The Criminologist

Joining us all the way from Dublin Ireland, Daryl Mahon's passion and enthusiasm cannot be contained!  If you are unfamiliar with the concept of servant leadership, this is a must listen for you and/or your agency. Private sector, public sector, non-profits, NGO's....leadership is key to successful implementation. Learn all about how servant leadership (or a lack their of), effects outcomes.  We c...

We once again hear and learn from a true subject matter expert! Mr. Kardell Sims shares his lived experiences in the criminal justice system. His pathway into a criminal trajectory and his inspiring story highlighting the milestones and breakthroughs he experienced on his pathway out. Author of Inmate to Inspiration: How I freed myself from self-destruction; and host of The Reentry Journey podcast...

This week's very special guest joins us 6,000 miles away from the nation of Armenia! Arshak Gaparyan is a consultant, trainer, and visionary. He is currently working with the Council of Europe to further develop Armenian Probation Services and mental health care in Armenian prisons.  Arshak Gasparyan is the President of the Social Justice NGO, who's mission is to implement projects aimed at restor...

Trauma and resiliency.  A much needed and timely conversation with Dr. Jerrod Brown of Concordia University in Saint Paul. Dr. Brown shares with us his insights on these topics, as well as some simple self-care strategies we can all embrace if needed.  Learn all about some exciting educational opportunities for those looking to augment their human capital!! Concordia University Saint Paul: https:/...

In this episode, we take a look at the issue of rising crime rates. Are guns on the streets to blame for the increase in crime we are experiencing? How can we leverage what we know about evidence based practices, particularly what we know about criminogenic factors, into the discussion? And what role has the Defund the Police mantra played in this equation?  We discuss all this and more on this ve...

The pathways out of crime are varied and complex. The more we can learn from those who have walked that journey, the more we can help those still on the path.  Pleased to be sharing the experiences of Eddie Flanagan. Eddie joins us from his home in England, to tell us of his pathways into crime and addiction, and how his digital  art work has helped with  his change process.  Edd the Head Flanagan...

In order to best serve vulnerable populations, we need to continue to evolve and make systemic changes. Jonathan Ley, founder of Make Time Count Today, shares his vision and tells us of a new app that has been developed which we be truly transformative.  Technology has brought many changes to the landscape, and the Make Time Count Today app can play a pivotal role in how you and your agencies evol...

We are joined this week by Ryan Buzzard, Founder and CEO @ The W.A.Y. of Sobriety!  Ryan shares his experiences with addiction recovery and his work as a Corrections Reform consultant. Check out his podcast, The W.A.Y. of Sobriety as well! Link below!  https://open.spotify.com/show/0kbSbOeIkTI9dF9dMWm4Pp Nomadic Paddler info: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paddling4change The Criminologist...

This week we are joined by the incomparable David Breakspear! David is a person formerly in prison, and prison reform campaigner.  Hear all about his fascinating journey, from being first arrested at the age of ten, to becoming a TedX speaker, writer, blogger and published author. For David, Education was key in his experience of change. Learn more of his desistance process in this insightful epis...

This week, we dabble in our client origin stories. We often make the mistake of believing the jumping off point for a criminal trajectory begins with their offense. Particularly the offense we may be supervising them for. But the foundations for criminality go back much further than that point in time. Listen and learn as we return to our Risk-Need-Responsivity roots, and reverse engineer some cri...

This week we are joined by Noel Moran, business manager at Penal Reform Solutions  AND founder of Noela Yoga!  Learn all about his incredible journey from a life sentence to motivational speaker, program designer and so much more! Noel has created a unique 10-week mindfulness based program (Noela Yoga), adopting and integrating the principles of growth through creative visualizations, meditation a...

This week we are joined by Phil Maguire, Chief Executive at Prison Radio Association.  He provides insights into the UK's National Prison Radio, and all the great work they do.  More  than simply a radio station, National Prison Radio is making a real impact for justice informed individuals in the UK and beyond!   Radio programs, podcasts, and so much more!  Discover how Phil and his team have tou...

Another trip in the time machine, as we  jump into the future to illustrate how a desisted Patrick Bateman may manifest.  Too often, criminal justice officials view those they serve through the rear view mirror. That is, we interact with clients more so through the lens of what they have done rather  than who they could become. Desistance theorists maintain that envisioning a crime free future sel...

