Rehabilitating Probation with Professor Matthew Millings and Dr Matt Tidmarsh

In this episode, we examine public protection and Serious Further Offences (SFOs). Dr Andy Williams and Emeritus Professor Mike Nash discuss the challenges of managing individuals assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm, exploring how political pressures and organisational contexts shape probation practice. They highlight the importance of professional curiosity, reflective practice, and inter‑agency collaboration in effective public protection work. The episode also features Dr Dominic Pearson, who shares findings from his research on SFO reviews, examining what they reveal about accountability, organisational learning, and how probation can better support improvement rather than blame. This episode offers a thoughtful and evidence‑informed look at the complexities of public protection and risk management and is essential listening for PQiPs, probation practitioners, and anyone interested in serious harm prevention in community justice. Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice is a podcast exploring the world of probation, rehabilitation, and community justice. Hosted by Megan Thomas and Ceri Halfpenny from the University of Portsmouth, this series delves into key issues affecting probation practice, featuring expert insights, research, and real-world experiences.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Sarah Waite and Dr Alexandria Bradley from Leeds Beckett University to discuss their research on women’s problem‑solving courts and women’s experiences of the criminal justice system. They explore what makes these courts distinct, why gender‑responsive approaches matter, and how communication, meaningful participation, and strengths‑based, trauma‑informed practice can support positive engagement and change for women in contact with probation.

In this episode, we are joined by Jennifer Walmsley, Co‑Director of BearFace Theatre, a Hampshire‑based organisation working exclusively in the local area through applied theatre. BearFace’s work supports people on probation, women in the justice system, and criminal justice practitioners within Hampshire. Jennifer discusses how creative and participatory theatre approaches can open up new ways of understanding identity, agency, and change. The conversation explores how creativity can support desistance, build confidence and resilience, and create space for reflection, not only for people on probation, but also for the practitioners who work alongside them. This inspiring episode shines a light on the human side of rehabilitation and the value of locally rooted, creative practice. It invites PQiPs, probation practitioners, and local justice professionals to consider how creativity can support meaningful change and help people imagine more positive futures.

Most prison officers and probation practitioners overlook a simple truth: trust and genuine human connection are the real keys to reform. Andi Brierley, a former youth justice worker turned academic and editor of The Good Prison Officer, reveals how the most effective practitioners build trust not through protocol or robotic routines, but through empathy, authenticity, and understanding how their own behaviour impacts others. This episode challenges you to rethink the way justice professionals form relationships, because the difference is in how you make people feel.

Most discussions about AI in probation focus on automation, but what if the real opportunity lies in enhancing human connection and ethical practice? In this episode, we uncover how technology like electronic monitoring and generative AI can support, not replace, the vital relational work that defines probation. Join Professor Mike Nellis and Louis Allgood as they explore the evolution of probation technology, from GPS ankle bracelets to speech AI, and reveal how the future of community justice hinges on balancing innovation with moral responsibility. You'll discover the origins and limitations of electronic monitoring, and what lessons Europe offers for ethical implementation. Learn how generative AI like ChatGPT can support professional judgement, active listening, and relationship-building. We discuss practical frameworks for evaluating AI tools to ensure they serve public safety and human dignity, and why meaningful human control is critical in a rapidly digitalising environment. This episode argues that the most effective, ethical probation practice in the digital age remains rooted in human connection, professional judgement, and thoughtful implementation.