Andrew Coyle
Encyclopedia
Andrew Coyle, CMG
is Emeritus Professor of Prison Studies in London University and Visiting Professor in the University of Essex. He is Director of the International Centre for Prison Studies, a post which he also held from between 1997 and 2005. He is a prisons adviser to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Latin American Institute, the Council of Europe
, including its Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and several national governments. Between 2003 and 2010 he was a member of the UK Foreign Secretary's Expert Committee against Torture. He was a founding member of the Task Force of WHO Europe on Health in Prison.
He is a member of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council (UK) and of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
Since 2000 he has been Honorary Professor in the Academy of Law and Management, Ministry of Justice, Russian Federation.
Previously he worked for 25 years at a senior level in the prison services of the United Kingdom
. While in the Scottish Prison Service
he was Governor of Greenock, Peterhead and Shotts Prisons. Between 1991 and 1997 he was Governor of Brixton Prison in London.
Coyle sat on the Inquiry into the murder of loyalist Billy Wright
in the Maze Prison http://www.billywrightinquiry.org/.
The International Centre for Prison Studies, based in the University of Essex, assists governments and other relevant agencies to develop appropriate policies on prisons and the use of imprisonment. It carries out its work on a project or consultancy basis for international agencies, governmental and non-governmental organisations. It makes the results of its academic research and projects widely available to groups and individuals, some of whom might not normally use such work. These include policy makers, practitioners and administrators, the media and the general public. This dissemination is aimed at increasing an understanding of the purpose of prison and what can be expected of it.
Andrew Coyle was appointed by the Council of Europe as an expert to draft the revised European Prison Rules 2006 and has been retained by the Council to draft a Code of Ethics for Prison Staff.
He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
(CMG) in 2003 for his contribution to international penal reform. He is a Fellow of King's College London
(FKC).
He is Vice President of the National Association of Prison Visitors and is a patron of UNLOCK, The National Association of Ex-Offenders
.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
is Emeritus Professor of Prison Studies in London University and Visiting Professor in the University of Essex. He is Director of the International Centre for Prison Studies, a post which he also held from between 1997 and 2005. He is a prisons adviser to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Latin American Institute, the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, including its Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and several national governments. Between 2003 and 2010 he was a member of the UK Foreign Secretary's Expert Committee against Torture. He was a founding member of the Task Force of WHO Europe on Health in Prison.
He is a member of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council (UK) and of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
Since 2000 he has been Honorary Professor in the Academy of Law and Management, Ministry of Justice, Russian Federation.
Previously he worked for 25 years at a senior level in the prison services of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. While in the Scottish Prison Service
Scottish Prison Service
The Scottish Prison Service is an executive agency of the Scottish Government tasked with managing prisons in Scotland...
he was Governor of Greenock, Peterhead and Shotts Prisons. Between 1991 and 1997 he was Governor of Brixton Prison in London.
Coyle sat on the Inquiry into the murder of loyalist Billy Wright
Billy Wright (loyalist)
William Stephen "Billy" Wright was a prominent Ulster loyalist during the period of violent religious/political conflict known as "The Troubles". He joined the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1975 and became commander of its Mid-Ulster Brigade in the early 1990s...
in the Maze Prison http://www.billywrightinquiry.org/.
Research
Coyle’s specialist research interests are human rights in the penal context, international prison reform, prison management, islomania and alternatives to prison. Through his work in the International Centre for Prison Studies he has led research and project activities to develop a body of knowledge, which is based on international human rights covenants and standards, about the principles on which the use of imprisonment should be based and which can be used as a sound basis for policies on prison issues. Under his direction the Centre built up a resource network for the spread of best practice in prison management worldwide which is used by prison administrators for practical advice on how to manage prison systems in a just, decent, humane and cost effective manner.The International Centre for Prison Studies
Andrew Coyle was appointed by the Council of Europe as an expert to draft the revised European Prison Rules 2006 and has been retained by the Council to draft a Code of Ethics for Prison Staff.
Affiliations
He is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Punishment & Society.He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(CMG) in 2003 for his contribution to international penal reform. He is a Fellow of King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
(FKC).
He is Vice President of the National Association of Prison Visitors and is a patron of UNLOCK, The National Association of Ex-Offenders
UNLOCK, The National Association of Ex-Offenders
UNLOCK, The National Association of Reformed Offenders is an independent United Kingdom-based charity, established in 2000 to campaign for the equality of reformed offenders....
.