The Transform Justice Podcast

Transform Justice
  • 5.0 (2)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

The Transform Justice podcast throws light on the hidden corners of the criminal justice system. Each episode, we focus on one aspect of the justice system and ask if it’s fair and what can be done to make it better. Transform Justice is a national charity working for a fair, humane, open and effective justice system. Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk Twitter: @TransformJust1 Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

  1. 3D AGO

    Ep59: The Southport Inquiry - where does the buck stop?

    In July 2024, a tragic attack in Southport claimed the lives of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar and irreparably harmed the local community. Almost two years later, an inquiry has been published to try to understand what led Axel Rudakubana to commit these crimes. In this episode, our hosts are joined by Professor Lynn Davies, ConnectFutures, and Selina Wallis, University of Liverpool, to discuss the many missed opportunities to prevent the attacks. We cover how a teenager known to services could fall through the cracks, the changing landscape of extremism in the face of unfettered internet access, and much more. Professor Lynn Davies Emeritus Professor of International Education at the University of Birmingham, and Director of social enterprise ConnectFutures. See Lynn’s University of Birmingham profile: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/education/davies-lynn Read the Manchester Arena Inquiry, for which Lynn acted as an Expert Witness: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/manchester-arena-inquiry-reports Selina Wallis Public involvement and co-production lead in applied health research at the University of Liverpool, including work connected to NIHR ARC North West Coast. See Selina’s University of Liverpool profile: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/selina-wallis Read the Safe by Default Substack: https://saferbydefault.substack.com/p/after-prevent-after-southport Read about the Preventing Mixed Forms of Extremism project: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/sociology-social-policy-and-criminology/research/research-projects/preventing-mixed-forms-of-extremism/ Further resources Read the Southport Inquiry: Phase 1 report here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-southport-inquiry-phase-1-report ‘Known to services’ or ‘Known by professionals’: Relationality at the core of trauma-informed responses to extra-familial harm: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740924001671 Transform Justice Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TransformJust1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@transformjustice.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

    35 min

  2. APR 3

    Ep58: CourtWatch 2.0 - making sense of the magistrates' court

    Are court staff welcoming? Can defendants participate effectively? How is anyone supposed to follow legal jargon? We're back with more insights from our volunteer courtwatchers! In the latest wave of observation, volunteers recorded reflections on more than 2,000 cases and the findings are out now. Rob and Penelope are joined by courtwatcher Rosemin Najmudin and Jessica Jacobson, Professor of criminal justice at Birkbeck, University of London to discuss effective participation, intimidating attitudes from some court staff, perceived racial bias in the courtroom, and much more. Rosemin Najmudin Learn more about courtwatching: https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/focus-areas/courtwatch-london/ Jessica Jacobson Find out more about Jessica's work on procedural justice: https://clinks.org/publication/procedural-justice-courts Further resources Read our courtwatchers' latest findings: Due dignity: how are defendants treated in London magistrates' courts? https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/publication/due-dignity-how-are-defendants-treated-in-london-magistrates-courts/Beyond reasonable delay : efficiency in London magistrates' courts https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/publication/beyond-reasonable-delay-efficiency-in-london-magistrates-courts-2/Sign up to courtwatch across England and Wales: https://transformjustice.eo.page/courtwatchlondon Transform Justice Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TransformJust1⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@transformjustice.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

    34 min

  3. MAR 6

    Ep57: Tackling the taboo of sex offending

    When someone commits a sexual offence, the punishment often extends far beyond the sentence—shaping their lives, and the lives of those around them, for years to come. In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Eppie Sprung, Chief Executive of Next Chapter Scotland, and Belinda Winder, Professor of Forensic Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. Together they explore why sexual offences are treated as a category apart, the evidence behind interventions such as chemical castration, and the impact of stigma by association. Finally, they tackle a difficult question: is ostracising people who’ve committed sexual offences from society really the best way to ensure it doesn’t happen again? Eppie Sprung Find out more about Next Chapter Scotland here: https://www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/ Belinda Winder Belinda is a trustee of Unlock, and co-founder of the Safer Living Foundation. Find Belinda's research here: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/social-sciences/belinda-winder  Transform Justice Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@TransformJust1⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@transformjustice.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

