Welcome to Resolution, the official podcast of the Restorative Justice Council! In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the current restorative initiatives underway in our prisons and the challenges faced in embedding restorative justice into the prison culture.

We’re joined by Jim Simon, Chief Executive of the Restorative Justice Council, and Dr Katherine Doolin from the University of Auckland. Together, we’ll explore the vast potential of restorative approaches within various prison settings and discuss whether certain types of prisoners or facilities are more conducive to these methods. We’ll tackle critical questions such as: How does the type of prisoner—be it young adults or adults—impact the effectiveness of restorative justice? What differences arise when working with remand versus sentenced prisoners, or in high security versus open prison environments?

We’ll also delve into the political landscape of the UK and explore the current appetite among policymakers for adopting restorative practices, and what steps must be taken at the governmental level to empower prison governors to implement a different approach.

Whether you’re a professional in the field of criminal justice, a restorative practitioner, or simply interested in the transformative potential of restorative practices, this episode provides valuable insights into the ongoing journey toward making prisons more restorative. Tune in and learn how we can collectively work towards a more just and rehabilitative prison system!