Change is possible
My featured image contains the name Yinka 'Lamboginny' Lawanson. Lamboginny is a recording/performing artiste from Nigeria. He is also a humanitarian, in fact, here's a YouTube clip of Lamboginny talking at the recent United Nations World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) conference in New York. Figures in the latest Bromley Briefings, published by the Prison Reform Trust, show … Continue reading The purpose of prison?
In order to influence and enforce long-term, purposeful change to our criminal justice system, we need a co-operative, a togetherness, like never before. The UK justice system, compares somewhat to the system in the USA. In fact, we have quite a lot in common with our American cousins, most things, unlike our respective justice systems, … Continue reading Free Kenneth Foster
I'm not sure if irony is the correct term to use in this instance, because I'm doing exactly what I knew I would be. However, it is my goal, metaphorically of course, to make the walls that surround our prisons, invisible. The taxpaying public, with the hundreds of millions of £££'s spent on our prison … Continue reading A Day to Remember
I've always believed in the proverb 'actions speak louder than words', be them for negative narcissistic reasons or in search of a better life for others and oneself. As we, appear to, head into a season of meetings, seminars and conferences around justice and prison reform , my mind is drawn once again to the … Continue reading Change the record to challenge the perception!!
As you can see by the image I have included below, I am still, eagerly I must say, awaiting delivery of my copy of this excellent collection of poems and drawings by parents and children affected by imprisonment in the UK and abroad which has been edited by Lucy Baldwin & Ben Raikes. I'm fortunate, … Continue reading SEEN & HEARD
Allow your mind to visualise prison, if you can - even if for only the briefest of moments - as a chess board. You have two opposing sides, made up of many: labels? titles? names and so on, or even pieces? Within one arena, all going in different directions. Some more restricted than others, confined … Continue reading Gary Kasparov the learner driver!
For four decades, the U.S. has been engaged in a globally unprecedented experiment to make every part of its criminal justice system more expansive and more punitive. As a result, incarceration has become the nation’s default response to crime, with, for example, 70 percent of convictions resulting in confinement — far more than other developed nations with comparable … Continue reading RIKERS – An American Jail
‘Bird’ just went plural with Kendra Houseman and Dave Breakspear. Dave appeared on our very first episode of Bird ‘Mental Health Behind Bars | Can Lessons be learnt?’ and Kendra came into our lives at episode 3 ‘UK Street Gangs | A Look Inside’. The links to both these podcasts are available at the end … Continue reading 3 Little birds!
Michael Spurr, announced last year that there will be no more public bidding on contracts to build new prisons. Therefore, with an extensive building programme planned, any new prison will be maintained and managed by the private sector. As well as any existing public prison, that may be put out to tender. It has always … Continue reading Facts, fears and fables…part 5
Journey of a reformed man 