Crime and Consequence

Callum Hutchinson has navigated the criminal justice system since he was 16 years old.  All his crimes were closely connected to alcohol abuse, but not once was it suggested to him that he should address his use of drink. In his essay, Callum describes in extraordinary detail what happened when he was stabbed nine times during a violent assault. He goes on to explain how he was offered an exit ramp from crime. Callum's essay comes from the book Humane Justice, published by the charity Khulisa as part of the Monument Fellowship. You can download the book for free at www.khulisa.co.uk/resources/humane-justice It's produced by the Prison Radio Association. www.khulisa.co.uk www.prison.radio

Brenda Birungi, AKA Lady Unchained, works to prove that there is life after prison. Through her poetry she tells her own personal story, and the stories of those with experience of the criminal justice system. In her essay, she shares her own experiences of kindness in prison. Brenda's essay comes from the book Humane Justice, published by the charity Khulisa as part of the Monument Fellowship. You can download the book for free at www.khulisa.co.uk/resources/humane-justice It's produced by the Prison Radio Association. www.khulisa.co.uk www.prison.radio

Michael Campbell, aka The Tartan Con, served over four years in prisons across the country. He now works in prisons to develop practical solutions, grounded in his experience, to tackle anxiety, stress and frustration. Michael's essay comes from the book Humane Justice, published by the charity Khulisa as part of the Monument Fellowship. You can download the book for free at www.khulisa.co.uk/resources/humane-justice It's produced by the Prison Radio Association. www.khulisa.co.uk www.prison.radio

Mr Gee has performed poetry for two decades. He specialises in running poetry workshops and has vast experience of working in prisons. Perhaps best knows as the 'Poet Laureate' on Russell Brand's infamous BBC Radio 2 show, he's toured the world and had his work featured in The Times and The Guardian. Mr Gee has written a brand new poem exclusively for Humane Justice. Gee's essay comes from the book Humane Justice, published by the charity Khulisa as part of the Monument Fellowship. You can download the book for free at www.khulisa.co.uk/resources/humane-justice It's produced by the Prison Radio Association. www.khulisa.co.uk www.prison.radio

Tanjit Dosanjh is an optometrist. When his father went to prison, he decided he wanted to help people in prison by using his professional skills. He learned of optical labs in California's prisons, and raised enough money to launch an optical training lab inside HMP Standford Hill in 2012. Since then, he's trained 60 prisoners, 45 of whom have secured jobs with opticians.  He also secured optometry contracts with 60 prisons. Spectacles are made by prisoners, which makes the organisation financially self-sustaining. Tanjit's essay comes from the book Humane Justice, published by the charity Khulisa as part of the Monument Fellowship. You can download the book for free at www.khulisa.co.uk/resources/humane-justice It's produced by the Prison Radio Association. www.khulisa.co.uk www.prisonopticians.org www.prison.radio

Jayne Richards works for the criminal justice charity Catch 22. She has won several awards for her work, including an Outstanding Service award presented to her by Princess Anne. In 2005 she received a life sentence and served ten years behind bars. She is serving the remainder on a life licence. Jayne describes in emotional detail what it was like arriving in prison from the courtroom where she'd received her sentence, and her first visit with her baby son. She describes the moments of kindness that stopped her from ending her own life, and shares what she's learnt about crime and justice. This episode contains strong language. Jayne's essay comes from the book Humane Justice, published by the charity Khulisa as part of the Monument Fellowship. You can download the book for free at www.khulisa.co.uk/resources/humane-justice It's produced by the Prison Radio Association. www.khulisa.co.uk www.catch-22.org.uk www.prison.radio

Humane Stories is a brand new series we've made with the charity Khulisa. It tells six stories from people who know life behind bars, through living or working there. They’ll be sharing their own stories of the kindness, hope and compassion that have touched them. These are moving, honest stories which may change your view of life in prison. There are moments of surprise and emotion, there are a few tears, but more than anything these stories will show how simple acts of kindness can change lives – and indeed can save lives. These stories are from a book called Humane Justice, which is available for free at www.khulisa.co.uk. Humane Justice is part of the Monument Fellowship, and is funded by the Woolbeding Charity, formerly known as the Monument Trust.

Tehmina Kazi develops restorative justice with communities and individuals affected by hate crime in London. She works for the charity Why Me, who campaign for greater access for victims of crime to restorative justice throughout England and Wales? Tehmina’s essay is voiced by an actor.

