Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice is a podcast exploring the world of probation, rehabilitation, and community justice. Hosted by Megan Thomas and Ceri Halfpenny from the University of Portsmouth, this series delves into key issues affecting probation practice, featuring expert insights, research, and real-world experiences.

In this episode, we speak with Dr Sarah Lewis, Director of Penal Reform Solutions and Grow Transform Belong. Sarah shares her journey from PSO to reform advocate and researcher, reflecting on the power of therapeutic relationships, the influence of culture, and the role of hope in probation and prisons. She introduces the concept of “Justice 2.0,” a global campaign for cultural transformation, and offers practical insights on managing professional boundaries, ruptures in relationships, and reflective practice. With powerful messages on rehabilitation, lived experience, and emotional resilience, this episode is essential listening for PQiPs, probation officers, and anyone interested in meaningful and humane rehabilitation within the criminal justice system.

Show notes and readings:

We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice possible:

• Freddie Hunt – Podcast producer

• Jill Dealey – Podcast development and content support

• Lauren Meredith – Logo and jingle development

• Jenn Grant & Michelle McDermott – Management and support

• All of our guests – For sharing their expertise and experiences

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:40 Dr Sarah Lewis

04:52 Therapeutic Alliance

08:40 Red & Green Spaces

10:50 Mending Relationships

13:00 Justice 2.0 Launch

16:45 Reforming Prisons

19:30 Advice for Trainees

32:00 Reflective Practice

Here are the details of the resources and readings that were referred to within the episode:

• Penal Reform Solutions: https://penalreformsolutions.com/

• Grow, Transform, Belong: https://www.growtransformbelong.com/

• Albom, M. (2002). Tuesdays with Morrie: An old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson. Crown.

• Akerman, G., Needs, A., & Bainbridge, C. (2017). Transforming environments and rehabilitation. Taylor & Francis.

• Rogers, C. R. (1995). On becoming a person: A therapist's view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

• Wakeman, S. (2014). Fieldwork, biography and emotion: Doing criminological autoethnography. British Journal of Criminology, 54(5), 705-721.

Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice is a podcast exploring the world of probation, rehabilitation, and community justice. Hosted by Megan Thomas and Ceri Halfpenny from the University of Portsmouth, this series delves into key issues affecting probation practice, featuring expert insights, research, and real-world experiences.

In this episode, we speak with Robert McKeon, an Independent Member of the Parole Board, about the realities of parole decision-making and the vital role probation officers play in assessing and managing risk. Rob reflects on the evolution of the parole process, the framework used to assess whether someone can be safely released, and offers invaluable advice for trainee probation officers preparing for oral hearings. We explore key concepts such as risk, reflective practice, and professional curiosity, and discuss how transparency, fairness, and a whole-person approach are critical to public protection.

Chapters

0:00 Introduction

1:24 Robert Mckeon

4:35 Life in Probation

9:15 High-Risk Offenders

13:02 Role of Parole Boards

17:18 Parole Misconceptions

21:46 Success Stories

26:32 Systemic Challenges

41:21 Hopes for Reform

Show notes and readings:

We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice possible:

• Freddie Hunt – Podcast producer

• Jill Dealey – Podcast development and content support

• Rob Hobbs – Technical support

• Lauren Meredith – Logo and jingle development

• Jenn Grant & Michelle McDermott – Management and support

• All of our guests – For sharing their expertise and experiences

Here are the details of the readings that were referred to within the episode:

McKeon, R (2024) Parole: The Fate of Prisoners in My Hands and the High-stakes Risks of Getting it Wrong. Aurum

Gallant, S. (2023). The Road to London Bridge: How I went from a life of violence to stopping the terror attack Fishmongers’ Hall. Seven Dials.

Atkins, C. (2020). A Bit of a Stretch: The diaries of a prisoner. Atlantic Books.

Link to the Parole Board website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/parole-board

Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice is a podcast exploring the world of probation, rehabilitation, and community justice. Hosted by Megan Thomas and Ceri Halfpenny from the University of Portsmouth, this series delves into key issues affecting probation practice, featuring expert insights, research, and real-world experiences.

In this episode, Noreen Wallace from H.M. Inspectorate of Probation unpacks the complexities of addressing domestic abuse within probation services. From defining abuse under the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act to highlighting challenges in inter-agency collaboration and practitioner training, Noreen provides actionable insights for probation officers and agencies working to protect victims and rehabilitate offenders. Tune in to learn about the critical role of professional curiosity, reflective practice, and targeted interventions in achieving meaningful change.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Noreen Wallace

06:44 Probation's Role in Abuse Cases

19:27 Thematic Inspection Insights

23:43 Domestic Abuse Key Insights

26:08 Training & Practitioner Confidence

29:52 Professional Curiosity in Probation

38:02 User Feedback Importance

40:52 Future Directions in Abuse Prevention

44:12 Reflective Practice in Probation

Show notes and readings:

We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice possible:

• Freddie Hunt – Podcast producer

• Jill Dealey – Podcast development and content support

• Rob Hobbs – Technical support

• Lauren Meredith – Logo and jingle development

• Jenn Grant & Michelle McDermott – Management and support

• All of our guests – For sharing their expertise and experiences

Further readings:

Here are the details of the readings that were referred to within the episode

HMIP Effective Practice Guide: Working with domestic abuse

Women's Aid Website: www.womensaid.org.uk

Safe Lives Organisation: www.safelives.org.uk

Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (UK): Legal framework and advancements in domestic abuse prevention. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17