Helen Kosc

Helen Kosc is a Doctoral Student at the Sociology Department. She joined upon completing her MSc at Oxford in the 2020-2021 academic year. She is from Toronto, Canada and has extensive experience working with and volunteering for Correctional Services Canada (CSC).

For her Doctoral research, under the supervision of David Kirk, Helen will examine the structural support available to the recently-released, formerly incarcerated inmates in post-pandemic times – focusing specifically on marginalized offenders released during the time of the pandemic.

Helen’s research is motivated by the following questions:

With the Covid-19 pandemic prompting the early release of thousands of inmates each month to fight the spread of coronavirus in prisons (Vose et al., 2020), what do we know about those being released? What kind of structural support is available, if any, to this population during these challenging times? With research showing those released facing heightened anxiety, a higher risk of substance abuse, a higher risk of suicide and a higher risk of domestic violence, due to the strained access to resources and treatment upon their hastened release (Piel, 2020), what is being done to promote safer reintegration? Helen urgently calls for policymakers to re-evaluate the practices that surround re-entry, particularly in times of global crises.

Helen is also a Research Assistant employed by Nuffield College and the Department of Sociology.

Research interests: Criminology; Socio-legal studies; Re-entry & Reintegration; Prison Reform; Criminal Justice Policies & Practice

Education

• Bachelor of Arts - BA University Exchange Bader International Study Centre (2018)
• High School Diploma De La Salle College "Oaklands" (2014 — 2016)
• Music Performance, General The Royal Conservatory of Musi (2007 — 2016)