small bird on barbed wire fence with red sky behind
Bird on wire fence Source: Dimitris Vetsikas via pixabay

Lessons Learned: Engaging with policymakers to challenge penal policy

Penal policy is often driven by public opinion rather than evidence. How do we ensure effective policy, particularly around sensitive issues such as the death penalty?

Penal policy is often driven by assumptions about public opinion rather than by evidence. But public support for the death penalty is usually overestimated – leading to inappropriate and ineffective policy in this area.

Our recent research has looked at public and ‘decision maker’ opinions about the death penalty. Support from Research England’s Strategic Priorities Fund allowed us to engage with decision makers and civil society in Zimbabwe and Indonesia around our findings.

It’s been a great learning experience. Research grants don’t normally support development of policy engagement products – so it was useful to get funding for this. And putting together the materials really helped develop our ability to present research in the concise and compelling way we need to get policymakers’ attention. We always made full copies of the reports available, but also developed short briefings, as we know policy makers are time poor!

The award also helped us to strengthen our relationship with key partners such as the London-based Death Penalty Project, which supports prisoners at risk of execution around the world, and to identify new NGOs and community organisations to connect with in Zimbabwe and Indonesia. Building relationships with such organisations allows us to share our evidence, informs our research agenda, and gives us a stronger voice in the policy arena.

Penal policy is often driven by assumptions about public opinion rather than by evidence. But public support for the death penalty is usually overestimated – leading to inappropriate and ineffective policy in this area.

We used the funding to develop materials that made our research more easily accessible to policymakers. We developed policy materials – including briefing notes, media packs, and infographics – and, crucially, were able to translate these into appropriate languages for our policy audience. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic limited our face-to-face engagement during the grant period (Jan-April 2021), but having the materials meant that we were ready to go when we could finally launch the reports in June 2021.

The grant also allowed us to develop a database with details of the 142 foreign nationals executed or on death row in Indonesia and engage with EU embassies on the issue via an online seminar. The database will be officially launched in November 2022 at a high-profile death penalty event that takes place every 3 years and is attended by all NGOS, governments, policymakers, civil society, academics etc, from around the world.

It’s vital to us that our research is not just seen in academic journals but makes a difference on the ground – so it’s been transformational to have this funding for policy engagement. We’re hoping that the work done under the award will influence revisions to the Criminal Code in Indonesia and abolition of the death penalty in Zimbabwe. And I’m sure the skills and experience we’ve gained will feed into our future policy engagement.”

Carolyn Hoyle is Professor of Criminology, Director of the Death Penalty Research Unit, based in the University’s Centre for Criminology, and a member of the Oxford Policy Engagement Network.