Evolving Prisons podcast

42:06

Ray and Vi Donovan's son, Chris, was murdered in 2001. They made the extraordinary decision to meet all three of his killers through restorative justice. They tell us about the heartbreak of losing Chris, navigating the justice system and how it felt meeting each of the three boys responsible. Explore the work Ray and Vi are doing through the Chris Donovan Trust . Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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Coercive control and the pathway to homicide 49:55

8 weeks ago49:55

49:55

This is the 100th episode of the podcast! Thank you for listening and supporting these conversations. Sarah Ellis is a barrister and forensic criminologist with a particular interest and specialism in coercive control, stalking and homicide. She explains the concept of the homicide timeline and how coercive control can escalate over time. Why is coercive control still so often misunderstood or overlooked? What needs to change in the way we intervene? And why do perpetrators of coercive control rarely change? Learn more about the homicide timeline here. Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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Inside the parole board 46:20

11 weeks ago46:20

46:20

Rob McKeon has sat on the parole board in England & Wales since 2012. He's reviewed the cases of over 5,000 prisoners, making decisions on whether they are ready to be released, including those convicted of murder, serious violence and sexual offences. We discuss the biggest signs that a prisoner might be ready to re-enter society, how some prisoners try to sabotage each other’s chances of release, and the emotional weight of making decisions that can change lives forever. You can purchase a copy of Rob's book, Parole, here . Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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Communications Management Units and the toll journalism takes 37:49

14 weeks ago37:49

37:49

Will Potter is an award winning investigative journalist and author. He delivered a Ted talk about secret prisons in America which received millions of views. We chat about these prisons, called communication management units, how Will was able to enter one and the psychological toll that his work as a journalist has taken on him. Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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A GP in prison: the challenge of treating incarcerated patients 58:34

15 weeks ago58:34

58:34

Dr Shahed Yousaf is a GP who works in prison and with the homeless community in England. How is healthcare adapted to reach those without a fixed address? How does he navigate working with imprisoned patients who'd be better served in a mental health facility? What are some of the most surprising things he's seen in prison? And what personal toll has prison work taken on him? You can buy a copy of Dr Yousaf's book, Stitched Up, here . Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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Leaving finance for prison & working with white collar prisoners 40:18

17 weeks ago40:18

40:18

Paul Cosgrove is a former investment banker who later became a prison officer. He tells us about his experiences working with prisoners convicted of financial crimes, the attitude some of these individuals had towards their crimes, some of the most challenging things Paul has had to deal with and how transitioning from investment banking to prison work changed his views on materialism and success. Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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Working inside the UK's first community custody unit for women 1:05:42

18 weeks ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Recorded live, this episode features two prison officers who have worked in one of the UK's first community custody units for women. They share their experiences of transitioning from a male high-security prison in Scotland to working in a facility built on the belief that women should be imprisoned in more trauma-informed, community-like conditions. We speak about the contrasts between working in these vastly different establishments, their views on staff corruption, some of the difficult things they've both had to deal with, and how the job has changed them. Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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High-risk prisoners, Covid-19 & changing values 46:44

20 weeks ago46:44

46:44

Ian West served 35 years in the prison service in England, working in ten prisons and governing four. He tells us about the special secure unit of HMP Belmarsh where he worked with some of the highest-risk prisoners in the country, the difficulties of changing the thinking of some elderly prisoners and what it was like to govern a prison through the Covid-19 pandemic. Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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Working with people imprisoned for sexual offences 48:43

21 weeks ago48:43

48:43

Dr Rebecca Myers was a forensic and prison psychologist in England treating prisoners who had committed sexual offences. She is also the author of the book, Inside Job . Of the individuals in society who admit to being sexually attracted to children, why do some people give in to those sexual compulsions when so many others don't? How does she measure success in this line of work? And how does working with people convicted of sexual offences impact staff? Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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Wildlife biologist becomes a prison officer in a county jail 52:16

22 weeks ago52:16

52:16

Craig Gottschalk was a wildlife biologist who went on to work in prisons for 12 years, first as a prison officer and finally as assistant director. He is now assistant ombudsman, investigating complaints from people in prison. Craig shares the signs to look out for before somebody becomes violent, taught to him from his days as a biologist. He tells us about an encounter with a former prisoner who threatened to kill Craig and his family, and how a chance meeting in a grocery store showed Craig that he was literally saving lives in prison. Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie Email me: evolvingprisons@outlook.com…

Evolving Prisons

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The case of Jodi Jones 49:15

24 weeks ago49:15

49:15

Luke Mitchell is serving a prison sentence in Scotland for the murder of Jodi Jones. He claims he is innocent and numerous documentaries have aired questioning his guilt. Why do some people think he is innocent? How do the media remain respectful of Jodi's family when reporting on these matters? And how might prison be for Luke, since he doesn't accept he committed this crime? I speak with Naomi Channell, a TV producer and independent true crime podcaster, about her deep-dive into this case on her podcast . Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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The other side of imprisonment: how families cope 35:14

25 weeks ago35:14

35:14

Roughly 20,000 children in Scotland experience parental imprisonment each year. But what unique challenges do families of imprisoned individuals face? How do they navigate the emotional and practical realities of life during the Christmas season? I chat with Professor Nancy Loucks OBE, Chief Executive of Families Outside, to explore how the impact of imprisonment extends far beyond the individual behind bars and affects the lives of those left outside. Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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Christmas at Eastern State Penitentiary 39:24

27 weeks ago39:24

39:24

Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, USA, was one of the most famous prisons in the world. How did the prison function in the 19th century and beyond? And how was Christmas celebrated there throughout the centuries? We chat to Damon McCool, the Senior Manager of Programme Development there now that the prison is a tourist site, to find out. Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie…

Evolving Prisons

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Denmark's prisons: beyond the Nordic ideal 50:22

28 weeks ago50:22

50:22

Anne Okkels Birk grew up on the grounds of a prison in Denmark as her dad was a prison governor. She went on to work for the prison service and is now a criminologist. She shares what this experience was like growing up, some of the challenges Danish prisons face, why sending prisoners to Kosovo isn't a good idea and lessons we can learn from the Holocaust and other genocides. Evolving Prisons links Website: evolvingprisons.com Instagram: @evolvingprisons LinkedIn: kaigancarrie Email me: evolvingprisons@outlook.com Photo Credit for Anne's picture in the cover art: Bent Dahl Jensen, Café Exit…

Evolving Prisons

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Family crime and culture shaped me as a prison officer 55:28

30 weeks ago55:28