The Forensic Psychology Podcast

Dr. Deborah Lee is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Honorary Associate Professor at University College London. She has specialised in the field of trauma for 35 years and runs the Veteran Mental Health service and trauma services in Berkshire Healthcare. She is a founding board member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation, which is a charity set up to disseminate the...

Dr Dominic Willmott is an Associate Professor in Legal and Criminological Psychology at Loughborough University in the UK and Adjunct Professor in Psychology at SWPS University in Poland. His research primarily investigates bias within criminal legal systems, with a particular focus on jury decision-making in rape trials and the influence (and prevalence) of rape myths on societal&n...

* This episode was recorded in March 2026, prior to Prime Minister Andy Burnham's announcement to the House of Commons that he intended to legislate to resolve IPPs before the end of the current parliament. Dr. Lisa Smith is a Chartered and Registered Forensic Psychologist and she leads the HMPPS Indeterminate Sentence Prisoner (ISP) team for psychology services. Her work focuses on prov...

Jo Lishman-Cook is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Head of Occupational Psychology, Chief Occupational Psychologist for the Ministry of Justice and Deputy Head of the Government Occupational Psychology Profession across the Civil Service. She leads on strategic programmes that strengthen performance across MoJ and HMPPS, including the design of hiring strategies for senior&nb...

Dr Karen Thorne is a Principal Forensic Psychologist in HMPPS, working on the Community Pathway. She's also the Neurodiversity Lead for HMPPS Psychology Services. She has over 30 years’ experience working with complex, high-risk populations across custodial and community settings. Karen has a special interest in neuropsychologically informed assessment, formulation and risk man...

David Prescott is an award-winning, internationally recognised expert in the field of offending behaviour. A mental health practitioner of 36 years and the Editor of Safer Society Press, he is the author and editor of over 20 books in the areas of understanding and improving services to people at risk of offending. He is best known for his work in the areas of understanding, assessing, and tr...

Tony Ward  is a professor of clinical and forensic psychology at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He has published over 490 chapters, articles and books in the areas of male sexual offending and general rehabilitation and practice. Tony is the lead author of several books including  The Good Lives Model of correctional rehabilitation, Theories of sexual   offending  ,&nbsp...

Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen is an Assistant Professor of Forensic Epistemology and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto and an Affiliated Scientist at the National Center for Ontological Research. His work lies at the intersection of psychology, epistemology and law, with research published in top-tier journals such as The Lancet. Rasmus is the author of the book, Psychopa...

Dr. Jennie Bradbury is a BPS chartered and HCPC registered forensic psychologist who has worked in prisons and the community for almost two decades, specialising in assessing and addressing intimate partner violence and stalking, and has a passion for compassionate practice in forensic settings. Jennie's work as a therapist using therapeutic approaches which draw on&n...

Dr. Jo Bailey joined HM Prison and Probation Service in 1992 and has worked with a range of client groups in a variety of settings. Her career has spanned from Psychological Assistant to Head of Profession. In amongst this, Jo found time to complete a  PhD on the release and recall of indeterminate sentenced prisoners. References for all texts cited in this podcast ar...

Nicky Herron  is a Registered Forensic Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience. For 15 years she has worked within Intervention Services, leading the development of several Accredited Programmes. Nicky has been a key figure in the evolution of accredited programmes, seeing their development from being largely risk-focused towards the strengths ...

Lucie Homer  is a Chartered and HCPC Registered Forensic Psychologist and has worked for His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service for 25 years.  Lucie is currently the Regional Lead Psychologist for Wales, overseeing the operational delivery of psychological services across custody and community settings.    Lucie has a particular interest in service,...

Jake Phillips  is Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge where he is the director of the MSt in Applied Penology, a masters course for people working in managerial and leadership roles in the criminal justice system. Prior to moving to Cambridge he worked at Sheffield Hallam University for 12 years. Before doing his PhD – at Cambridge – he worked in various roles in the criminal j...

