The Criminologist

Joe Arvidson
  • 4.7 (22)
  • Social Sciences
  • Updated Weekly

Host Joseph Arvidson brings criminologist, practitioners, academics and those with lived experiences from around the world together to discuss the age old dilemma of responding to society's criminal element. Merging established correctional policy with emerging desistance models, this show illustrates how adopting a holistic lens and constantly questioning established approaches can best serves justice involved individuals.

  1. 6d ago

    EP 242: Responsivity in Action: LEGO®-Based Interventions with Dr. Jerrod Brown

    In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Jerrod Brown for a fascinating conversation on LEGO®-based interventions with justice-involved populations. At first glance, LEGO® bricks may not seem like an obvious tool for probation, corrections, forensic mental health, or human services. But as Dr. Brown explains, structured LEGO®-based activities can provide a powerful, hands-on way to engage individuals who may struggle with traditional talk-based interventions. This conversation explores the intersection of neurodisability, responsivity, trauma-informed practice, and skill development. Many justice-involved individuals experience challenges related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, autism-related needs, dyslexia, learning disabilities, attention, memory, executive functioning, communication, emotional regulation, and social problem-solving. When these realities are missed, professionals may misinterpret confusion as resistance, poor memory as dishonesty, difficulty following instructions as defiance, or emotional dysregulation as simply "bad behavior." Dr. Brown helps us think differently. LEGO®-based interventions can offer a structured, non-threatening, and highly practical way to help individuals build and practice skills such as: communication cooperation problem-solving emotional regulation perspective-taking frustration tolerance planning and sequencing following directions teamwork confidence and mastery For professionals grounded in the Risk-Need-Responsivity framework, this episode is especially relevant. Risk tells us who to prioritize. Need tells us what to target. But responsivity reminds us that how we deliver interventions matters deeply. If the intervention does not fit the learner, we should not be surprised when the intervention does not stick. This episode challenges us to consider how hands-on, visual, structured, and experiential approaches may help make evidence-informed practice more accessible for the people we serve. A huge thank you to Dr. Jerrod Brown for joining the podcast once again and for continuing to push our field to think more carefully, creatively, and compassionately about effective intervention. For additional questions, Dr. Brown can be reached at: Jerrod01234Brown@live.com Thanks for listening to The Criminologist Podcast. And always remember, There's no them...There's only us.

    54 min

  2. 6d ago

    EP 242: Responsivity in Action: LEGO®-Based Interventions with Dr. Jerrod Brown

    In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Jerrod Brown for a fascinating conversation on LEGO®-based interventions with justice-involved populations. At first glance, LEGO® bricks may not seem like an obvious tool for probation, corrections, forensic mental health, or human services. But as Dr. Brown explains, structured LEGO®-based activities can provide a powerful, hands-on way to engage individuals who may struggle with traditional talk-based interventions. This conversation explores the intersection of neurodisability, responsivity, trauma-informed practice, and skill development. Many justice-involved individuals experience challenges related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, autism-related needs, dyslexia, learning disabilities, attention, memory, executive functioning, communication, emotional regulation, and social problem-solving. When these realities are missed, professionals may misinterpret confusion as resistance, poor memory as dishonesty, difficulty following instructions as defiance, or emotional dysregulation as simply "bad behavior." Dr. Brown helps us think differently. LEGO®-based interventions can offer a structured, non-threatening, and highly practical way to help individuals build and practice skills such as: communication cooperation problem-solving emotional regulation perspective-taking frustration tolerance planning and sequencing following directions teamwork confidence and mastery For professionals grounded in the Risk-Need-Responsivity framework, this episode is especially relevant. Risk tells us who to prioritize. Need tells us what to target. But responsivity reminds us that how we deliver interventions matters deeply. If the intervention does not fit the learner, we should not be surprised when the intervention does not stick. This episode challenges us to consider how hands-on, visual, structured, and experiential approaches may help make evidence-informed practice more accessible for the people we serve. A huge thank you to Dr. Jerrod Brown for joining the podcast once again and for continuing to push our field to think more carefully, creatively, and compassionately about effective intervention. For additional questions, Dr. Brown can be reached at: Jerrod01234Brown@live.com Thanks for listening to The Criminologist Podcast. And always remember, There's no them...There's only us.

