in CriminologyResearch Interests
Claire has a long-standing interest in examining the link between experiences of the state child care system and later involvement in the youth and criminal justice systems, with a particular focus on challenging negative stereotypes that have traditionally linked children in care with trouble. Previous research has focused on looked after children and care leavers in prison custody, as well as the experiences of care leavers in the community supervised on an Intensive Alternative to Custody Order. Claire’s current work focuses on care-experienced girls and women in youth and criminal justice systems.
More broadly, Claire is interested in processes of criminalisation, youth justice, women’s imprisonment, desistance and resilience, gendered pathways to offending and the link between state systems of care and justice across the generations. She has a particular commitment to research that seeks to make a difference to real world policy and practice.
Current Teaching
I convene and teach on the following modules:
CRIM 211 Youth Justice (Convenor)
CRIM 340 Criminal Careers (Convenor)
I contribute to teaching on:
CRIM 102 Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice
CRIM 345 Learning Together (at HMP Lancaster Farms)
I also supervise students writing extended essays and dissertations, and contribute to teaching on our Masters programmes.
Formerly Known As
Claire Taylor
Profile
Dr Claire Fitzpatrick is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and the Youth Justice lead for Lancaster’s Centre for Child and Family Justice Research. Claire graduated with First Class Honours from Lancaster University, before completing her ESRC-funded PhD here in 2002. Prior to working at Lancaster, Claire worked at the University of Nottingham and the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate.
Current Research
Disrupting the Routes between Care and Custody: Learning from Girls and Women in the Care and Criminal Justice Systems
Dr Fitzpatrick is currently the Principal Investigator for the above titled study which is funded by the Nuffield Foundation. This is a collaborative project with colleagues from the Universities of Bristol, Liverpool John Moores and Lancaster. The research aims to address the neglected topic of care-experienced girls and women who come into conflict with the law. It has a particular focus on using interviews to explore the experiences of care-experienced women in prison, girls currently in care and in contact with the youth justice system, and the professionals who work within these systems.
PhD Supervision Interests
Dr Fitzpatrick welcomes expressions of interest on PhD projects relating to: looked after children and/or care-leavers in the criminal justice system; desistance and resilience; the links between youth justice and child welfare; young offenders.
The Law School Widening Participation Project - Stage 1
01/10/2022 → 31/12/2023
Research
Breaking the Care-Crime Connection: Learning from Care-Experienced Women in Prison Disrupting the Routes between Care and Custody: Learning from females in the care and criminal justice systems.
01/02/2019 → 31/03/2022
Research
Invited Talk to HM Prison and Probation Service Evidence-based Practice Team
Invited talk
Invited Discussant for Author Meets Readers Expert Panel Discussion
Invited talk
Transforming Support for Care-Experienced Women in the Criminal Justice System
Invited talk
Breaking Barriers to Improving Support for Care-Experience Girls and Women
Invited talk
London Reducing Criminalisation of Children in Care Event
Invited talk
BSC Prison Network & UCLan CJP Prison Transitions Conference, Preston
Oral presentation
'The Law School Widening Participation Project: Knocking through ceilings, building ladders'
Oral presentation
Lancashire Probation and Youth Justice Development Day
Invited talk
Midlands Multi-Agency Showcase
Invited talk
The Vulnerable Accused in the Criminal Justice System
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2023
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Lancaster University Education Conference: Reimagining Assessment and Feedback
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
British Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2023
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Methods North West Seminar (North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership)
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Interview for The Nuffield Foundation's Youth Justice Spotlight Series
Other
Public Policy Exchange Webinar on Supporting Women in the Criminal Justice System
Invited talk
Proposal for Thematic Priority Submitted to Health and Social Care Select Committee
Other
Presentation to the Governors of the Women's Prisons Estate
Invited talk
European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2022
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Howard League for Penal Reform Conference: Crime, Justice and the Social Condition
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Unlocked Graduates Summer Institute
Invited talk
Cited and Quoted by House of Commons Justice Committee in their Report on Women in Prison
Other
Lancaster Law School Postgraduate Student Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Centre for Crime and Justice Studies Live Panel Discussion
Other
HMPPS Insights Festival Presentation
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Final Project Launch Event on Disrupting the Routes between Care and Custody for Girls and Women
Other
Presentation to Her Majesty's Prison & Probation Service Safety Learning Group
Invited talk
Cited and Quoted in Commission on Young Lives Report - Out of Harm's Way
Other
Mothers on Trial Event
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2021
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Centre for Child and Family Justice Research Seminar
Invited talk
Centre for Child and Family Justice Research Presentation to the Independent Review of Children's Social Care
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
British Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2021
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Presentation to UCLan Criminal Justice Partnership
Invited talk
Our Care, Our Say: Challenge Event
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
HMPPS Insights Festival 2020
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Invited Presentation - Ministry of Justice & Home Office Seminar
Invited talk
Invited Presentation - Department for Education (DfE) Seminar
Invited talk
HM Prison and Probation Service National Care Experience Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
HMPPS Care Leaver Leads Meeting
Invited talk
The Care Experienced Conference: Past, Present and Future
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
N8 Policing and Research Partnership Event
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
North West Care Leavers Week Event 2016 (HMP Kirkham)
Invited talk
Inside-Out Think Tank Meeting (HMP Frankland)
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
British Society of Criminology Conference 2016
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Looked after Children and the Youth Justice System
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
European Society of Criminology Conference 2015
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Multi-Agency Roundtable Discussion (follow-up event) on Children in Care and Care Leavers in the Criminal Justice System
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Looked after Children and Care Leavers in the Criminal Justice System: A multi-agency roundtable discussion
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
European Group for the Study of Deviance and Social Control, Annual Conference 2014
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
British Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2014
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Howard League for Penal Reform's What is Justice? Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
British Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2013
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
ONS Research Excellence Awards 2024 Outcome - Impact of Analysis
Prize (including medals and awards)
- Centre for Child and Family Justice Research