In this week's episode, Edwina speaks to Are Høidal, Senior Advisor for the Norwegian Correctional Service. Are has over 30 years’ experience of being a Governor in Norway’s prison system, first in Oslo Prison, and then in internationally renowned Halden Prison for 14 years. Are was heavily involved in the radical transformation of the Norwegian Prison Service in the 1990s, which led to the dramatic reduction in recidivism which now stands at a world leading 20%.   The changes in the 1990s saw the Norwegian prison service professionalise the frontline workforce and radically change t ..read more

In this episode Edwina explores prison design and architecture. Throughout history prisons have been places purposefully designed to be oppressive and punitive. However today, there is growing consensus that conditions inside prison should not be part of the punishment, and that if custody is appropriate at all, prisons should in fact be spaces that support change and growth. The question remains - can spaces designed to deprive people of their liberty ever be conducive to healing? And to what extent?   In this episode we explore these questions with Yvonne Jewkes, Professor of Criminolog ..read more

In the first episode of our Healing Spaces series, we discuss whether healing spaces within the justice system are possible, and if so, what this could look like.    Edwina speaks with Lilly Lewis, One Small Thing’s Women’s Involvement Advisor about her experiences in the justice system and the importance of considering physical space when supporting women’s recovery from trauma.   In this episode we also meet those involved in the design of Hope Street, our pilot residential community for justice-involved women and their children. Dr Madeline Petrillo, Associate professor of Cr ..read more

Introducing our new series of JUSTICE where we will explore what impact the physical environment can have on those who have experienced trauma. How can spaces be designed to create feelings of safety, and promote healing? And what key design elements do we need to consider when responding to trauma?    Along with expert guests, we will be exploring a variety of physical contexts and why it’s vital that we not only understand the potential physical space can have for hope and healing, but also for harm.   Our JUSTICE podcast series ‘Healing Spaces’ will be out this November. &nbs ..read more

In our final episode in our series exploring motherhood in the justice system, Edwina reflects on what we’ve heard, and looks to the solutions to some of the challenges we’ve explored this series.   Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing, returns to discuss her thoughts and feelings on what she’s heard on the series, and shares what she hopes those listening will take away.   We explore the need to continue to work together across the sector to campaign for reform and hear from Naomi and Sam from Birth Companions on the No Birth Behind Bars campaign. &n ..read more

In this episode we focus on the experiences and voices of children affected by maternal imprisonment. So often children are kept in the dark about what is happening, or their views and wishes are overlooked. This episode contains the voices of children who have been affected alongside professionals working to improve the support available. We hear from Farhana and Tiff who have both been personally affected by their mother going to prison and have also written blogs on this topic for One Small Thing. They both describe experiences of being ignored and overlooked by the professionals ..read more

In this week’s episode, Edwina explores the issues affecting black and racially minoritised mothers in the justice system. She speaks to two researchers at the cutting edge of improving knowledge of these experiences.  Dr Sinem Bozkurt is a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Westminster and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her PhD explored the prison and post-prison experiences of racially minoritised mothers.   Monica Thomas is an ESRC funded PhD researcher at Cardiff University. Monica's PhD research focuses on the experiences of Black mother ..read more

Please note this episode contains discussion of traumatic births and infant mortality that some listeners may find upsetting.  This week we are continuing the exploration of pregnancy and birth in the justice system. In our last episode Edwina spoke with Dr Laura Abbott, a registered midwife and Associate Professor in Research at The University of Hertfordshire, who has extensively researched women’s experiences of pregnancy in criminal justice settings. In this episode we’ll be delving deeper into more of the data around pregnancy in prison, and learning about the lived experience of th ..read more

In this episode, we explore pregnancy and birth in the justice system. What are the experiences of those who enter prison pregnant and are faced with giving birth inside? And what impact does imprisoning pregnant women have on their safety, and their baby’s?   To help us explore these questions, Edwina spoke to Dr Laura Abbott, a registered midwife and Associate Professor in Research at The University of Hertfordshire. Laura’s has extensively researched women’s experiences of pregnancy in criminal justice settings, and is currently working on the Lost Mothers Study Project which will expl ..read more

In this first episode in our series exploring motherhood in the justice system, Edwina sat down with Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing, to discuss some of the key issues and challenges facing mothers in the justice system.    Lilly is a survivor and campaigner on Domestic Abuse who started her campaigning work whilst in prison. After being sentenced in 2016 to 8 years in prison, she began to work with APPEAL as a Women's Justice Ambassador. Lilly also works at WHAG supporting young women at risk of homelessness. In her role at One Small Thing, Lilly ensures ..read more