Enver Solomon is Chief Executive of the charity Just For Kids Law. They work to ensure the legal rights of young people and children are respected. Enver talks about the true scale of criminality amongst children, and what we as a society should be doing about it. https://justforkidslaw.org

Mark Alexander is a former student of Rugby School and King’s College London who was imprisoned in 2010 at the age of 22. He has since completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate law degrees in prison, as well as achieving Grade 8 piano. Mark’s essay is being read by an actor. His essay is entitled: The case for decriminalisation.

Steve Shill has been in prison since 2006. Age 49, he’s worked in call centres, he’s managed pubs, and he’s worked for the Ministry of Defence. Steve’s essay is being read by an actor. It’s entitled: Encourage or punish? It sets out some thoughts from behind bars on what constitutes a suitable consequence for people who commit crimes.

Louise Ridley began her working career as a teacher in prisons. She’s now a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Northumbria University. Louise’s essay is Prison: The UK’s largest provider of residential elderly care. It looks at the increasingly urgent question of what we should do with older people who commit crimes. https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/r/louise-ridley/

Gemma Buckland spent twelve years as an advisor to the Justice Select Committee in the UK parliament. This brought her into close contact with those who make decisions on our behalf. She led influential inquiries on prisons, probation, crime reduction and the treatment of young adults and women in the criminal just system. She is now the director of Do It Justice, a research and advocacy consultancy. Gemma’s essay is entitled: How politicians and the public think about crime. It draws from her time in parliament and her insights on the connected thought processes of politicians, the press and the public. https://twitter.com/doitjusticeltd

Ted Smyth works for the Forward Trust, a charity that helps people to break the often interlinked cycles of addiction and crime, and to move forward with their lives. He’s a graduate of the University of Durham, he also holds an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Oxford University. Ted’s essay is entitled: How should we punish crime? It looks deeply into the idea of retribution – questioning whether punishment should play any role at all in the sentences handed out to those who have committed criminal acts. https://www.forwardtrust.org.uk

Dawn Harrison is a Senior Interventions Coordinator for the Changing Lives charity in the north-east of England. Her creative thinking in the fields of arts, culture and heritage underpins her work in the field of criminal justice.  Dawn’s essay is entitled: Releasing your mind from prison. She describes an incredible journey she took with a group of women on probation orders in South Tyneside. https://www.changing-lives.org.uk

David McGuire specialises in working with young and vulnerable people who are in contact with the law, particularly in Spain. He’s the founder of Diagrama Foundation UK, a charity which supports vulnerable people who are experiencing social difficulties. David’s essay is entitled: How to help people who have committed crime to love themselves. It introduces us to a model for managing people in prison which he helped develop in Spain, and which has been remarkably successful. http://www.diagramafoundation.org.uk

Ben Leapman is a former Sunday Telegraph and Evening Standard journalist. He was one of the three investigative reporters whose Freedom of Information requests led to the MPs expenses scandal in 2009. He later received a five-year sentence for an offence unrelated to his work.

Sarah-Jane Baker is a violinist, poet, artist and author who was released from prison in September 2019 after serving 30 years of her life sentence, all of them in men's prisons. She was the world’s longest-serving transgender prisoner. https://www.watersidepress.co.uk/acatalog/Transgender-Behind-Prison-Walls-9781909976450.html

Pauline Crowe is Chief Executive of Prisoners Abroad – a charity that provides humanitarian aid, advice and emotional support to British people detained overseas. In this episode, Pauline gives us her experiences of three contrasting prison cultures from three very different parts of the world. https://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk

Kim Turner works in adult male prisons as a Speech and Language Therapist.  She has researched speech and language therapy through projects based in court, police and prison settings, exploring how vulnerable people access these services. https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/hcs/staff/pgr/turner

Deputy Director of the Prisons Research Centre at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/People/dr-ben-crewe

The Honorable Alex Calabrese has been the Presiding Judge of the Red Hook Community Justice Centre in Brooklyn, New York, for almost 20 years. His court is designed to produce more meaningful and holistic case resolutions and he has been awarded multiple times for his outstanding work. Amanda Berman was a public defender in the Bronx in New York City before joining Red Hook Community Justice Centre as project director. This essay is read by the actor George Bryan. https://www.courtinnovation.org/programs/red-hook-community-justice-center