joshua coene
Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar
Media Profile
“Since 1980 prison expansion has transformed the criminal justice system in Anglophone countries. Yet, there has been little research on the political mobilisation that was necessary to secure locations for these new prisons.”
Joshua Coene, is one of fifteen Americans to be granted a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship to Australia in 2007. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and current PhD student in anthropology and history at the University of Michigan, Joshua will carry out his Fulbright research at The University of New South Wales in Sydney.
Joshua’s research, Punitiveness and Prison Expansion in New South Wales, will explore popular support for harsh punishment and the increased use of imprisonment in the Australian state of New South Wales during the 1980s and 1990s.
“The state of New South Wales constructed its first prison of the 20th century, Parklea Prison in 1983. Since then eight new prisons have been opened to accommodate a dramatic rise in the number of people incarcerated during the 1990s. “
Joshua will explore how the state of New South Wales implemented a prison construction program: "Who supported and opposed the construction of new facilities? What factors led some communities to gain prisons while others opted not to locate a prison nearby? What role did crime and the desire for increased penalties play in these debates? How did new prisons refashion the relationship of their communities to the state government and the local economy?"
“My hypothesis is that the academic debates over the benefits that prisons either bring or fail to deliver to communities minimise the level of contestation that occurred when communities considered hosting new prisons. I hope to find out how the new prison was discussed, if it obscured other ideas for regional economic development, and if people believed that the prison would affect perception of their community and its future.” How did state authorities and other supporters respond to criticism and resistance to the construction of new prisons?
When Joshua returns to the U.S. he plans to undertake similar research on prison expansion in the state of Pennsylvania. After completing his dissertation comparing prison expansion policies in both states, he will seek a teaching position in history or anthropology. He will also contribute to ongoing research on criminal justice and social control.
In 2005 Joshua received an International Individual Research Fellowship, and for three consecutive years (2004, 2005 and 2006), he also received a Rackham Regents Fellowship from the University of Michigan. He was a Visiting Scholar at The Australian National University in 2005 while conducting preliminary research for his current project.