Criminologist Dr. Jeffrey Ian Ross, Professor in the school of Criminal Justice at the University of Baltimore, joins us to talk about Convict Criminology and his most recent co-edited book, Convict Criminology for the Future!  Get ready to learn and be provided with an array of resources if you want to go down this worthwhile rabbit hole! Convict Criminology for the Future text:  Convict Criminol...

Desistance Champions,  this is a must listen!  Dr. Lila Kazemian of John Jay College of Criminal Justice joins me to talk about her book, Positive Growth and Redemption in Prison: Finding Light Behind Bars and Beyond. Desistance, Trauma, Identity, Narrative Scripts...we cover all these topics and more. Tough on crime versus Tough on Criminals? Listen and learn good people...listen and learn.  Book...

Celebrating our one year anniversary in style, as we bring you an inspirational interview with Gethin Jones of Unlocking Potential. Gethin lives for prison reform! He consults, trains and educates those in power so that they can recruit, train and retain a workforce that will feel valued. Unlocking Potential:     http://unlockingthepotential.co.uk/ How to F$%# Up and Still Succeed:  https://www.am...

We do another deep dive into Dr. Ioan Durnescu's Core Correctional Skills Training Kit in this episode! Specifically, the concept of Pro Social Modelling.  Not just identifying and rewarding of pro-social behavior and attitudes, but also challenging of anti-social behaviors and the importance of the probation officer being a role model. Core Correctional Skills Training Kit link:    https://coreco...

One aspect of flipping a client's Condemnation script to a Redemption script involves their ability to envision their desisted self. One way to accomplish this is by way of a tool which we model in this episode. Listen as client Henry Hill helps us model, Three Steps to a Future Crime Free Self!!       The Criminologist Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw1d_twLd7CdnDgS7amNpuQ The Paragon...

Inspired by the great work of Dr. Sarah Lewis (Penal Reform Solutions) and Kam Stevens (Black Arts Media Entertainment), this week we take a look at the importance of Service User Involvement (SUI) in our practices. Please see the links below! Short film my Kam Stevens, Director of Black Arts Media Entertainment:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRNiztnXd_k&list=PLd_uZVwsQmGzxWbjImTUzpco9qJo1LZk...

To illustrate how the CJ system can better utilize proven steps of transformation to promote desistance, we travel into the future to see what a milestone for a  desisted Mia Wallace could look like. No flux capacitor required to travel through time, just sit back and enjoy...and perhaps learn a few things along the way! The Paragon Group  https://theparagongroupllc.com/ The Criminologist Channel:...

Huge thanks to Dr. Shadd Maruna for his inspiration and contributions toward this episode.  We outline his 6-Step approach to behavior transformation. How it has been used by other entities for centuries, and how we utilize it in the criminal justice system...for the worse.  But there is hope for desistance champions.....listen and learn  

Back to take another "bite" out of the 2017 zombie film, The Cured. This film explores many of the themes encountered when formerly incarcerated individuals make attempts at reintegration. Not just another zombie movie, this film is an allegory for the struggles of justice involved individuals attempting to desist from crime....and the hurdles that society throws at them by way of bias, discrimina...

Thrilled to be joined by Dr. Shadd Maruna, Queen's University Belfast! Shadd shares his insights around the topic of desistance from crime and so much more! Some of his projects which we discuss include his book, Making Good-How ex-convicts reform and rebuild their lives, and of course the ground breaking documentary, The Road from Crime. Enjoy this fascinating episode! The Road From Crime:   http...

The 2017 film The Cured explores many of the themes encountered when formerly incarcerated individuals make attempts at reintegration. Not just another zombie movie, this film is an allegory for the struggles of justice involved individuals attempting to desist from crime.....and the hurdles that society throws at them by way of bias, discrimination, and ill will.  Listen and/or watch along as we...

The return of client Henry Hill allows us to model some Problem Solving skills. In particular, those highlighted in Professor Ioan Durnescu's  Core Correctional Skills training kit.  Problem solving techniques are often employed as part of  a broader cognitive behavioral approach. Listen in as we run through the steps with Henry Hill!  Core Correctional Skills:  https://corecorrectional.eu/en/ Int...