The Transform Justice Podcast Transform Justice
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- Society & Culture
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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. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.
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Ep31: Justice in crisis - have we lost sight of the public interest?
With prisons projected to hold 94,000 people by March 2025, and new miscarriages of justice emerging each week, it's clear our justice system is in crisis. In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob dive deeper into a handful of the biggest issues facing our criminal justice system today.
Penelope talks us through the single justice procedure, recently brought to mainstream attention in the aftermath of the Post Office scandal. She explains exactly how this system works (or rather - doesn't), how it's failing vulnerable populations, and what can be done about it.
And with multiple justice bills going through parliament, Rob takes a look at exactly what is causing the prison population to keep rising. Is sentencing getting harsher? And what could the Sentencing Council do about it?
Penelope Gibbs @PenelopeGibbs2
Read Penelope's insight on the single justice procedure here:
https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight/should-those-who-allege-harm-prosecute-crimes-against-them/
Rob Allen @RobRobAllen
Read Rob's Transform Justice report 'The Sentencing Council and criminal justice: leading role or bit part player?' here:
https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TJ_November_2020_IA_3.pdf
Further resources
Read Tristan Kirk's most recent coverage on the single justice procedure:
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/single-justice-procedure-magistrates-minister-mike-freer-unfair-convictions-b1142751.htm
Transform Justice
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. -
Ep30: A different lens? Neurodivergence in the criminal justice system
It is estimated that over half the prison population is neurodivergent, including people who are autistic or have ADHD or a brain injury. Is society's failure to understand neurodivergence leading to disproportionate criminalisation?
In this episode, Rob and Penelope are joined by MP and former Lord Chancellor Sir Robert Buckland and Angela Kirwin, criminal justice author. They discuss the factors that cause neurodivergent people to come into contact with the justice system, how they experience prison differently, and efforts to promote neuroinclusion across justice.
Sir Robert Buckland @RobertBuckland
Read the inspectorate report commissioned by Sir Robert here: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/cjji/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Neurodiversity-evidence-review-web-2021.pdf
Angela Kirwin @AngelaKirwinUK
Read Angela’s book ‘Criminal’ here: https://geni.us/CriminalPB
Further resources
Read the User Voice Report ‘Not Naughty, Stupid or Bad’ here:
https://www.uservoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/User_Voice_Neurodiversity_Dec_2023.pdf
Read the Transform Justice report on assaults on emergency workers here:
https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/publication/protecting-the-protectors-do-criminal-sanctions-reduce-violence-against-police-and-nhs-staff/
Read the Transform Justice archive on insights related to neurodiversity here:
https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight-tag/neurodivergence/
Transform Justice
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. -
Ep29: From cells to streets - the revolving door of crime and homelessness
This episode was recorded in October 2023.
Tens of thousands of people are released from prison each year in England and Wales - but many of them return to the outside world without safe and appropriate housing waiting for them. Some are forced into unsafe living situations, others become homeless, and some may even reoffend in order to return to the relative stability of prison.
In this eye-opening episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by philanthropist and prison reformer Edwina Grosvenor and author, former prisoner and Own Merit co-founder Steve Gallant to discuss how and why the justice system is failing prison leavers. They explain how they are taking matters into their own hands by creating positive and supportive spaces for former prisoners to live in as they work to reintegrate into society.
Edwina Grosvenor @EdwinaGrosvenor
Find out more about Edwina’s organisation One Small Thing here:
https://onesmallthing.org.uk/
And learn more about Hope Street here:
https://onesmallthing.org.uk/hopestreet
Steve Gallant QGM @SteGallant
Find out more about Steve’s organisation Own Merit here:
https://ownmerit.org/
Read Steve’s book The Road to London Bridge here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-road-to-london-bridge/steve-gallant/9781399604857
Transform Justice
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. With thanks to Mountford Chambers for use of their space. -
Ep28: Gatekeeping justice - why so few rape cases make it to court
Content warning: this episode discusses reporting and court processes for sexual abuse. No graphic descriptions of sexual abuse are included.
Rape is widely acknowledged as one of the worst crimes someone can commit. So why do so few reports of rape result in a conviction?
In this difficult but important episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by criminologist Betsy Stanko OBE and criminal and human rights barrister Kirsty Brimelow KC dive into the intricacies of the reporting and prosecution of sexual assault in the UK. They discuss whether police, the justice system, or juries are failing victims, and what needs to be done to ensure justice.
Betsy Stanko OBE @BetsyTwicks
Read more about Operation Soteria Bluestone here: https://www.npcc.police.uk/our-work/violence-against-women-and-girls/operation-soteria/
Kirsty Brimelow KC @Kirsty_Brimelow
See Kirsty's bio here: https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/barristers/kirsty-brimelow-kc
Resources
Richard Henriques report: https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/metropolitan-police/other_information/corporate/mps-publication-chapters-1---3-sir-richard-henriques-report.pdf
Transform Justice
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. With thanks to Content is Queen studio. -
Ep27: The Rest is Punishment - why do politicians seem set on ever tougher justice?
Many of our political leaders seem hell-bent on increasing conviction rates as well as sentence lengths for many crimes. But why? In this episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Rory Stewart, former prisons Minister and co-presenter of the Rest is Politics podcast, and Stephen Bush, associate editor at the Financial Times.
We explore how the last few decades of roller-coaster British politics have impacted the criminal justice system, what role the media and public opinion have to play in these contentious issues, and whether criminal justice has become the sacrificial lamb in the long march to Westminster.
This episode was recorded on 8th November 2023.
Rory Stewart @RoryStewartUK
Listen to Rory’s podcast The Rest is Politics with Alistair Campbell here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ysx8g1Iw42gESAtegrFaH
Read Rory’s book here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/442034/politics-on-the-edge-by-stewart-rory/9781787332713
Stephen Bush @stephenkb
Subscribe to Stephen’s award-winning daily newsletter Inside Politics here: https://www.ft.com/stephen-bush
Resources
Justice Committee Report on public opinion on sentencing: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmjust/305/report.html
Longford Lecture: https://www.longfordtrust.org/longford-lecture/next-longford-lecture/
Transform Justice
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. With thanks to Content is Queen studio. -
Ep26: Not the only one? Malkinson & miscarriages of justice
The wrongful conviction of Andrew Malkinson has been making headlines since summer. But did you know that more than 1,500 potential miscarriages of justice are sent to the Criminal Cases Review Commission each year? Even more shockingly, less than 30 of these actually make it back to the Court of Appeal.
In this episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Dr Jon Robins, freelance journalist, and Matt Foot, co-Director of Appeal, to discuss the uphill battle to overturn wrongful convictions, and what happens after someone is confirmed innocent.
Jon Robins @JusticeGap
Read Jon’s book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guilty-Until-Proven-Innocent-Robins/dp/1785903691
Read more about miscarriages of justice here: https://www.thejusticegap.com/category/miscarriages-of-justice/
Matt Foot @we_are_APPEAL
Read more about Appeal’s work on miscarriage of justice cases: https://appeal.org.uk/andy-malkinson
Cases mentioned:
Andy Malkinson
Victor Nealon
Eddie Gilfoyle
Tony Stock
Omar Benguit
Sam Hallam
Transform Justice
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. With thanks to Mountford Chambers for use of their space.