Season One - Episode Five

Welcome to Resolution, the official podcast of the Restorative Justice Council! In this special episode, we reflect on topics covered in season two and provide updates on our work in the prison space since we finished recording. Join Jim Simon, Chief Executive of the Restorative Justice Council, and Dr Katherine Doolin from the University of Auckland as they discuss critical issues facing the restorative sector in making restorative justice more accessible across the prison estate. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges traditional views and uncovers the potential of restorative justice to create meaningful change within our prison systems. Whether you’re a criminal justice professional, policymaker, restorative practitioner, or simply interested in contemporary approaches to justice, this episode is a must-listen!

Welcome to Resolution, the official podcast of the Restorative Justice Council! In this episode, we explore the empirical foundations of restorative justice and examine the potential impact of introducing restorative justice into our prison system. Join Jim Simon, Chief Executive of the Restorative Justice Council, and Dr Katherine Doolin from the University of Auckland, as they delve into critical questions such as: Could restorative prisons lead to decreased recidivism rates? Can they alleviate the mounting pressures on our already strained prison system? Together, we’ll review what research indicates about the effects of restorative practices within prison environments. We’ll also discuss any existing gaps in the evidence and what steps must be taken to address them. We’ll share valuable insights gained from our engagements within various prison settings, highlighting significant benefits we’ve observed along the way. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges traditional views and uncovers the potential of restorative justice to create meaningful change within our prison systems. Whether you’re a criminal justice professional, policymaker, restorative practitioner, or simply interested in contemporary approaches to justice, this episode is a must-listen!

Welcome to Resolution, the official podcast of the Restorative Justice Council! In this episode, we delve into the exciting possibilities for developing restorative justice within the prison system, a concept that can reshape how justice is understood and implemented behind bars. Join Jim Simon, Chief Executive of the Restorative Justice Council, and Dr Katherine Doolin from the University of Auckland as we investigate the key opportunities that exist for embedding restorative practices in prisons and discuss specific processes where restorative justice might be effective. As the UK prison system faces unprecedented pressures, we’ll candidly address questions surrounding the feasibility of implementing restorative justice within prison when staff are already stretched thin. We’ll also tackle the common public perception that prisons are primarily for punishment. Is restorative justice just a softer alternative that allows offenders to escape true accountability? We’ll provide compelling insights into why a restorative approach could positively impact crime rates and reduce re-offending, emphasising the potential benefits for individuals and communities alike. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional notions of justice and explores how restorative practices can create a more humane and effective prison environment. Whether you’re a criminal justice professional, a restorative practitioner, an advocate for reform, or an engaged listener, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the future of restorative justice in our prisons. Tune in and discover the transformative potential within our correctional systems!

Welcome to another insightful episode of Resolution, the official podcast of the Restorative Justice Council! In this discussion, we delve into the transformative concept of restorative culture and its potential for reshaping prison environments. Join Jim Simon, Chief Executive Officer of the Restorative Justice Council, and Dr Katherine Doolin from the University of Auckland as we unpack what transformative restorative culture really means, and whether there's a universal strategy for implementing it within prison systems. Throughout the episode, we’ll explore essential questions: How can both staff and prisoners contribute to fostering a restorative culture? And importantly, can the benefits of this approach extend beyond prison walls, influencing communities and societal perceptions of justice? Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that offers fresh perspectives on creating a more humanising and rehabilitative framework in correctional settings. Whether you're a criminal justice professional, a restorative practitioner, a social justice advocate, or just curious about innovative justice models, this episode is sure to inspire and inform!

Welcome to another episode of Resolution, the official podcast of the Restorative Justice Council! In this episode, we dive into the deeply personal experiences of Paula and Wes, who share their unique journeys of accessing restorative justice within a prison setting. We’re joined by Jim Simon, Chief Executive of the Restorative Justice Council, and Dr Katherine Doolin from the University of Auckland alongside Paula and Wes. Paula will recount her challenges in navigating the complexities of the restorative justice process, while Wes will share the positive outcomes he experienced. Together, we’ll discuss what prisons can learn from Paula's experience, identifying key areas that need improvement to better facilitate victims’ access to restorative justice. We’ll also reflect on the factors that contributed to Wes's successful engagement with restorative justice whilst in prison and what steps can be taken to replicate that success for others in similar situations. This episode promises to provide invaluable insights for anyone interested in understanding the practical implications of restorative justice within the prison system. Join us as we hear from two people with living experience of restorative justice and explore how these firsthand experiences can inform and inspire future restorative initiatives, ultimately fostering a more rehabilitative environment within our prisons. Tune in to learn about the power of storytelling and the transformative potential of restorative justice!

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!

Welcome to another season of Resolution, the official podcast of the Restorative Justice Council! In our first episode of this season, we embark on an enlightening journey into the role of restorative justice within the UK prison system. We’re joined by Jim Simon, Chief Executive of the Restorative Justice Council, and Dr Katherine Doolin from the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, who have been leading impactful discussions aimed at uncovering the potential benefits of adopting a restorative culture in prisons. This episode sets the stage for exploring critical questions surrounding the implementation of restorative justice in prison settings. Throughout our conversation, we will delve into the unique ways restorative justice can be applied within a prison setting, distinguishing it from the more traditional frameworks that focus solely on victim-offender dialogues. We’ll explain why we believe it is vital for prisons to embrace restorative practices and highlight the numerous benefits these approaches offer to victims, offenders, and the wider community. We'll also tackle the pressing question: if restorative justice has proven successes, why hasn’t it become more widespread in our prisons? Whether you’re involved in criminal justice, are an advocate for restorative practices, or simply interested in learning how transformative approaches can reshape our prison environments, this episode is not to be missed. Tune in and discover how restorative justice can pave the way for healing, accountability, and a more humane prison culture.

Over the past six episodes we’ve learnt more about what restorative justice is and heard first hand from Gemma and Rob, their experiences of taking part in a restorative process. However, we know that access to restorative services is patchy and the opportunity to participate is not always available. During the final episode of this season, we’ll be exploring what the future holds for restorative justice and what needs to happen to ensure that restorative justice is available to all. 

Once a restorative conference has been concluded it is not the end of the process. For many, participating in a restorative process is an emotional rollercoaster. It is essential that restorative practitioners provide support to both participants during this time. How this looks will of course be determined by the needs of the individuals involved. During this episode we will be exploring what happens once the conference is concluded and will be asking Gemma and Rob, what support they were offered and how effective this was. 

We’ve previously discussed how Gemma and Rob were prepared to take part in a restorative conference but making sure this part of the process is safe and effective requires a great deal of planning. It is also an extremely challenging time for the participants. During this episode we’ll be finding out about some of the practicalities of organising a restorative meeting. Gemma and Rob will also be sharing their experiences of their restorative meeting.