    35 min

  4. FEB 6

    Ep56: Restorative justice - bringing the humanity back to justice

    Restorative justice is one of the most powerful - and least understood - parts of the justice system. Proven to satisfy victims and slash reoffending, it’s justice that’s shaped around the needs of those involved, creating space for accountability, repair, and understanding. Sounds ideal…so why is it so underutilised? In this episode we unpack restorative justice - what it is, how it works, and why it can be so hard to access. Joining us are Paul Kohler, Liberal Democrat MP for Wimbledon and a victim of violent crime who pursued restorative justice in search of answers, and Lucy Jaffe, a justice consultant and leading restorative justice advocate. We discuss what restorative justice looks like in practice, why so few people know about it, and policy proposals aiming to expand access. Paul Kohler MP @PaulKohlerSW19 MP and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Northern Ireland). Read more about Paul’s parliamentary advocacy for restorative justice: https://www.paulkohler.uk/news/article/paul-kohler-mp-pushes-prime-minister-to-invest-in-restorative-justice  And see his amendment to the Victims and Courts bill (in conjunction with Why me? and Calm Mediation) here: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3968/stages/20032/amendments/10027822 Lucy Jaffe Former director of Why me?, current board member of the European Forum of Restorative Justice and restorative practitioner. Read Lucy’s article about how campaigners are shaping restorative justice policy here: https://www.euforumrj.org/putting-restorative-justice-centre-stage-how-uk-campaigners-are-shaping-policy Further Resources Find out how to access restorative justice services here: https://why-me.org/our-work/do-you-want-restorative-justice/  Read more about the restorative justice amendment submitted to the Victims and Courts Bill: https://why-me.org/2025/restorative-justice-amendment-tabled-in-the-house-of-commons/ Transform Justice Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@TransformJust1⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠@transformjustice.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

    34 min

  5. JAN 8

    Ep55: Justice wrapped 2025 - looking back, thinking ahead

    2025 was a busy year in justice policy. In this episode, Penelope and Rob reflect on the reforms, debates and missed opportunities that shaped the past year then look ahead to how current policy work and political priorities are likely to influence the justice landscape in 2026. We talk prisons, courts, criminal records and more. Further Resources Read David Gauke's Independent Sentencing Review, part 1: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c583a868a61757838d2196/independent-sentencing-review-part-1-report.pdf Read David Gauke's Independent Sentencing Review, part 2: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682d8d995ba51be7c0f45371/independent-sentencing-review-report-part_2.pdf Read the Leveson Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/686be85d81dd8f70f5de3c1f/35.49_MOJ_Ind_Review_Criminal_Courts_v8b_FINAL_WEB.pdf Transform Justice Twitter: ⁠⁠@TransformJust1⁠ ⁠⁠⁠BlueSky: ⁠⁠@transformjustice.bsky.social⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

    34 min

  6. 12/12/2025

    Ep54: Rehabilitation in prison - reality or rhetoric?

    Sharing a cell built for one, fearing for your safety, and freezing through the winter—are these really the right conditions for rehabilitation? In this episode, our hosts are joined by Andi Brierley, Senior Lecturer at Leeds Trinity University, and Andrea Coomber, CEO of the Howard League. They discuss what prison life looks like today, whether our prisons doing more harm than good, and what people truly need to move away from offending. Spoiler: it’s not being locked in a cell for 22 hours a day. Andi Brierley Find Andi's memoir here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Honour-Can-Tell-Story/dp/1909976644 Andrea Coomber Read more about The Howard League's concerns: https://howardleague.org/why-are-prisons-overcrowded/ Further Resources Read the Justice Select Committee report: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8678/rehabilitation-and-resettlement-ending-the-cycle-of-reoffending/ Read host Rob's latest podcast on prison population projections: https://reformingprisons.blogspot.com/2025/12/courting-trouble.html Transform Justice Twitter: ⁠@TransformJust1 ⁠BlueSky: ⁠@transformjustice.bsky.social⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

    34 min

  7. 11/14/2025

    Ep53: Hanging up the high vis? Protesters on trial

    What happens when the government turns protest into a crime? New laws aren’t just tightening the rules, they’re redefining who gets to speak out and even who has the right to a defence in court. With thousands of protesters waiting to hear if they’ll be charged with a crime, the message seems clear: dissent now comes at a cost. In this episode, Penelope is joined by Sarah Lunnon, an organiser with Just Stop Oil, and Audrey Mogan, a criminal barrister who has defended protesters in court. Together, they unpack how these new laws are being applied in practice and the impact on direct action groups, individual rights, and the future of protest. Audrey Mogan @acmogan Find out more about Audrey's work at Garden Chambers here: https://gardencourtchambers.co.uk/barrister/audrey-cherryl-mogan/ Sarah Lunnon @slunnon Further resources Read the parliamentary briefing on police powers regarding protest: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05013/ Transform Justice Twitter: @TransformJust1BlueSky: @transformjustice.bsky.socialEmail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

    35 min

  8. 10/16/2025

    Ep52: Locked in limbo - the forgotten IPP prisoners

    The sentence of imprisonment for public protection was outlawed in 2012, but more than 1,000 people are still serving indefinite sentences in prison. Andrew Morris, former IPP prisoner, and Matthew Parris, journalist, join us to discuss why people are still being held under IPP, what impact this sentence has on those who receive it, and what must be done to rid us of the legacy of IPP once and for all. Andrew Morris Read the Howard League's expert recommendations on ending the detention of IPP prisoners: https://howardleague.org/publications/ending-the-detention-of-people-on-ipp-sentences/ Matthew Parris Read Matthew's work here: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/matthew-parris Further resources Read the parliamentary briefing on IPP sentences: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06086/ Transform Justice Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: @TransformJust1 BlueSky: @transformjustice.bsky.social Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Transform Justice podcast throws light on the hidden corners of the criminal justice system. Each episode, we focus on one aspect of the justice system and ask if it’s fair and what can be done to make it better. Transform Justice is a national charity working for a fair, humane, open and effective justice system. Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk Twitter: @TransformJust1 Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

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