1st Edition

Pracademics in Criminal Justice

Edited By Di Turgoose, Victoria Knight, Darren Woodward Copyright 2025
222 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

222 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

222 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Providing an in-depth interrogation of the practitioner/academic role within the context of criminal justice, this book outlines the benefits and challenges of different roles through exploring the lived experience of the contributing authors. Arranged into three comprehensive sections, the book acknowledges the contribution pracademics make to criminal justice, conceptualises pracademia in the... Read more

Foreword
Hazel Kemshall

1 Introduction: locating pracademics in criminal justice   
Di Turgoose, Victoria Knight, and Darren Woodward

PART 1: An anatomy of the pracademic in criminal justice

2 Applying anthropology to criminal legal cultures and stakeholder concerns
Caleb D. Sabatka

3  Intrapreneurship in justice settings: pracademia with purpose
Jason Morris

4 The never-ending barriers for the formerly incarcerated pracademic 
David Honeywell

PART 2: Pracademic Transitions

5 Learning to live with liminality: reflections of a probation pracademic on joining the academy
Sam Ainslie

6 Forensic Psychologists as pracademics in public prison settings in England and Wales
Alice Bennett and Jenny Tew

7 From practictioner to pracademic – a discombobulating transition
Steve Christopher

PART 3: The application of pracademia

8 ‘When you have walked the walk…’ transitions from prison landings to Higher Education (HE)
Sarah Nixon

9 Operationalising theory: the role of the pracademic in the pedagogy of student police officers in the UK
Anne Eason

10 Filling in the gaps: Australian pracademics creating social justice impact in a criminal justice setting
Sara Kowal, Sally Andersen, Jeff Giddings, and Jennifer Paneth 

11 The challenges of keeping it real: The role of storytelling and digital technology in probation training to explore risk and desistance
Sarah O’Neill

12 Exploring the potential of virtual environments in addressing domestic violence and abuse in the pracademic classroom
Di Turgoose

13 A foot in all of the camps: a personal reflection of the merging of lived experience, practice and academia
Lucy Baldwin

Biography

Di Turgoose is Associate Professor and National Teacher Fellow located in the discipline of Criminology and Criminal Justice at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.

Victoria Knight is Associate Professor of Research at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.

Darren Woodward is Lecturer at the School of Criminal Justice, Arden University, Coventry, UK.

As a criminal justice manager and criminal justice professor, I have seen first-hand the challenges and rewards of navigating the complex world of criminal justice practice with academia. "Pracademics in Criminal Justice" captures these complexities with remarkable clarity and insight. The diverse perspectives offered by the contributors – from those on the front lines of law enforcement to those who have experienced the system first hand – paint a rich and nuanced portrait of the field. This edited collection challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about justice and rehabilitation, and what and who counts as a pracademic. This book is not just an academic exercise; it is a practical toolkit for anyone seeking to make a real difference in the lives of others.

 

Dr. Stephen A. Morreale

 

 

 

In an era where the boundaries between academia and practice are increasingly blurred, "Pracademics in Criminal Justice" emerges as an essential guide for navigating the complex landscape of criminal justice and academia. This edited collection, curated by Turgoose, Knight, and Woodward, brings together a diverse chorus of voices – from seasoned probation officers and police to formerly incarcerated individuals, forensic psychologists, and advocates for social justice. Each chapter offers a unique perspective, illuminating the challenges and opportunities facing pracademics in their field.

The book's strength lies in its unflinching honesty and its commitment to bridging theory and practice. Whether you are a seasoned criminal justice professional seeking new insights or a student eager to understand the real-world implications of your studies, this book offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

"Pracademics in Criminal Justice" is not just a book; it is a call to action for a more just and equitable future. I wholeheartedly endorse it for anyone seeking to make a meaningful impact in the field of criminal justice and criminal justice education.

Dr.Stephen A. Morreale