loucks nancy dr

Professor Nancy Loucks

Professor Nancy Loucks is the Chief Executive of Families Outside, a Scottish voluntary organisation that works on behalf of families affected by imprisonment. Prior to this she worked as an Independent Criminologist, specialising in research on prison policy and comparative criminology.

She received her M. Phil and Ph. D. from the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge and in 2012 was appointed as Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Law, Crime and Justice 

Professor Loucks has conducted extensive research into human rights issues in prison, female and young offenders, prison violence and protests, addiction, suicides and self‐harm, violence risk assessment and management, the experience of offenders with learning difficulties and learning disabilities, homelessness amongst ex‐prisoners, and the maintenance of prisoners' family ties.

Her work on family issues includes: research into family participation in prisoner resettlement, studies of the role of Prison Visitors’ Centres and of the work of Family Contact Officers, research into young parents in prison, consultations with prisoners' families, and international reviews of the literature on needs and services for prisoners’ families and on private family visits. She was a Trustee for the Visitors' Centre at HMP Edinburgh for six years and an invited member of the National Advisory Body on Offender Management for the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

Professor Loucks will be contributing to the teaching and supervision of the Strathclyde Centre for Law Crime & Justice’s new Graduate LLM/MSc programme in Criminal Justice and Penal Change

Some of Professor Loucks Key Achievements Include:

• Represented Families Outside at the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child General Day of Discussion in Geneva, Switzerland, 9/11.
• Addressed the United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders: Women in the Criminal Justice System, Vienna, Austria, 4/00 on behalf of the Inspectorates of Prisons and Social Work Services for Scotland.
• Influenced key changes in the content of Criminal Justice Social Work reports to ensure the impact on families of offenders is taken into account and recorded.
• In partnership with the Scottish Prison Service, developed the SPS Good Practice Guidance on Children and Families.
• Member by invitation of the National Advisory Body on Offender Management for the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, 2008 – 2010 (when the NAB dissolved) and regular contributor of oral and written evidence to Parliamentary Committees and Government Consultations.
• Regular keynote speaker, including for the Scottish Association for the Study of Offending (SASO) Annual Conference, 11/08 as well as the 2012 ‘Prisons and Imprisonment: Restriction of Liberty, Rights and Responsibilities at Strathclyde University
• The 2012 Perrie Lecture on ‘Prison: Where does the Community Come in?’
• Contributed to media broadcasts to raise awareness, including the Crime & Justice Research collection (IRISS) and the BBC’s The Big Questions (1.5 million viewers).
• Recent Book. Loucks, N., Holt, S. S., and Adler, J. R., eds. (2009) Why We Kill: Understanding Violence Across Cultures and Disciplines.  Middlesex University Press, now available from London: Routledge.

 Prof Loucks’ Publications Include:

