Criminology Applied: A journey of practice, innovation and research

Inaugural lecture: Professor Lynn Saunders

The lecture explored the background, research and impact of the life of Professor Saunders, who has worked in the statutory sector as a practitioner in the Criminal Justice system in the UK for 35 years, most recently as a prison governor. She has also been a trustee of a number of charities - previously, Prisoners Abroad, and Rethink Mental Illness; and more recently, the Lucy Faithful Foundation and the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse. She is a Patron of the Charity Prisoner Penfriends.

Professor Saunders co-founded the Safer Living Foundation in 2014 and remains its Chair. She completed a PhD in Socio-legal studies at the University of Nottingham in 2020. Her research into the resettlement and rehabilitation of people with sexual convictions has been informed by her work in both the statutory and voluntary sectors.

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Professor Lynn Saunders OBE

Lynn Saunders is a Professor of Applied Criminology and Head of Law and Social Sciences. She worked in the criminal justice system for 35 years until 2021, most recently as the Governor of HMP Whatton.

She qualified as a Probation Officer in 1986 and has a degree in Applied Social Sciences from the University of Keele, an MA in Criminology, and a PhD from the University of Nottingham.

She Co-founded (in 2014) and Chairs, the Safer Living Foundation, a charity which aims to prevent sexual (re) offending.

Lynn was awarded an honorary doctorate from Nottingham Trent University in 2015 and Keele University in 2018 in recognition of her work with people with sexual convictions. She was also awarded an OBE in the 2017 New Year’s honours list for services to prisoners in the UK and abroad. She received the Guardian Public service Award for Leadership Excellence in 2018. She was appointed Honorary Professor by Nottingham Trent University in 2020 and Professor of Applied Criminology and Head of Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby in 2021.