Marginalised voices and criminological research; A conversation with Dr Deirdre Healy

Attending to real  world problems and the relief of significant social issues is a theme  that runs across the chapters in this volume, for Deirdre Healy it is no  different. In this chapter she emphasises her  own interest in Criminology was led by a desire to see the application  of academic knowledge to prison and probation issues. Seeking a solutions led approach, influenced by both forensic psychology  and criminology, Deirdre recognised the importance of having those  individuals who directly experienced the criminal justice system  contribute to how we might imagine change in this field.  Attending to the voices of those who are marginalised in society was a  key issue for Deirdre’s research and she discusses how giving space so  that all individuals are heard in society, but also that society listens to these voices is vital. Theoretical concepts that  inform Deirdre’s work such as recidivism, dehumanisation, othering and  social identity are discussed in this chapter. Deirdre traces her  academic journey from its psychological origins and documents  the influence of key authors on her work. In this chapter she also  speaks about new methods in researching criminology and how innovative  qualitative methods serve the discipline.