• Nugent, B. and Loucks, N. (2011) “The Arts and Prisoners: Experiences of Creative Rehabilitation.”  Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 50(4), 356-370.            
• Loucks, N., Holt, S. S., and Adler, J. R., eds. (2009) Why We Kill: Understanding Violence Across Cultures and Disciplines.  Middlesex University Press, now available from London: Routledge.
• Malloch, M., McIvor, G. and Loucks, N. (2008) “‘Time Out’ for Women: Innovation in Scotland in a Context of Change.” Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 47(4), 383-399.
• Loucks, N., with Jenny Talbot (2007) No One Knows - Identifying and supporting prisoners with learning difficulties and learning disabilities: the views of prison staff in Scotland.  London: Prison Reform Trust.
• Loucks, N. (2007) Housing Needs of Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners.  Glasgow: The Robertson Trust.
• Malloch, M. and Loucks, N. (2007) “Responding to Drug and Alcohol Problems: Innovations and Effectiveness in Treatment Programmes for Women.”  In R. Sheehan, G. McIvor, and C. Trotter, eds., What Works with Women Offenders.  Devon: Willan Publishing, 91-109.
• Loucks, N. (2007) Book review - All Alone in the World: Children of the Incarcerated. SCOLAG Legal Journal 352, 38.
• Loucks, N. (2007) No One Knows: Offenders with Learning Difficulties and Learning Disabilities - Review of prevalence and associated needs.  London: Prison Reform Trust.
• Adler, J., Burnside, J., Loucks, N., and Viki, T. (forthcoming) “Measuring Religion in Prisons: Offenders' Beliefs and Attitudes”. Journal Of Forensic Psychology Practice.
• Loucks, N., in Y. Jewkes and J. Bennett, eds., (2007) Dictionary of Prisons and Punishment.  Devon: Willan Publishing.  Submitted entries regarding adjudications and prison rules. 
• Loucks, N. (2007) “Le système pénitentiare anglais et gallois”.  In J. P. Céré and C. E. Japiassú, eds., Les systèmes pénitentiaires dans le monde. Paris: Editions Dalloz, 45-61.
• Jacobson, J. and Edgar, K. with N. Loucks (2007) There When You Need Them Most: pact’s first night in custody services.  London: Prison Reform Trust.
• Loucks, N., Malloch, M., McIvor, G., and Gelsthorpe, L. (2006) Evaluation of the 218 Centre.  Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Justice Department.
• Loucks, N. (2006) “Private Family Visits”.  In "Children With Imprisoned Parents: A Handbook of Practice and Experience," (EUROCHIPS 2006).
• Loucks, N., in E. L. Ewan, S. Innes. S. Reynolds, and R. Pipes, eds. (2006) The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women.  Edinburgh: Edinburgh University press.  Submitted entry regarding Angela Bollan in a discussion of women who took their own lives in HMPI Cornton Vale.
• Loucks, N. (2005) Keeping in Touch: The Case for Family Support Work in Prison.  London: Prison Reform Trust.
• Burnside, J., Adler, J., Loucks, N., and Rose, G. (2005) Religion and Rehabilitation: The Story of Kainos Community. Devon: Willan Publishing.
• Loucks, N. (2005), “Bullying Behaviour Among Women in Prison.”  In J. Ireland, ed., Bullying Among Prisoners: Innovations in theory and research. Devon: Willan Publishing.
• Loucks, N. (2004) “Life Imprisonment and the Law.”  Book review.  British Journal of Criminology 44:6, 996-999.
• Waterhouse, L., McGhee, J., and Loucks, N. (2004) “Disentangling Offenders and Non-offenders in the Scottish Children’s Hearings – A Clear Divide?” Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 43(2), 164-179.
• Loucks, N. (2004) “Women in Prison.” In G. McIvor, ed., Women Who Offend. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 142-158.
• Loucks, N. (2004) “Women in Prison.” In J. Adler, ed., Forensic Psychology: Concepts, Debates and Practice. Devon: Willan Publishing, 287-304, and in J. R. Adler and J. M. Gray, eds. (2010) Forensic Psychology: Concepts, Debates and Practice. Devon: Willan Publishing (2^nd edition), 466–485.
• Loucks, N. (2004) The Tayside Family Project.  Dundee and Edinburgh: Tayside Criminal Justice Partnership and Families Outside.
• Loucks, N. (2004) ‘Prison Without Bars’: Needs, support, and good practice for work with Prisoners’ Families. Dundee and Edinburgh: Tayside Criminal Justice Partnership and Families Outside.
• Loucks, N. (2004) “Interviews with Prisoners.” In The Summary Justice Review Committee: Report to Ministers. Scottish Executive web site: www.scotland.gov.uk/about/JD/CP/000190008/prisonerssurvey.pdf.
• Loucks, N. (2003) “Report on Consultation of Prisoners.” In E. Samuel and I. Clark, Improving Practice: A Summary of Responses to the Consultation on the 2002 Review of the Practices and Procedure of the High Court of the Justiciary.  Edinburgh: Scottish Executive, 77-90.
• Loucks, N. (2002) Recidivism Amongst Serious Violent and Sexual Offenders. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Social Research.
• Loucks, N. (2002) Just Visiting? A Review of the Role of Prison Visitors’ Centres.  London: Federation of Prisoners’ Families Support Groups (now Action for Prisoners’ Families) and the Prison Reform Trust.
• Loucks, N. (2002) “Just Visiting? Governors’ Perspectives on Prison Visitors’ Centres”. The Key 59, 2 – 5.
• Loucks, N. (2002) “Crossing the Boundaries”. Relational Justice Bulletin 14, 4 – 5.
• Loucks, N. (2001) Evaluation of Improved Regimes for Female Offenders. London: HM Prison Service for England and Wales, Women’s Policy Group, unpublished.