Professor Theresa Gannon  is a Professor of Forensic Psychology at University of Kent and has worked in forensic psychology practice for nearly two decades in NHS and prison settings.   She has published widely in the areas of rehabilitation, sexual offending and fire setting and has make a significant contribution to advancing theory and practice. References for...

Professor Russell Kolts  is a Professor of Psychology at Eastern Washington University.   An internationally-recognized trainer in compassion-focused therapy (CFT), he has co-authored scientific articles on compassion, CFT, and various areas of psychology, as well as several books, including  CFT Made Simple  and  Experiencing Compassion Focused Therapy from the...

Karen Johnson  is a Registered Forensic Psychologist. She has worked for HM Prison and Probation Service for 17 years.   She is currently the Regional Lead Psychologist in the South-East and East area, where she leads psychology services delivered across 10 Prisons, and the regional probation directorate for the East of England.   Karen is completi...

Dr Louise Bowers  is a HCPC-registered Forensic Psychologist, a BPS Chartered Psychologist, and the Director of The Forensic Psychologist Service, which she co-leads with her business partner, Emma Stevenson.   With over 30 years of post-qualification experience, Louise has worked across a diverse range of settings, including HM Prison and Probation Service, the NHS a...

Dr Jude Kelman  has worked as a forensic psychologist within HM Prison and Probation Service for 30 years. She is the Lead Psychologist for Women's prisons, leading a team of approximately 75 forensic psychologists working across the 12 women's prisons within England and Wales.   She has recently completed PhD at King's College London, examining tr...

Niki Henneberry-Ebb  is a Registered forensic psychologist. She has worked as a psychologist in HM Prison and Probation Service for over 20 years and is a Principal Psychologist in the Midlands.   Niki has specialised in the assessment and treatment of individuals who have committed serious violent offences in the context of intimate relationships and stalking, and ha...

Professor Jason Davies  is a Chartered and Registered clinical and forensic psychologist and a Professor of Forensic and Clinical Psychology at Swansea University and a consultant with Swansea Bay University Health Board.    Jason has worked as a clinician and academic and he is a member of the Ministry of Justice Correctional Service Advice and Accredi...

Sally and Kerensa return for a brand new series of The Forensic Psychology Podcast this Thursday. Presenters: Dr. Sally Tilt and Dr. Kerensa Hocken Producer: Andrew Wilkie Assistant Producer: Richie Makepeace You can follow this podcast on LinkedIn by clicking here . The Forensic Psychology Podcast is a co-production between HM Prison and Probation Service and the Prison Radio Association charity....

Dr Alice Bennett is a Registered Psychologist at HMP Frankland and has worked in the Prison Service since 2006, mainly within discrete units for those who are considered high-risk in high secure prisons. Outside of the prison walls, Alice engages in research and is a journal reviewer. She advocates practitioners publishing work as well as promoting co-working between academia and practice. Dr Rach...

Professor Jo Clarke, PhD., is an internationally acclaimed academic and expert on resilience, and founder of the Petros organisation. Jo learned her craft working as a psychologist in the prison service for over 20 years. She is a regular speaker and trainer, nationally and internationally, on the subject of individual and organizational resilience, and has authored a number of chapters and papers...

Dr. Catharine Booth joined HM Prison and Probation Service in 1997. During her career she has worked with men, women and children in custody and currently works in HMPPS North West Psychology Services. Cath has been involved in the management of serious incidents in prisons for over 20 years as a practitioner and trainer. She acts as a Silver and Gold negotiation advisor (NA) and is involved in tr...

Dr. Lucy Johnstone is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and worked in Adult Mental Health for many years. She has written and lectured widely on critical perspectives in mental health theory and practice. She is a lead author of the 'Power Threat Meaning Framework' (2018). Dr. Jo Ramsden is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead for Yorkshire Humberside Personality Disorder Partners...