Understanding immigration detention

This chapter explains in detail each of the six immigration detention centres included in this study and the means by which the research was conducted. It reflects on the barriers to understanding in these complicated sites, while arguing for the importance of applied research within them. Taking each centre in turn it paints a picture of the research context and the participants who included staff and detainees. Issues of trust, understanding, and interpretation are all explored, as well as questions about ethics and responsibility. What do we owe those who let us in? What do we owe those who participate? What are some responsibilities of informed academic critique and what are its limits?