    54 min

  3. May 25

    The Missing Story: The Battle for Probation's Public Image with Stephen Pitts & Imants Mozers — Part One

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6980e079-2d08-832c-91e0-4a28660cace1-7" data-turn-id-container= "request-6980e079-2d08-832c-91e0-4a28660cace1-7" data-testid= "conversation-turn-638" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> 🎙️ Episode Show Notes — Part One The Missing Story of Probation with Stephen Pitts & Imants Mozers What is the story probation tells about itself? And perhaps just as importantly… What happens when probation does not tell that story clearly? In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, we begin a powerful two-part conversation with Stephen Pitts and Imants Mozers, co-authors of the new book: 📘 The Missing Story: Probation, Legitimacy and the Battle for Public Understanding This conversation was so rich, timely, and engaging that we decided to release it as a two-part series. In Part One, Steve and Imants help us explore why probation remains one of the most important — yet often misunderstood — parts of the justice system. Too often, the public hears about probation only when something goes wrong. But what is missing from that narrative? The daily work of supporting change. The quiet building of accountability. The role probation plays in desistance. The contribution probation makes to safer communities. And the professional identity of the people doing this work every day. 🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss: ✅ Why probation has a "missing story" ✅ How public understanding shapes legitimacy ✅ Why probation is often defined by failure rather than impact ✅ The importance of narrative in justice reform ✅ How probation professionals can better communicate their value ✅ The connection between legitimacy, trust, and effective practice ✅ Why probation's identity matters — both internally and externally ✅ The role of leadership in shaping public understanding 🌍 Why This Conversation Matters Probation is not simply about monitoring people. It is about supporting rehabilitation, reducing reoffending, building social reintegration, and helping create safer futures. Yet too often, probation is undervalued because its most meaningful work happens quietly — in conversations, relationships, case plans, community partnerships, and moments of human change that rarely make headlines. Steve and Imants challenge us to think differently. They invite us to ask: 👉 Who tells the story of probation? 👉 What story does the public actually hear? 👉 What happens when probation is misunderstood? 👉 And how can the field become more intentional in communicating its purpose, value, and impact? 📘 About the Book The Missing Story: Probation, Legitimacy and the Battle for Public Understanding explores the urgent need for probation to better explain itself — not as a soft option, not as an invisible arm of the justice system, but as a vital public service rooted in accountability, rehabilitation, and community safety. Learn more about the Probation Futures project here: 🌐 www.probationfutures.com There, you can sign up for updates and learn more about the digital book release and related probation-focused conversations from around the world. 🎧 Stay Tuned for Part Two In Part Two of this conversation, we continue the discussion by exploring: 🔹 The importance of including perspectives of people with lived experience 🔹 How probation can become more transparent and credible 🔹 The future of international probation collaboration 🔹 And the next World Congress on Probation and Parole, which will be held in Riga, Latvia 🎙️ Final Thought Probation's missing story is not simply about what probation does. It is about what probation means. And if probation does not tell that story clearly, someone else will tell it for us. 🔗 Connect & Learn More 📘 Probation Futures: www.probationfutures.com 🎙️ The Criminologist Podcast: thecriminologistpodcast@gmail.com 🌊 Learn more about the TIDES Supervision Model: TheTIDESLLC.com And as always… There's no them. There's only us.

