In 2014, probation services in England and Wales underwent the most radical shake-up for generations in a part-privatisation process known as Transforming Rehabilitation.

Seven years later, in 2021, these reforms were reversed as the public and private arms of probation were brought back together under a newly-constituted public Probation Service.

In June 2024 a group of people with a wealth of experience of probation gathered for a one-day workshop at Liverpool John Moores University as part of the Rehabilitating Probation project. The workshop aimed to envision what probation services might look like in the future. 

Phil and Paula spoke to several workshop participants, including people who had worked in, studied and been supervised by probation. We released this episode on 15 July 2024.

This was followed up by a second episode on 5 August 2024 with Professor Nicola Carr, then of the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham, and Dr. Matthew Millings from the School of Justice Studies at Liverpool John Moores University. They have played a leading role in the project and reflected on the workshops.

In this final episode, we catch up with Nicola and Matthew, along with Martin Jones CBE, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation, to hear about the outcome of the Rehabilitating Probation project and to reflect on where we are one year after the election of a new government.

Rehabilitating Probation

This is the final of three episodes looking at the future of probation. Rehabilitating Probation was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

Presenters:

Phil Maguire – Chief Executive, Prison Radio Association

Paula Harriott – Chief Executive, Unlock

Producer: Andrew Wilkie

Assistant Producer: Faye Dunn

The Prison Radio Association is a charity that runs National Prison Radio, the world’s first national radio station for people serving prison sentences. We employ people in prison to develop their skills, find their best voices and help them discover ways to lead crime-free lives after release.

To make a donation please visit prison.radio/donate. 

To contact the show, please email podcasts@prison.radio.

Registered Charity in England & Wales 1114760

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