FSSH professor earns federal research award

Earlier this year, faculty of Social Science and Humanities' Dr. Carla Cesaroni was named as one of the recipients of new Insight Grants from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Based on her research, she says there are compelling reasons for Canada to make changes to how it currently imprisons young adult inmates.

“Young prisoners are less able to cope with the stress of incarceration that their adult counterparts,” explains Dr. Cesaroni “Through the anxiety of being deprived of their families and social networks, young adults have generally been found to be involved in more disciplinary infractions, inmate-staff assaults and conflicts with others in prison. We are examining the need for a more age-appropriate correctional policy for young adults.”

Dr. Cesaroni will compare Canadian experiences with those of a group of young adults in the Scottish prison system where there are Young Offender Institutions for 18-to-21 year olds. Research findings will have significant implications for Canadian correctional policy and practice for young adults.

Dr. Cesaroni’s SSHRC Insight Grant is valued at $97,282 over three years.