    54 min

  4. Apr 28

    Quantum Desistance: How to Shape Behavior Change One Week at a Time

    What if the people you supervise aren't one fixed version of themselves… but multiple possible versions—each shaped by what gets reinforced over time? In this episode, I introduce a practical way to think about behavior change in supervision—what I've been developing as Quantum Desistance. This isn't about physics. It's a lens. A way to understand how change actually unfolds—not through one intervention, but through patterns that repeat, stabilize, and eventually become identity. We build from what you already know: The Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model Desistance theory and identity transformation The role of reinforcement, environment, and relationships And then take the next step: 👉 Moving from managing risk → shaping probability 👉 From behavior → identity 👉 From compliance → coherence You'll hear how this shows up in real supervision using a case example, and how small, intentional shifts can begin to change what becomes more likely for the people you work with. I also walk through a simple, field-tested tool: "Shift the Week, Shift the Self" A structured way to: Map a client's real week Identify patterns that drive behavior Introduce the Three Selves (Working, Feared, Preferred) Apply 1–2 small changes that move behavior—and identity—in a new direction Because lasting change doesn't come from one moment. It comes from what gets repeated. 🔧 If you want to go deeper To learn more about the TIDES Supervision Model, visit: 👉 TheTIDESLLC.com Questions about the "Shift the Week, Shift the Self" tool? 📩 thecriminologistpodcast@gmail.com Or connect with me on LinkedIn. 🎯 Bottom line You are not just managing risk. You are shaping probability. You are helping determine which version of that person becomes real.

    28 min

  5. Mar 30

    EP 238: Making Good—and Staying Good | Paul Doke on Long-Term Desistance

    In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, host Joseph Arvidson is joined by Paul Doke, PhD candidate at Liverpool John Moores University, to explore one of the most overlooked questions in our field: What does it take not just to desist from crime—but to stay desisting over time? Building on Shadd Maruna's groundbreaking Liverpool Desistance Study, Paul's research—"Made Good and Stayed Good"—examines identity, recovery, and belonging among long-term members of Narcotics Anonymous who have sustained desistance from crime and substance use for 5, 10, even 40 years. Together, Joseph and Paul explore: Why the concept of "stable recovery" at 5 years may be incomplete Where long-term desisters go after disengaging from the system The critical role of identity transformation in sustained desistance How Narcotics Anonymous fosters belonging, meaning, and pro-social identity Why lived experience must be centered in desistance research and practice The shift from thinking of people as having "desisted" to actively desisting Paul also shares his own powerful journey—from cycles of criminality and substance use to higher education and doctoral research—bringing a rare and essential perspective as both scholar and lived experience expert. And in a remarkable full-circle moment, Paul reflects on his connection to the original Liverpool Desistance Study—not just as a researcher, but as a participant. This is a conversation about the long arc of change, the power of community, and what it truly means to make good—and stay good. 🔗 Learn More To learn more about applying desistance principles in your own work, explore the TIDES Supervision Model: 👉 https://thetidesllc.com/ 🎙️ Connect with the Show Have questions or want to connect? Reach out through The Criminologist Podcast. 🔑 Final Thought Desistance is not a destination. It is a process—one that unfolds over time, through identity, belonging, and human connection.

    1h 10m

  6. Jan 8

    A TIDES Update & and R-N-R Remix with Brad Bogue!!!

    After a brief production pause, The Criminologist Podcast returns with a powerful blend of updates and reflections — both current and classic!!! In this episode, host Joseph Arvidson shares some exciting developments surrounding the ongoing implementation and development of the TIDES Supervision Model, including: ✅ Recent success rolling out TIDES with Partners in Behavioral Health in Minnesota ✅ Expansion of our training delivery options — now offering both in-person (3-day) and virtual formats for the Initial User Training ✅ The launch of our Train-the-Trainer (ToT) curriculum, designed to support internal agency capacity-building ✅ A heartfelt shoutout to Nicole Kimberley-Staeheli (TIDES Co-Creator) and Heather Young (our newly minted TIDES Trainer) — your dedication is helping this model thrive! 🎯 As part of our collaboration with PBH, we also began integrating the DRAOR assessment (Dynamic Risk Assessment for Offender Reentry), developed by Dr. Caleb Lloyd, as a dynamic complement to TIDES. For agencies seeking a desistance-aligned measurement tool, DRAOR is a game changer. But that's not all... 🔁 In the spirit of "Greatest Hits" and in lieu of a new guest, we're re-releasing a must-hear 2021 interview with the legendary Brad Bogue of J-SAT. Brad offers an unparalleled critique of the Needs Principle in RNR, challenges assumptions around the so-called "Big Four," and presents a re-framing that still stirs discussion today. This is essential listening for anyone committed to evidence-based supervision, differential diagnosis, and the evolution of our field. 📌 Links & Resources 🔗 Learn more about Brad Bogue and J-SAT: https://www.j-sat.com/ 🔗 Explore the TIDES Supervision Model: https://thetidesllc.com/ 🎥 Subscribe to The Criminologist YouTube Channel for bonus content and video drops: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCriminologist Learn more about Partners in Behavioral Healthcare:  Partners in Behavioral Healthcare 🎧 As always, thank you for being part of this growing community. And remember: There's no them. There's only us.

