Socio-Legal Speaker Series
The School of Social Sciences and Law conducts a Socio-Legal speaker series throughout the academic year.
The Socio-Legal speaker series aims to provide a forum to discuss the connections between law, society and social change and reflects the emphasis on socio-legal studies in the research, teaching and learning at the School of Social Sciences and Law.
The Socio-Legal speaker series has hosted a number of prominent speakers who have discussed their views on the connections between law and society.
Future Events:
Dr. Kieran O'Dwyer to speak on Restorative Justice
Kieran worked for six years in the Irish Prison Service, finishing up in 2012 as Director of Regimes. Prior to that he was Head of Research in the Garda Siochana for 12 years. In 2008 he completed a PhD by research on the topic of the Garda programme of restorative justice for juvenile offenders. He now works freelance as consultant and is involved in voluntary and academic activities. Restorative justice remains a key area of interest for him.
This talk will take place from 7.30pm - 9pm in Room 4027, DIT Aungier Street. All are welcome.
Past Events
Professor Valerie Jenness, Dean of the School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine speaks at DIT on 'Disputing Behind Bars: Prisoner Grievances in California'.
The Socio-Legal Speaker Series at DIT was proud to welcome Professor Valerie Jenness, Dean of the School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, to speak on her recent work with Kitty Calavita on their recent work examining how and why prisoners decide to file complaints about their conditions of confinement. This seminal study involved interviews with over 100 prisoners and an examination of grievances filed in the Californian prison system. This extremely stimulating evening gave much inspiration to penal scholars and reformers in Ireland.
About Prof. Valerie Jenness:
Valerie Jenness is Dean of the School of Social Ecology, Professor in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society and in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Irvine, and President-Elect of the Pacific Sociological Association. Her research focuses on the links between deviance and social control (especially law); the politics of crime control and criminalization; social movements and social change; and corrections and public policy.
She is the author of three books; including Making Hate a Crime: From Social Movement to Law Enforcement Practice (with Ryken Grattet), Hate Crimes: New Social Movements and the Politics of Violence (with Kendal Broad), and Making it Work: The Prostitutes' Rights Movement in Perspective; the co-editor of Routing the Opposition: Social Movements, Public Policy, and Democracy (with David Meyer and Helen Ingram); and the author of articles published in the American Sociological Review, Social Forces, Social Problems, Annual Review of Sociology, Annual Review of Law and Social Science, Law & Society Review, Gender & Society, Justice Quarterly, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, American Behavioral Scientist, Sociological Perspectives, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Law and Critique, Punishment & Society, Stanford Law & Policy Review, Criminal Justice Policy Review, Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change, and Journal of Hate Studies.
Her work has been recognized with awards from the American Sociological Association, the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights in North America, the Society for the Study of Social Problems, the Pacific Sociological Association, and the University of California; translated and reprinted in Japanese, Spanish, and German; presented at an array of professional conferences and universities, as well as to the U.S. Congress and the National Academy of Sciences; and funded by National Academy of Sciences, the National Science Foundation, the California Policy Research Center, the California Department of Mental Health, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the University of California, and Washington State University.
She is a Past Co-Editor of Contemporary Sociology and Past President of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. She has served as an Associate Editor for Social Problems, as well as an Advisory Editor for Criminology, Social Problems, Gender & Society, Research in Political Sociology, Sexuality & Culture, and Race, Sex and Class; Vice-President of the Society for the Study of Social Problems; Chair of the Crime, Law, and Deviance section and Chair of the Sexualities section of the American Sociological Association, as well as Chair of the Social Problems Theory division and Chair of the Sexual Behavior, Communities, and Politics division of the Society for the Study of Social Problems; Vice-Chair of the Law & Society division of the Society for the Study of Social Problems; and a Member of the Board of Directors for the Society for the Study of Social Problems, and the Council for Sociology of Law section, the Crime, Law, & Deviance section, and the Collective Behavior/Social Movements section of the American Sociological Association.
