Beth Duane

Beth Duane graduated from the MA in Human Rights in Criminal Justice at UL with first class honours.

Her dissertation focused on issues surrounding mental health and mental illness within the Irish criminal justice system.

Prior to this, she received a BA in Sociology, Political Science and History from NUIG, also first class honours. Beth has previously worked with the Association for Criminal Justice Research & Development and was also heavily involved in the establishment of a new programme undertaken by ADAPT Services raising awareness of domestic violence and how it impacts upon youth.

She is currently undertaking PhD research under the supervision of Dr Margaret Fitzgerald O’Reilly and Dr Susan Leahy; her research is titled 'Prison Violence in Adult Prisons in Ireland: Assessing Causes, Effects and Responses'.

Beth’s research will examine the effects that the prison environment has on an individual, the legal duty of care afforded to prisoners by the state and the existing responses to prison violence in other jurisdictions that could effectively be implemented in Ireland.

Beth is an IRC scholar and was awarded a prestigious Irish Research Council grant to conduct her research.

She was also awarded The Honourable Mr Justice John Murray PhD Scholarship, and tutors in criminal procedure, which is part of the online BA in Applied Policing to members of An Garda Síochána.

Her research interests include human rights, criminology, penal policymaking, techniques of punishment, and criminal law.