Brain injury is a leading cause of disability worldwide and survivors have a unique profile when compared to other patient groups. Following brain injury, individuals can be left with impairments of varying severity, including deficits affecting movement, cognition, speech, and regulation of emotions for instance. There is evidence to show that complex circumstances, such as those experienced by brain injury survivors, can cause or be exacerbated by contact with the CJS.
The prevalence rate of brain injury in the general population is estimated to be approximately 2%. In contrast, the prevalence rate in prisons is around 60% indicating a disproportionate number of brain injury survivors in the CJS. Despite these high numbers, this group is often considerably disadvantaged and under resourced. There appears to be little psychological literature and attention paid to those with brain injury navigating the CJS.
Cognitive impairments, often resulting after a brain injury, impact on an individual’s everyday functioning resulting in behaviours falling outside societal norms. Memory impairment and poor executive function could result in forgetting to pay for purchases or neglecting fines. Impulsive behaviour could result in theft. Disinhibited behaviour in a community setting can result in arrest. Brain injury survivors have signed contracts they have not fully understood, resulting in fraud prosecutions. Emotional impairment can result in reduced tolerance to frustration, increased stress and poor anger management resulting in heated social exchanges, misconduct or even assault. Furthermore, when considering the stressful and time-consuming nature of a criminal investigation, such cognitive impairments can be exacerbated. For example, engaging with a police interview as a victim, witness or suspect draws on the episodic memory of the individual; this can be confusing and frustrating for those that cannot remember. In addition, depending on the nature and type of questions asked during the interview, individuals with a brain injury may be at a heightened risk of providing inaccurate or misleading information, resulting in wrongful conviction including the false implication of themselves. Being able to cope in a stressful environment that custody often is may lead to increased stress.
It is evident that the impact of a brain injury can result in a predisposition to interaction with the CJS. However, there appears to be little research that explores the experiences of those with brain injury in the CJS. Most published data in this area focuses on the credibility of brain injury survivors as witnesses to crime, with their associated memory issues as a result of the sustained brain injury. Due to the associated vulnerabilities synonymous with brain injury, it is important to consider how people with such difficulties can be best supported when required to engage with police procedures, such as police interviews, and whether such procedures are best suited to their needs.
This PhD project proposes exploring the lived experiences of individuals with brain injury in the criminal justice system in a series of projects, focussing on how these populations can effectively participate as victims and witnesses and whether current interview practice is best practice for this population.
Academic Enquiries
This project is supervised by Dr. Stephen Dunne. For informal queries, please contact [Email Address Removed]. For all other enquiries relating to eligibility or application process please use the email form below to contact Admissions.
Funding Information
Home and International students (inc. EU) are welcome to apply. The studentship is available to Home and International (including EU) students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2022/23 full-time study this is £17,668 per year) and full tuition fees. Studentships are also available for applicants who wish to study on a part-time basis over 5 years (0.6 FTE, stipend £10,600 per year and full tuition fees) in combination with work or personal responsibilities).
Please also see further advice below of additional costs that may apply to international applicants.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
- Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
- Applicants cannot apply for this funding if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.
Please note: to be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
- have settled status, or
- have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
- have indefinite leave to remain or enter.
If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student. Applicants will need to be in the UK and fully enrolled before stipend payments can commence, and be aware of the following additional costs that may be incurred, as these are not covered by the studentship.
- Immigration Health Surcharge https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
- If you need to apply for a Student Visa to enter the UK, please refer to the information on https://www.gov.uk/student-visa. It is important that you read this information very carefully as it is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct funds required for your visa application otherwise your visa may be refused.
- Check what COVID-19 tests you need to take and the quarantine rules for travel to England https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19
- Costs associated with English Language requirements which may be required for students not having completed a first degree in English, will not be borne by the university. Please see individual adverts for further details of the English Language requirements for the university you are applying to.
How to Apply
For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/
For applications to be considered for interview, please include a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words and the advert reference (e.g. RDF23/…).
Deadline for applications: 27 January 2023
Start date of course: 1 October 2023 tbc
Continue with Facebook
