28/08/2026
We had the pleasure of having Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe (FHEA, FRSA, FAcSS) for our final plenary lecture of the summer.
Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe is a leading feminist criminologist and former Director of the University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology. A Fellow of Pembroke College for over 30 years, she has published 12 books and hundreds of academic papers. Her research focuses on women and criminal justice, youth justice, community penalties, migration, and trauma.
'Women, Crime and Criminal Justice'
Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe’s lecture explores women’s experiences within the criminal justice system, challenging assumptions about women who offend and whether they should be treated differently from men. It considers women’s needs, effective approaches to rehabilitation, and the growing use of imprisonment worldwide. The lecture also questions whether prison works and what justice should mean in practice.