We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Avril Brandon as Assistant Professor of Criminology in the Department of Law at Maynooth University. Avril joined the Department of Law at Maynooth in September 2019, and lectures in research methods and the impact of ethnic prejudice in the criminal justice system.
Avril completed her PhD in psychology at University College Dublin. Her doctoral research explored the role of ethnic prejudice in the Irish criminal justice system, with an emphasis on punitive attitudes, sentencing and policing. This research was funded by the Irish Research Council and involved collaboration with the Irish Prison Service, the Irish Probation Service, An Garda Síochána and Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.
She is now conducting research which will examine the prison-release experience of members of the Irish Travelling community. This work is being carried out in partnership with Professor Denis Bracken at the University of Manitoba, Canada.
Her research interests include the impact of prejudice within criminal justice systems; relationships between minority ethnic group members and police; the experience of minority ethnic groups at all stages of the system; and mental health in the criminal justice system. Her research employs quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method designs.
Avril welcomes potential research students and collaborations in prejudice within criminal justice systems; minority ethnic groups and policing; sentencing; and mental health and the criminal justice system.
Avril can be contacted at Avril.Brandon@mu.ie