I have over 15 years’ experience working with third sector organisations, supporting individuals in both prison and community settings. My work has included prison chaplaincy, addiction support, and community development, with a particular focus on supporting people transitioning from custody. I am committed to developing effective, evidence-informed approaches to breaking cycles of offending and improving outcomes for those who have experienced imprisonment.

I completed my PhD at the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, University of Glasgow. My interdisciplinary research, spanning theology and criminology, examined the role of hope within the desistance process, using qualitative and creative methods to explore how individuals experience and sustain hope during and after imprisonment. This work continues to inform my approach to research, teaching, and engagement.

My research interests centre on crime, justice, and rehabilitation, with a particular focus on desistance, digital desistance, moral communities, and the development of teaching practice within prison education. I am especially interested in the social and emotional dimensions of imprisonment and reintegration, including questions of hope and agency.

SCCJR Profile: Dr Sarah K. McKean - SCCJR