Vivien Stern, Baroness Stern
Encyclopedia
Vivien Helen Stern, Baroness Stern CBE
(born 25 September 1941).
Stern was educated at Kent College
and read English literature
at Bristol University where she graduated in 1963. She was awarded an MLitt in 1964 and a Certificate in Education in 1965.
In 1970 she became a lecturer
in education
, and in 1977 became the director of NACRO
, a post she held until 1996. She was a visiting fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford
, from 1984 to 1991, and was Secretary General of Penal Reform International
from 1989 until 2006. In 1997 she was appointed a Senior Research Fellow of London University, based at the International Centre for Prison Studies in King's College London
.
She was awarded a CBE in 1992 and was raised to the peerage as Baroness Stern of Vauxhall
in the London Borough of Lambeth
in 1999. She has been a member of several parliamentary committees and is currently a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments
. She lists her political interests as criminal justice
, foreign affairs, human rights, international development, penal reform, and prisons, and has written several books, including Creating Criminals: prisons and people in a market society; Bricks of Shame: Britain's prisons; Failures in Penal Policy; Imprisoned by Our Prisons: a programme for reform (Fabian Series); The Prisons We Deserve and A Sin Against the Future: imprisonment in the world.
Baroness Stern is a patron of several charities including the Venture Trust, the Prisoners' Education Trust
, New Bridge Foundation, the Royal Philanthropic Society
, Clean Break, and Rethink.
She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in 1992. She has honorary doctorates from Bristol University, Oxford Brookes University
, the University of Stirling and the University of Edinburgh and is an Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics
. She is married to Professor Andrew Coyle
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 25 September 1941).
Stern was educated at Kent College
Kent College
Kent College, Canterbury is a co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils between the ages of 11 and 18. It was founded in 1885, and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
and read English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at Bristol University where she graduated in 1963. She was awarded an MLitt in 1964 and a Certificate in Education in 1965.
In 1970 she became a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, and in 1977 became the director of NACRO
NACRO
Nacro is a registered criminal justice charity operating in England and Wales. It is not formally linked with Sacro in Scotland or NIACRO in Northern Ireland.-History:...
, a post she held until 1996. She was a visiting fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
, from 1984 to 1991, and was Secretary General of Penal Reform International
Penal Reform International
Penal Reform International was founded in London in 1989, and has members in five continents and in over 80 countries. PRI is an international non-governmental organisation working on penal and criminal justice reform worldwide...
from 1989 until 2006. In 1997 she was appointed a Senior Research Fellow of London University, based at the International Centre for Prison Studies in 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...
.
She was awarded a CBE in 1992 and was raised to the peerage as Baroness Stern of Vauxhall
Vauxhall
-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
in the London Borough of Lambeth
London Borough of Lambeth
The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in south London, England and forms part of Inner London. The local authority is Lambeth London Borough Council.-Origins:...
in 1999. She has been a member of several parliamentary committees and is currently a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments
Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments
The Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments is a select committee of both the House of Commons and House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to scrutinise all statutory instruments made in exercise of powers granted by Act of Parliament...
. She lists her political interests as criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
, foreign affairs, human rights, international development, penal reform, and prisons, and has written several books, including Creating Criminals: prisons and people in a market society; Bricks of Shame: Britain's prisons; Failures in Penal Policy; Imprisoned by Our Prisons: a programme for reform (Fabian Series); The Prisons We Deserve and A Sin Against the Future: imprisonment in the world.
Baroness Stern is a patron of several charities including the Venture Trust, the Prisoners' Education Trust
Prisoners' Education Trust
Prisoners Education Trust is a small national charity, which provides, supports, and argues the case for better learning and educational opportunities for prisoners. The Trust does this through a grants programme which assists over 2,000 prisoners each year to study distance learning courses in...
, New Bridge Foundation, the Royal Philanthropic Society
Royal Philanthropic Society
The Royal Philanthropic Society had its origins in the St Paul's Coffee House in London in 1788 where a group of men met to discuss the problems of homeless children who were to be found begging and stealing on the streets. The Society began by opening homes where children were trained in cottage...
, Clean Break, and Rethink.
She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in 1992. She has honorary doctorates from Bristol University, Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
, the University of Stirling and the University of Edinburgh and is an Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. She is married to Professor Andrew Coyle
Andrew Coyle
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...
.
Review of rape laws
In 2009 Stern was invited by the UK Government to conduct a review of UK rape laws. Her subsequent report http://www.equalities.gov.uk/PDF/Stern_Review_acc_FINAL.pdf has attracted significant approval.External links
- Announcement of her introduction at the House of Lords House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 13 July 1999