IN-CJ Podcast International Network for Criminal Justice

The IN-CJ Webinar ‘Serious Mental Health – International Challenges for Criminal Justice’ held on 7th May 2024, covered the challenges related to mental illness in the criminal justice system across multiple countries. Dr Coral Sirdifield of the University of Lincoln School of Health and Social Care, facilitated the discussion, which explored the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between various agencies, and the importance of involving individuals with lived experiences in co-designing support systems. The discussion explored the challenges related to mental illness in the criminal justice system, and how they are manifest across multiple countries, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between different support agencies, and the importance of involving individuals with lived experiences in co-designing support systems.

International Challenges in Criminal Justice and Mental Health

Tonya Van Deinse, a research associate professor at the University of North Carolina, gave an overview presentation on serious mental illness and challenges for the criminal justice system internationally.  Tonya, with her background in mental health treatment, discussed the high rates of serious mental illnesses among people who generally interwact with the criminal justice system, and the need for system-level interventions. She emphasised the complexity of the issue, including cultural, sociopolitical, and legal contexts.

Tonya also touched on the different ways mental disorders are diagnosed and the need to consider severity and chronicity. She highlighted the disproportionate contact of people with mental illnesses with the criminal justice system and stressed the importance of addressing system-level challenges related to mental health. She outlined the topics for the upcoming discussion, including the nature of serious mental illness, the needs of people with serious mental illnesses, and the challenges faced by justice systems.

Tonya discussed the challenges faced by individuals with serious mental illnesses in the criminal legal system, emphasising the need for a multi-level approach to interventions addressing various contextual factors. She suggested utilising a sequential intercept model to promote collaboration across different systems and highlighted the importance of addressing the needs of individuals with mental illnesses before they come into contact with the criminal justice system. Tonya also underscored the necessity of organisational capacity, including screening, assessment, and follow-up processes, as well as the training of corrections officers and community supervision officers. She emphasised the need for a balance between public safety and the provision of treatment for individuals with mental illnesses.

Panel Views

After Tonya presented her work, the panel, consisting of Coral, Charlie and Shelley discussed the implications of Tonya’s concerns. Shelley, who is based in Victoria, Australia and has experience in forensic mental health, shared her views on issues that resonated with Tonya’s presentation. These included shared complexity in dealing with the nexus between serious mental illness and criminal justice, stigma, issues of intersectionality, significant overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in detention, workforce challenges, and privatisation. Charlie from the UK expressed his interest in learning more about community correctional services in Australia.

Charlie went on to discuss the results of a survey on probation services across Europe, with a focus on mental health policies and suicide rates. He noted that many European countries did not record suicide rates in community probation services, despite high rates. He emphasised the need for comprehensive mental health training for probation ...

In this episode of  the IN-CJ podcast, John Scott explores the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) report, Digital Rehabilitation in Prisons, that examines the integration of digital technologies in prison rehabilitation processes. The episode features a panel of authors and developers of the report, who share their insights and experiences from the project.

The “Digital Rehabilitation in Prisons” report was authored by Victoria Knight and Stuart Ross, who served as consultants for the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). Their work was expertly guided and edited by Mana Yamamoto, Matthew Burnett-Stuart, and Alice Roberti, ensuring a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of digital technologies in the context of prison rehabilitation. These contributors played pivotal roles in shaping the research and bringing valuable insights to the study.

The discussion covers the origins and motivations behind the report, aiming to use digital solutions to support the rehabilitation of prisoners. The panelists explain the structure of the report and discuss its key sections, which include ethical considerations, implementation challenges, and the potential impacts of digital technologies on prisoners’ rehabilitation.

John explores who the report targets, including policymakers, prison administrators, and criminal justice professionals, and hears about specific recommendations for good practices in digital rehabilitation. The episode also touches on the future directions the project may take, based on the findings and feedback from initial implementations.

This conversation is valuable for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, justice, and rehabilitation, providing a clear overview of how digital tools can support prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

On the 1st of March, 2024, the Department of Criminology at De Montfort University hosted a workshop at Heritage House, Leicester, for MA students in Criminal Justice Leadership, led by Roz Morrison. The session, facilitated by Sara Ciucci, John Scott, and Rob Watson, from the International Network for Criminal Justice (IN-CJ), aimed to explore the motivations behind pursuing leadership roles in the criminal justice system. Our objective was to understand these motivations and to share them through a podcast, hoping to inspire future participants and provide insights into the field.

Starting Conversations: The Ice-Breaker

The workshop began with an ice-breaker activity, designed to encourage participants to share their personal motivations for their interest in criminal justice. By asking questions such as “What motivated you to pursue a career in criminal justice?” and “What is one challenge you believe the criminal justice system faces?”, we aimed to initiate discussions that would continue throughout the day, cantered around the themes of leadership, engagement, and the impact individuals hope to have in the field.

Collaborative Thinking: The Brainstorming Session

Following the icebreaker, we moved into a brainstorming session where participants worked in groups to generate questions for the podcast. This session allowed for the pooling of diverse perspectives and encouraged participants to think about the broader implications of their work and aspirations in criminal justice.