    1h 1m

  7. 11/13/2025

    EP 236: Tech, Truth, and Transformation...A conversation with Kam Stevens!

    In this powerful reunion episode, Kam Stevens returns to The Criminologist—not only as a global changemaker, but as a passionate advocate for lived experience, human dignity, and digital innovation in justice reform. Since first joining us on Episode 40 nearly five years ago, Kam's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. In this conversation, we explore his global justice work through the lens of digital equity, system transformation, and cultural healing. We talk about the evolving landscape of Justice 2.0, the power of elevating lived experience inside systems, and how Kam continues to champion trauma-informed, person-centered approaches to change. We also dive into his latest project—Sphear Music, a Web3-based platform reshaping how music, storytelling, and justice-oriented voices are heard and valued. From frontline reintegration to high-level digital consultancy, Kam invites us to reimagine what true reform can look like—where technology and humanity are no longer at odds, but allies. 🎧 Whether you work in probation, prisons, tech, policy, or the arts—this conversation will move you, challenge you, and inspire action. 🔗 Listen now and join the movement toward systems rooted in connection, equity, and collective growth. Learn more about Justice 2.0 Connect with Kam on Linked In

    1h 27m

  8. 10/11/2025

    Becoming the Brave One: Amanda Carrasco on Surviving Trauma, Embracing Restorative Justice, and Reclaiming Her Voice

    In this powerful episode of The Criminologist Podcast, Joseph Arvidson sits down with author, restorative justice advocate, and survivor  Amanda Carrasco. Her debut memoir, Becoming the Brave One, chronicles her harrowing journey through childhood trauma, systemic injustice, and ultimately,  transformation through healing and storytelling. Amanda opens up about the writing process,  and why accountability, not punishment, should be the cornerstone of a truly restorative justice system. Her work challenges practitioners, policymakers, and survivors alike to imagine a world where courage and compassion coexist. If you've ever wondered what it means to not just survive, but to thrive — this is the episode for you. 📚 Learn More About Amanda Carrasco 🌐 Official Website: amandacarrasco.com 📖 Buy the Book – Becoming the Brave One: Amazon Link 📘 Goodreads: Follow the Book 📱 Follow Amanda on Social Media 📸 Instagram: @amanda_the_brave_one 🎵 TikTok: @amandacarrasco.com 🐦 X (formerly Twitter): @Amanda_Carrasco 🔗 Episode Highlights The emotional and intellectual process of writing Becoming the Brave One Amanda's experience with restorative justice — and why survivors need a voice, not vengeance Advice for justice professionals who work with survivors of complex trauma The healing power of storytelling — and the risks of staying silent 🎧 Connect With The Criminologist Podcast If this conversation moved you, please: ⭐ Leave us a review 📲 Share this episode 🔔 Subscribe for more interviews exploring desistance, neuroscience, trauma, and transformational justice Thank you for supporting voices that matter.

    1h 3m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Host Joseph Arvidson brings criminologist, practitioners, academics and those with lived experiences from around the world together to discuss the age old dilemma of responding to society's criminal element. Merging established correctional policy with emerging desistance models, this show illustrates how adopting a holistic lens and constantly questioning established approaches can best serves justice involved individuals.

Information

  • Creator
    Joe Arvidson
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    241
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Criminologist

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