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Scotland

The secret penal system: a panel discussion of benefits and sanctioning in the UK

DESCRIPTION

In 2013, the number of financial penalties imposed on benefits claimants by the Department of Work and Pensions exceeded the number of fines imposed by courts. Our panellists will consider the impact of this ‘secret penal system’, which lacks the checks and balances of the mainstream criminal justice system. They will also consider what powers the Scottish Parliament has to mitigate the impact of these sanctions on benefit claimants in Scotland.

This event is co-sponsored by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research.

Speakers:

Dr Kirstein Rummery, Professor of Social Policy, University of Stirling

Satwat Rehman, Director, One Parent Families Scotland

Dr David Webster, Honorary Senior Research Fellow (Urban Studies), University of Glasgow

Chair:

Dr Sarah Armstrong, Director, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research