Understanding Motivations: The Six Category Interventions

A key part of the workshop was the discussion facilitated by the Six Category Intervention Analysis. This part of the session was structured to help participants reflect on their motivations and aspirations within criminal justice. The discussion alternated between different modes of engagement, ranging from sharing personal experiences to proposing changes in the field based on those motivations.

Recording Insights: The Podcast Session

The workshop culminated in an audio recording session, where participants recorded discussions based on insights gathered throughout the day. The podcast aimed to capture the essence of the workshop’s discussions, providing a resource for both current and prospective students interested in the field of criminal justice.

Reflecting on the Day: Final Thoughts

The workshop concluded with a reflection and sharing session. Participants revisited the motivations shared by their peers, providing an opportunity to reflect on their own motivations in light of the day’s discussions. This session served not just as a close to the workshop but as a starting point for continued dialogue about motivations in pursuing careers in criminal justice.

Conclusion

The workshop at DMU aimed to explore and understand the diverse motivations behind pursuing leadership roles in criminal justice, culminating in the creation of a podcast. Through a series of discussions and activities, participants were encouraged to share and reflect on their personal motivations and aspirations. The podcast, to be shared on the DMU and IN-CJ websites, stands as a record of these discussions, offering insights into the motivations driving individuals towards the criminal justice field.

The day was an opportunity for participants to engage deeply with their motivations and to consider the broader implications of their aspirations in the field of criminal justice. It highlighted the importance of dialogue, reflection, and the sharing of diverse perspectives in understanding and advancing in the field.

Leadership in Criminal Justice is changing and adapting to a new set of circumstances that are increasingly international in scope, bourne by the introduction of new technologies, and built on the realisation that what works must be examined holistically and developmentally. In this episode of the IN-CJ podcast, John Scott talks with Jana Špero and Gustav Tallving about their leadership roles in criminal justice support organisations that work across Europe.

Jana Špero took office as the Secretary General of the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) on September 1, 2022, becoming the eleventh person to hold this position. Prior to this role, she served as the Director-General for Prisons and Probation in Croatia and was a board member and Vice-President of the CEP. She holds a Master of Law degree and is a Master-Specialist of Criminal Investigation.

Throughout her career, Špero has been actively involved in the development of probation services, participating in various activities such as workshops, round tables, and projects. Her expertise has been sought in countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Greece. Furthermore, she has played an integral role in the presentation of the Croatian Probation Service at numerous international conferences and has led various European Union and Norway Grants projects that were aimed at strengthening the Probation Service in Croatia.

Colleagues at the CEP anticipate that Špero will build on the organisation’s existing efforts to establish a robust, ethically oriented, and diverse professional community. Her new role is expected to inspire more women to pursue management careers in the challenging but rewarding field of criminal justice. Špero’s track record as an imaginative, dynamic, and effective leader, combined with her commitment to the worth of probation and its European values, position her as a crucial voice for probation in Europe. She is expected to continue to maintain, promote, and expand the CEP network, stimulate the exchange of knowledge on probation, and partner in relevant EU projects.

Gustav Tallving assumed the position of Executive Director of EuroPris on April 15, 2021. Before taking on this role, Tallving had a rich professional history spanning 17 years in the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, holding various positions over that period. His experience in the field extends beyond Sweden; he has acquired a deep understanding of correctional systems throughout Europe and other parts of the world.

In addition to his domestic work, Tallving also previously collaborated with EuroPris from 2017 to 2019 in a part-time secondment as a policy officer. This experience allowed him to deepen his familiarity with the organisation and its mission.

As he transitioned into the role of Executive Director, he received support from his predecessor, Kirsten Hawlitschek, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of leadership within the organisation. His extensive experience in the field of prison and probation services, as well as his previous involvement with EuroPris, equip him with the knowledge and skills needed to lead the organisation effectively.

Pia Puolakka of the University of Helsinki and Jenni Kaunomäki, who is a researcher at the Prisoners’ Health Care Unit, and is preparing her thesis for the Helsinki University regarding VR assisted therapy with inmates, will share insights from the Finish use of virtual reality to support rehabilitation in prisons. VR has been used for therapeutical purposes, such as assisting with anxiety management, exposure therapy for phobias, relaxation, self-management, skills training and so on. Pia will outline how the latest pilot with the Finish Prison Healthcare Unit is being used to help young antisocial inmates with aggression and problematic behaviour issues. This session will explore how digital services and online consultation for mental health problems are being developed in Finnish prisons.

For the IN-CJ Newsdesk 2023 Kasey Barton, Ywkesha Garvin, Chris Burke, and Jolie Blackmon, are community supervision officers from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. They discussed the introduction of specialised mental health supervision in probation and parole in the community supervision process. They explored the advantages of specialised mental health caseloads in community supervision. They also talked about the ‘consultation component’ and its role in mental health supervision. This session gave valuable insights into the duties of mental health officers, the impact of the caseload on those being supervised, and the reasoning behind the addition of the consultation component.