The wrongful conviction of Andrew Malkinson has been making headlines since summer. But did you know that more than 1,500 potential miscarriages of justice are sent to the Criminal Cases Review Commission each year? Even more shockingly, less than 30 of these actually make it back to the Court of Appeal.

In this episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Dr Jon Robins, freelance journalist, and Matt Foot, co-Director of Appeal, to discuss the uphill battle to overturn wrongful convictions, and what happens after someone is confirmed innocent.

Jon Robins @JusticeGap

Read Jon’s book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guilty-Until-Proven-Innocent-Robins/dp/1785903691

Read more about miscarriages of justice here: https://www.thejusticegap.com/category/miscarriages-of-justice/

Matt Foot @we_are_APPEAL

Read more about Appeal’s work on miscarriage of justice cases: https://appeal.org.uk/andy-malkinson

Cases mentioned:

Andy Malkinson

Victor Nealon

Eddie Gilfoyle

Tony Stock

Omar Benguit

Sam Hallam

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Mountford Chambers for use of their space.

Problem-solving courts have long been hailed as a progressive alternative to traditional punishment. In theory, these experimental courtrooms recognise and address the root causes of crime and humanise those who come into contact with the criminal justice system. And some research shows they lead to better outcomes. But today we ask: are problem-solving courts the answer, or are they a barrier to putting resources where they really need to be?

Hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Phil Bowen, Director for the Centre for Justice Innovation, and Jocelyn Simonson, Professor at Brooklyn Law School. They discuss why problem-solving courts have continued to attract interest, how they measure up to traditional forms of punishment, and where we should focus our efforts if we want to reduce crime.

Phil Bowen @CJInnovation

Read more about problem-solving courts and Phil’s work here: https://justiceinnovation.org/areas-of-focus/problem-solving-courts

Jocelyn Simonson @j_simonson

Order Jocelyn’s new book ‘Radical Acts of Justice: How Ordinary People Are Dismantling Mass Incarceration’ here: https://thenewpress.com/books/radical-acts-of-justice

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

In this experimental episode of the Transform Justice podcast, hosts Penelope and Rob ask each other questions about their areas of expertise. Covering broad ground from prison overcrowding to the court backlog and digital justice, our hosts paint a picture of a justice system in crisis.

This episode asks why can't our justice system cope? And will current proposals help or hinder progress towards a fairer future for justice?

Sign up for CourtWatch London

https://transformjustice.eo.page/courtwatchlondon

Penelope Gibbs @PenelopeGibbs2

Find Penelope's work on courts and digital justice here: https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/podcast-insights/?news_category=insight

Rob Allen @RobRobAllen

Read Rob's blog here: http://reformingprisons.blogspot.com/

Further resources:

Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP/YOI Norwich:

https://imb.org.uk/document/norwich-2022-23-annual-report/

Less is more – the case for dealing with offences out of court:

https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/publication/less-is-more-the-case-for-dealing-with-offences-out-of-court/

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

Abundant evidence shows that the criminal justice system disproportionately impacts minoritised communities, and many reports have made recommendations to tackle discrimination in the courts. Yet racist treatment of lawyers, defendants, witnesses, and even judges by other court actors persists.

In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Abimbola Johnson, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, and Keir Monteith KC of Garden Court Chambers to discuss institutional racism in the criminal justice system and what steps must be taken for the judiciary to become anti-racist.

Abimbola Johnson @BarristerAbi

Learn more about Abimbola's work here: https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/barristers/abimbola-johnson

Keir Monteith KC @gardencourtlaw

Read 'Racial Bias and the Bench', the report Keir co-authored with Professor Eithne Quinn et al, here: https://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=64125

Further Resources

Baroness Casey Review: https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/met/about-us/baroness-casey-review/update-march-2023/baroness-casey-review-march-2023a.pdf

The Lammy Review: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643001/lammy-review-final-report.pdf

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

PLEASE NOTE: This episode contains detailed and sometimes graphic descriptions of domestic abuse.

Although public awareness of domestic abuse has risen in recent decades, it remains a widespread issue. How the police and courts should respond to cases of domestic abuse is a huge topic of discussion within criminal justice, and many feel current processes do not do enough to support survivors.

In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Janika Cartwright, who survived an attempt on her life by her ex-partner and is a passionate advocate for restorative justice, and Jackie Sebire, retired police officer and co-author of Policing Domestic Abuse.

They discuss the nuances of domestic abuse, why people experiencing it may not go to the police, and what needs to be changed to prevent it where possible, and provide a better response to survivors when it does happen.

