News

Senior Research Projects: Fieldwork in Malawi

January 22, 2015

Six Northwestern Law students traveled to Malawi over winter break to participate in a fieldwork project led by visiting clinical assistant professor Adam Stapleton, an attorney and international human rights advisor. The project’s goal is to help alleviate Malawi’s overburdened criminal justice system, which has led to overcrowded prisons and hundreds of prisoners waiting long periods of time to enter pleas and have their cases processed and heard. The Northwestern team met with officials in the Malawian criminal justice system, and gathered data about prisoners who are waiting to enter formal pleas—in some cases, for years. Three of the students will continue the work they started in Malawi as senior research projects during the spring semester.

Malawi officials with Northwestern Law students

The Northwestern Law team with Malawi officials outside the Kanengo Police Station.

Northwestern Law students meeting with Traditional Authority (TA) and tribal leaders outside Lilongwe, Malawi

Northwestern Law students Charlie Holt (LLM IHR ’15), Kristin McCall (JD ’15), and Liam O’ Rourke (JD ’15) meet with the Traditional Authority (TA) and tribal leaders in Njewa, outside Lilongwe, Malawi.

Northwestern Law students meeting leaders in Njewa, Malawi

Northwestern Law students meet with the Traditional Authority (TA) and tribal leaders in Njewa, outside Lilongwe, Malawi.

Law students and paralegals in the Mzuzu Prison in Malawi

Northwestern Law students paired with paralegals from Youth Watch Society (YOWSO) interview remand prisoners in the Mzuzu Prison in Malawi.

Law student and paralegal interview a prisoner.

Charlie Holt (LLM IHR ’15) and a YOWSO paralegal interview a remand prisoner in the Mzuzu Prison in Malawi.

Interview at the Mzuzu Prison in Malawi

Kristin McCall (JD ’15) and a YOWSO paralegal interview a remand prisoner in the Mzuzu Prison in Malawi.

Northwestern Law students paired with Youth Watch Society (YOWSO) paralegals interview remand prisoners in the Mzuzu Prison in Malawi

Northwestern Law students paired with YOWSO paralegals interview remand prisoners in the Mzuzu Prison in Malawi. 

Northwestern Law team with Malawi officials and YOWSO paralegals outside Mzuzu Prison

The Northwestern Law team with Malawi officials and YOWSO paralegals outside Mzuzu Prison, where the group interviewed remand prisoners.

Northwestern Law students on the beach in Chintheche

Northwestern Law students Liam O’ Rourke (JD ’15), Kristin McCall (JD ’15), Julie Bellville (JD ’15), Charlie Holt (LLM IHR ’15), and Barsha Mishra (LLM IHR ’15) on the beach at Chintheche.