Professors Susan McVie and Lesley McAra publish briefing for the Scottish Prison Service

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Image inside a prison

In July 2024, Professor Susan McVie and Professor Lesley McAra published a briefing document titled ‘Scottish Prison Service policy briefing: Understanding pathways into and out of prison’. This document highlights key findings from the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime (ESYTC) as they relate to pathways into and out of imprisonment while setting out the main policy implications that flow from them.

This document draws heavily on findings from the ESTYC, which is a programme of research that has been running for over 25 years to examine the causes and consequences of young people’s involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour. The ESTYC is the only study of its kind in Scotland and of the most influential longitudinal studies internationally.

The briefing report includes data and descriptions from the lived experiences of prisoners along with relevant background context that helps situate the policy implications presented in the document. About this publication, Professor McVie said:  “Understanding the views and experiences of people who have served one or more prison sentences is essential to improving service delivery and ensuring that people receive appropriate help and support from prison staff.  Being able to provide a longitudinal perspective, which highlights how events in childhood and adolescence may have influenced people’s behaviour and life chances, is a key strength of the Edinburgh Study”.

Read and download the briefing report [PDF]

Professor Lesley McAra – Profile

Professor Susan McVie – Profile

Data Comic: How Crime has Changed in Scotland

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Findings from the Edinburgh Study have been featured in a new Data Comic called ‘How Crime has Changed in Scotland’, produced by Professor Susan McVie, Co-Director of the Study.

The findings show how the levels of offending amongst young people have changed over time, how policing impacts on young people and the role of poverty in determining who gets caught up in the criminal justice system.  To see the Data Comic, visit the link.

New survey findings published!

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People walking down Princes Street in Edinburgh

A new report has been produced for the Nuffield Foundation. The report is based on the latest phase of fieldwork, which involved interviews with cohort members, an online survey, and analysis of criminal records data.

Amongst the findings are that experiences of poverty and trauma in childhood were strongly associated with offending behaviour in adolescence and also going on to offend into early adulthood.  Nevertheless, many of those who were involved in serious offending were not known to the children’s hearings system or the adult criminal justice system. While trauma in childhood was damaging, many of those who continued offending beyond age 25 had also experienced significant trauma in adulthood.

We recommend that policies need to be focused on prevention and early intervention, with specific strategies to tackle poverty and adversity.

Read the full report

Prize Draw Winner Selected!

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Congratulations to the winner of the Edinburgh Study Survey Prize Draw!
We have contacted our winner, an ex-pupil of Forrester high school, with the good news and they will be receiving their £300 shopping vouchers soon.
Thank you to everyone who has completed the survey and continued to support the Edinburgh Study research project over all these years!
The survey will remain open until January 2021 for anyone who would still like to take part. If you have not yet received your personal link, please contact the research team at edinstudy.law@ed.ac.uk

Edinburgh Study Survey Reminder

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The Edinburgh Study survey is live! If you have not yet completed your survey, please take the time to help us with this valuable research.

If you have not heard from us but think you may have taken part in the study while at High School, please do get in touch. We may also have sent you a message on Facebook so be sure to check your message requests. » Read more

The Edinburgh Study Survey is Live

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The survey for our newest phase of the Study is out and already we are receiving completed surveys back from our study members! We are so grateful for the time and energy everyone is putting in to help us with this latest research.

If you have not received a link to the survey please do get in touch. Also, if you know a friend who could have participated in the Edinburgh Study in the past, do let them know that the study is running and they can contact us by email.

Everyone who completes the survey has a chance to win a £300 online shopping voucher.

Launching Edinburgh Study Pilot

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We are excited to be piloting the latest survey of the Edinburgh Study with Action for Children this week! This is to make sure that everything works well and that it is as good as it can be.

Once the pilot is complete, we will be sending it out to all of the study members participating in this latest phase of research.

If you think you or a friend took part in the study in high school, please get in contact with us. Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw, with the chance to win a £300 online shopping voucher.

COVID-19 Update

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Old College Quad

COVID-19 Update – The Edinburgh Study

 

We appreciate that this is a time of great uncertainty and so we would like to take this opportunity to update you on our plans for the Study over the coming months.

Contacting the Research Team

Due to current events and government advice regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) we have limited access to our office telephones. We will be able to listen to voicemail messages, however, we will not be able to return any calls for the time being. The easiest way to get in touch with us is by email at edinstudy.law@ed.ac.uk.

Participant Questionnaires

We still plan to send all of our participants their questionnaires within the next few months, so you will hear from us again soon. If you have not provided us with a current email address but are happy to take part in this phase, or have any other questions, please email us at the address above.

Participant Interviews

Given the rapidly changing situation we are uncertain as to whether face-to-face interviews will be conducted in summer 2020. However, we will keep all of our participants up-to-date with Study developments and will be in touch again about the interviews as soon as we possibly can. Please let us assure you, we will always prioritise the health of our participants and our staff, and will be following World Health Organisation and UK Government guidelines.

We thank you all again for taking part in the study and we hope that you remain safe and well during this period.

 

The Edinburgh Study Team

 

 

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