• Social Work Services Inspectorate (2001) The Report of a Review of Rough Sleepers Initiative in Glasgow. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.  Participating author and researcher.
• Loucks, N. and Knox, J. (2001) Custodial Remands in Scotland: Current Issues.  Scottish Prison Service Occasional Paper 1/2001.  Edinburgh: SPS.
• Loucks, N. (2001) “You Asked For It...” The Key, 53:4.
• Loucks, N. (2001) Book review of Suicide in Prisons, in Legal and Criminological Psychology 16 (2).
• Loucks, N. (2000) Revised and updated Loucks (1993) Prison Rules: A Working Guide.  London: Prison Reform Trust. Compares the English Prison Rules with the European Minimum Standards.
• Loucks, N., Power, K., Swanson, V., and Chambers, J. (2000) Young People in Custody in Scotland. Scottish Prison Service Occasional Paper 3/2000.  Edinburgh: Scottish Prison Service.
• Chambers, J., Power, K., Loucks, N., and Swanson, V. (2000) “The Quality of Perceived Parenting and Its Association with Peer Relationships and Psychological Distress in a Group of Incarcerated Young Offenders.”  International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 44:3, 350-68.
• Chambers, J., Power, K., Loucks, N., and Swanson, V. (2000) “Psychometric Properties of the Parental Bonding Instrument and Its Association with Psychological Distress in a Group of Incarcerated Young Offenders in Scotland.” Social Psychiatry Psychiatric Epidemiology 35:318-25.
• HM Inspectorate of Prisons (2000) ‘Punishment First - Verdict Later?’ A Review of Conditions for Remand Prisoners at the End of the 20th Century. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.  Participating author and researcher.
• Waterhouse, L., McGhee, J., Whyte, W., Loucks, N., and Kay, H. (2000) The Scottish Children's Hearings: A Study of Children Referred in 1995.  Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.
• Loucks, N. (1999). "Female Offenders: The Cornton Vale Experience".  Scottish Journal of Criminal Justice Studies.  SASD vol. 5: 2, 53-64.
• Loucks, N. (1999) "Female Offenders". In F. Mackay, C. Bould, and G. Young, eds., Gender Audit 1998/99. Edinburgh: ENGENDER, 25-32 (also updated in F. Mackay and K. Bilton 2000, 113-119).
• HM Inspectorates of Social Work Services and Prisons (1998) Women Offenders - A Safer Way: A Review of Community Disposals and the Use of Custody for Women Offenders in Scotland.  Edinburgh: Social Work Services and Prisons Inspectorate for Scotland. Participating author and researcher.
• Loucks, N. (1998) HMPI Cornton Vale: Research into Drugs and Alcohol, Violence and Bullying, Suicides and Self-Injury, and Backgrounds of Abuse. Occasional Paper 1/98.  Edinburgh: Scottish Prison Service.
• Loucks, N., Lyner, O., and Sullivan, T. (June 1998), "Regulating the 'Yellow Ticket': The employment of people with criminal records in the European Union and 'Coping with Convictions': A guide to good practice for employers."  European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research 6:2, 195-210.
• Gelsthorpe, L. and Loucks, N. (1997) "The Remanding and Sentencing of Women Offenders in Magistrates' Courts." Justice of the Peace, 161:50, 1132-4.
• Gelsthorpe, L. and Loucks, N. (1997) "Magistrates' explanations of sentencing decisions."  Part II of  C. Hedderman and L. Gelsthorpe, eds., Understanding the Sentencing of Women. London: Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate.
• Loucks, N. (1996), "The Effect of Changes in Regime on Assaults and the Fear of Assaults at a Local Prison" (revised version).  In N. Clark and G. Stephenson, eds., Psychological Perspectives on Police and Custodial Culture and Organisation. Division of Criminological and Legal Psychology Issues in Criminological and Legal Psychology 25, 3-9.
• Loucks, N. (March 1996), "The Effect of Changes in Regime on Assaults and the Fear of Assaults at a Local Prison." Prison Service Journal, Issue 104, 10-21 (supplement).
• Loucks, N. (1996), “Les Procédures Disciplinaires: Analyse comparée.” In C. Faugeron, A. Chauvenet, et P. Combessie, eds., Approches de la Prison.  Bruxelles: De Boeck.
• Loucks, N. (1995), ‘Anything Goes...’: The use of the ‘catch-all’ disciplinary rule 47(21) in Prisons and YOIs. London: Prison Reform Trust.
• Fisken, R. (1995), with the editorial assistance of N. Loucks, The Deaf in Prison. London: HM Prison Service.
• Crime and Social Policy Committee (1995), Crime and Social Policy. London: NACRO.  Participating author and researcher.
• Loucks, N. (March 1994), “Too far or not far enough?” (revised version), Prison Service Journal, Issue 92, 72.
• Loucks, N. (July 1993), “Too far or not far enough?” Justice of the Peace, Vol. 157 No. 30, 470.
• Loucks, N. (June 1993), “Who guards the guardians?” Legal Action, 10.
• Loucks, N., and Haines, K. (1993), “Crises in British Prisons: A critical review essay.” International Criminal Justice Review, vol. 3.
• Birkbeck College Centre for Extra-Mural Studies, University of London. Wrote Course Study Guide for the 1994-5 Course 2: Psychology of Criminal Behaviour and updated it for 1995-6.
• Central Research Unit, Scottish Prison Service, 8/90 - 9/90. Presented project on communications and published report (McAllister, D., and Loucks, N. 1990, Communications in the Scottish Prison Service.  Edinburgh: SPS).
• Western Psychological Conference, University of Santa Clara, CA, 4/87.  Presented original research and published abstract, Perceptions of Personal Vulnerability to Crime.