Past Events
As part of Dublin City Council's social inclusion week (May 3rd - 7th 2011), the School of Social Sciences and Law was pleased to host two special seminars in its socio-legal speaker series.
On Wednesday May 4th, Liam Herrick, Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust gave an interesting and valuable presentation on the prison system in Ireland and the potential for change. This event will take place in Room 2046, DIT Aungier Street from 1 - 2pm.
On Thursday May 5th, Karen McAuley, Researcher with the Ombudsman for Children Office gave a most engaging presentatino about the Ombudsman for Children's recent report into St Patrick's Institution . This groundbreaking report gives us an insight into the lived experience of children and young people detained in St Patrick's Institution through their own words.
Both events were supported by the DIT Chaplaincy Social Justice Alliance.
For more details contact mary.rogan@dit.ie
The School of Social Sciences and Law hosted an excellent discussion as part of its Socio-Legal Speaker Series. Dr. Vicky Conway of Queen's University Belfast, spoke on the topic: "Talking the Talk, Walking the Walk: Reforming Policing and Police Culture in Ireland". Dr Conway is the author of 'The Blue Wall of Silence: The Morris Tribunal and Police Accountability in Ireland', published by Irish Academic Press.
Please contact Dr. Mary Rogan: mary.rogan@dit.ie for further information on the series. You can also see the poster for the Vicky Conway seminar .
Brian Moss, Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission speaks at Dublin Institute of Technology
Brian Moss, Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and graduate of the School's MA in Criminology spoke about the work of GSOC and his research as part of the School of Social Sciences and Law's 'Socio-Legal Speaker Series' on April 14 2010 at DIT Aungier Street. Brian's talk provided a fascinating insight into accountability structures in the criminal justice system within Ireland and in the international context.
Dr. Carol Coulter speaks at the School of Social Sciences and Law
Dr. Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Editor with The Irish Times discussed her ground-breaking research into the workings of the Circuit Family Court at DIT, Aungier Street on December 10 2009. Dr. Coulter's work casts light on the heretofore private workings of the Circuit Family Court, and in particular highlights the experience of litigants seeking ancillary remedies on divorce and judicial separations.
Liam Herrick, Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust speaks at the School of Social Sciences and Law
As part of the School of Social Sciences and Law's Socio-Legal Speaker Series, Liam Herrick, Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust provided an interesting discussion on current challenges facing the Irish prison system.
Liam's talk examined the unprecedented growth in the prison population, high levels of overcrowding and violence. Liam also detailed the work of the Irish Penal Reform Trust and how students and staff could become involved in its work through membership, interning, campaigning, donating, or via Facebook and Twitter.
2008 - 2009
Professor Ivana Bacik, Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology at Trinity College Dublin, Barrister-at-Law and Senator, spoke to the topic "Changing Law Through Changing Society".
Dr. Fergus Ryan, Dr. Kevin Lalor, Professor Ivana Bacik and Dr. Mary Rogan at the Socio-Legal Speaker Series
Dr. Mairead Seymour, Senior Lecturer, Dublin Institute of Technology, spoke about the experiences of young people on remand.
Dr. Mairead Seymour and Dr. Mary Rogan at the Socio-Legal Speaker Series
2007-2008
Noeline Blackwell, Director General FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) Ireland delivered a talk on "Access to Justice in the Irish Legal System".
Professor Brice Dickson, Queen's University, Belfast spoke on "The Current Human Rights Agenda in Northern Ireland".
Roderick Dunnett, formerly Assistant General Counsel (1998-2002) and Associate Director (2002-2006) of the European Investment Bank, gave a paper entitled ‘Calling and Cauldron: Aspects of an International Public Legal Career.’
Past speakers have also included Javaid Rehman, Professor of Law at University of Brunel, speaking on 'International Law, US Foreign Policy and Post 911 Islamic Fundamentalism,' and Professor Barbara George from California State University, Long Beach, on 'Data Protection and Employee Rights.'
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