Janika Cartwright

Read more about restorative justice for domestic abuse and Why Me? here: https://why-me.org/our-work/our-projects/restorative-justice-for-survivors-of-domestic-and-sexual-violence/

Jackie Sebire

Read Police Domestic Abuse: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Policing-Domestic-Abuse-Routledge-Knowledge/dp/0367684152

Further Resources

Project CARA: https://hamptontrust.org.uk/program/cara/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: [email protected]

For resources and support related to sexual assault please visit Helping Survivors: https://helpingsurvivors.org/

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

Should asking for 50p or feeding pigeons land you in prison? In this episode we discuss anti-social behaviour injunctions, and the harsh outcomes that can occur when they are breached. 

Hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Dr Rona Epstein, researcher at Coventry Law School, and James Stark, barrister. They share cases which resulted in disproportionately severe punishment, and question current approaches to anti-social behaviour.

Dr Rona Epstein @CovLawSchool

Read some of Rona’s recent work here: https://www.thejusticegap.com/anti-social-behaviour-law-punishing-the-poor-and-vulnerable/

James Stark @JHASTARKBAR

Read the Civil Justice Council report for which James was on the working party here: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ASBI-final-accessible.pdf

Further Resources

Read Penelope's blog on anti-social behaviour injunctions: https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight/in-praise-of-criminal-courts/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

There are wonderful success stories of people using time in prison to pursue education, learn new skills, and even earn degrees. But the reality of prison education is a lot more complex than many realise. Between staff shortages, waitlists, and limited resources, accessing appropriate education on the inside can be a minefield. In this episode, guests David Breakspear, peer mentor at Revolving Doors, and Ian Merrill, CEO of Shannon Trust, discuss the challenges facing prison education and why it is essential for promoting independence and improving opportunities for people in prison.

David Breakspear @RevDoors

Find David's writing, TEDx talk and more here: https://journeyofareformedman.wordpress.com/

Ian Merrill @Shannon_Trust

Learn more about Shannon Trust's programmes and sign up to volunteer here: https://www.shannontrust.org.uk/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1
Email: [email protected]

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

"Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done." Lord Hewart's oft-quoted phrase is just as relevant almost 100 years on. In this episode, we ask how transparent justice processes are in two courts - the Court of Protection and the Family Court.

Hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Sanchia Berg, BBC radio correspondent, and Celia Kitzinger, co-director of the Open Justice Court of Protection Project to discuss if and why some cases need to be shielded from public observation, barriers to accessing court hearings, and what could be improved to ensure that justice truly is seen to be done.

Sanchia Berg @Sanchia7

Celia Kitzinger @KitzingerCelia

Open Justice Court of Protection Project @OpenJusticeCoP

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1
Email: [email protected]

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

The notorious Post Office scandal saw a thousand people falsely accused of theft or false accounting because of a known computer system bug. The Post Office itself conducted the investigations and prosecutions which left some of its former employees imprisoned or bankrupt. In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Paul Marshall, barrister, and Richard Moorhead, Professor of Law at Exeter University to discuss how and why these events unfolded and why it took twenty years to uncover the truth.

Paul Marshall @cornerstonebarr

Read Paul's professional profile here: https://cornerstonebarristers.com/barrister/paul-marshall/

Richard Moorhead @RichardMoorhead

Read more of Richard's thoughts here: https://lawyerwatch.wordpress.com/author/lawyerwatch/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1
Email: [email protected]

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

More than 12 million people in England and Wales have a criminal record, many for old or minor offences. The vast majority have already moved on with their lives, but for many their criminal record still haunts them, preventing them from gaining employment or developing in their career. In this episode, our hosts Penelope and Rob bring together campaigning expertise from the UK and US contexts to discuss why the criminal records system is unfair and what needs to change. We hear from Jay Jordan, CEO of the Alliance for Safety and Justice in the US, and Chris Stacey, Director of Support and Development at Clinks, about the reality of living with a criminal record and campaigning efforts to build a fairer system on both sides of the pond.

Jay Jordan @misterjayjordan
Find out more about Jay's work and the Time Done campaign here: https://www.timedone.org/

Chris Stacey @ChrisStacey
Find out more about Chris here: https://www.clinks.org/user/117928

Further resources
Join the FairChecks campaign for criminal records reform here: https://fairchecks.org.uk/
Follow the campaign on Twitter @FairChecks

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1
Email: [email protected]

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.