The Perrie Lecture 2027 will explore the far-reaching implications of long-term imprisonment. Not only for those living and working within prisons, but also for families, communities, and wider society. As prison populations age and sentences lengthen, the personal, social, and systemic effects of long-term incarceration demand urgent attention. This conversation is critical to shaping fair, sustainable, and compassionate responses for individuals, institutions, and the communities they eventually return to.

​

This year’s lecture will bring together practitioners, policymakers, researchers, people with lived experience, justice, and community organisations to examine the realities of long-term imprisonment and to consider new approaches to rehabilitation, reintegration, and justice.

​

Discussions will address key questions: How do people sustain hope and identity during long sentences? What are the long-term impacts on mental health, families, and community cohesion? And how can systems adapt to support dignity, purpose, and connection both inside and beyond prison walls?

​

Who should attend: Professionals and leaders from the prison and probation services, voluntary and community organisations, policymakers, academics, and anyone committed to building a more humane and effective justice system.