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:
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
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. Kerry Ellis-Devitt and Carl Hall from Interventions Alliance about domestic abuse and stalking. They explore the evolution of interventions, the importance of evidence-based practice, and strategies to support both victims and practitioners. Tune in for insights into trauma-informed approaches, the 5 typologies of stalkers, and how probation practitioners can foster meaningful change.
Chapters
00:00 Domestic Abuse & Stalking
02:24 Dr Kerry Ellis-Devitt and Carl Hall06:26 Defining Domestic Abuse & Stalking16:30 Trauma-Informed Approaches26:10 Challenges in Rehabilitation31:40 Probation Practitioner Strategies37:50 Final Reflections & Key Takeaways
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:
Link to the Interventions Alliance website: https://interventionsalliance.com
Here are the details of the readings that were referred to within the episode:
Kerry recommended the following readings:
Gadd, D., Fox, C. L., Corr, M. L., Alger, S., & Butler, I. (2015). Young men and domestic abuse. Routledge.
Renehan, N., & Gadd, D. (2024). For Better or Worse? Improving the Response to Domestic Abuse Offenders on Probation. The British Journal of Criminology, 64(5), pp1171–1188, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azae003
Renehan, N. (2024). Foregrounding Meaning and Motive in the Domestic Abuse Perpetration of and Response to Neurodivergent Men. Deviant Behavior, 45(12), pp1682–1697. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2024.2319638
Carl recommended the following reading:
McEwan, T. E., Galietta, M., & Underwood, A. (2024). Treating stalking: A practical guide for clinicians. John Wiley & Sons.
McEwan, T. E., & Pathé, M. (2013). Stalking. In G. Bruinsma, & Weisburd, D. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of criminology and criminal justice (pp. 5026–5038). Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-5690-2_535
Parkhill, A. J., Nixon, M., & McEwan, T. E. (2022). A critical analysis of stalking theory and implications for research and practice. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 40(5), pp.562–583. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.2598
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 Helen Amor, Effective Practice Lead at His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP), about professional curiosity and its key role in probation practice. Helen shares her insights into the skills, challenges, and benefits of being professionally curious and offers practical advice for probation trainees. Join us as we explore how professional curiosity can deepen relationships, improve risk assessments, and enhance practice.
Chapters
00:00 Professional Curiosity
02:40 Helen Amor & Inspectorate's Role
06:37 Grasping Professional Curiosity
14:20 Building Curiosity Skills
19:19 Applying Curiosity & Tackling Issues
31:30 Suggested Resources
Further 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:
HMIP Effective Practice Guides:
Kemshall, H. (2021). Bias and error in risk assessment and management. HM Inspectorate of Probation Academic Insights, 14. https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/12/Academic-Insights-Kemshall-1.pdf
Reflective Practice Resources: HMIP’s Five-Minute Reflection Videos.
Research on Professional Curiosity:
Phillips, J., Westaby, C., Fowler, A., & Ainslie, S. (2022). Putting professional curiosity into practice. Criminal Justice Inspectorates. https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/Academic-Insights-Phillips-et-al.pdf
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 introductory episode, Megan and Ceri introduce themselves, discuss their backgrounds in probation training and academia, and outline what listeners can expect from the podcast. They provide an overview of the probation service, the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP), and the importance of reflective practice. Future episodes will cover topics such as professional curiosity, domestic abuse, and public protection, with expert guests offering valuable perspectives.
Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of probation and community justice, whether you're a practitioner, student, or just curious about the field. Don't forget to subscribe and join the conversation!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:30 Meet the Hosts: Ceri Halfpenny & Megan Thomas
06:45 Understanding the Probation Service
10:15 The PQIP Programme
12:00 Future Episodes & Topics
We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who madeProbation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice possible:
Freddie Hunt – Podcast producer
Jill Dealey – Podcast creator 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
