University News Last updated 21 July 2009
An eminent prison professional, known for his expertise in psychological theories, has taken up a position as visiting professor at Birmingham City University.
Professor Michael Brookes is the Director of Therapeutic Communities at HMP Grendon which is the only prison on Europe that operates as a therapeutic community. He has spent the past six years leading the therapy team at the prison whilst his wider professional career has been primarily concerned with the application of psychological theories and principles to individual offenders, groups of offenders and with those who manage secure establishments and those who work in custodial therapeutic environments.
In his new role as Visiting Professor Michael will teach on arrange of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in criminology and psychology, as well as contribute to research and teaching.
Highly respected in prison therapeutic circles, Professor Brookes said he was pleased to be joining colleagues in the Centre for Criminal Justice Policy and Research. He is also keen to develop cross institution links and build on his work with the education sector. He commented: "I am delighted to have been appointed as a Visiting Professor to Birmingham City University. It is a great honour for me personally and has provided the opportunity for the foundation of a memorandum of understanding between HMP Grendon and Birmingham City University.
"This provides an opportunity for Birmingham City University to assist in the on-going research of this unique, therapeutic, custodial establishment and for staff at Grendon to contribute to Birmingham City University's teaching programme."
HMP Grendon is one of the oldest penal therapeutic communities in the world; Professor Brookes regularly delivers papers about this work and research that has been undertaken at the prison - most recently at the 2008 Division of Forensic Psychology and at the Association of Therapeutic Communities in Windsor.