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.

This thoughtful and evidence‑led episode highlights what women’s problem‑solving courts can teach us about better supporting women in contact with probation, offering valuable insights for PQiPs, practitioners, and anyone interested in developing more responsive and humane justice practices.

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.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro to Probation Perspectives

02:04 Trauma-Informed & Gender-Responsive Practices

05:02 Exploring Problem-Solving Courts

09:47 Environment's Role in Court Experiences

15:06 Probation Officers & Women's Centres

20:00 Effective Communication in Courts

24:53 Collaboration for Better Outcomes

30:08 Reflective Practice Importance

35:13 Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Show notes and readings:

We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice possible.

• Freddie Hunt – Podcast producer

• Jill Dealey – Podcast development and content support

• Lauren Meredith – Logo and jingle development

• Jenn Grant & Michelle McDermott – Management and support

• All of our guests for sharing their expertise and experiences

Here are the details of the resources and readings that were referred to within the episode:

Padmanabhan, K. (2025). Thinking Intersectionally about State Power and Resistance in the Breddon Women’s Center in England. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, jxaf061.

Waite, S., & Rutter, N. (Eds.). (2026). Women, Relationships & Criminal Justice: The Personal and Professional. Policy Press.

Listening to Women, Learning for Justice: A Time to Reflect and Reimagine | Leeds Beckett University Co-authored by Dr Sarah Waite and Dr Alexandria Bradley

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.

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.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Probation Perspectives

02:01 Jennifer Walmsley's Journey into Applied Theatre

06:41 Understanding Applied Theatre in Probation Settings

11:31 The Role of Creativity in Desistance

14:39 Transformative Moments in Creative Activities

20:16 Supporting Probation Practitioners through Creativity

26:07 Reflection, Self-Care, and Vicarious Trauma in Practice

36:06 Cultural Shifts for Better Rehabilitation

Show notes and readings:

We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice possible.

• Freddie Hunt – Podcast producer

• Jill Dealey – Podcast development and content support

• Lauren Meredith – Logo and jingle development

• Jenn Grant & Michelle McDermott – Management and support

• All of our guests for sharing their expertise and experiences

Here are the details of the resources and readings that were referred to within the episode:

Bearface theatre website - https://www.bearfacetheatre.org/

Brene Brown - details about her books and podcasts on this website https://brenebrown.com/

Maté, G. (2022). The myth of normal: Trauma, illness and healing in a toxic culture. Knopf Canada.

Walmsley, J., & Haggar, L. (2025). Creating space for reflection and connection: learning from the creative arts and the third sector. In Reflections on Probation (pp. 134-154). Policy Press.

Waite, S., & Rutter, N. (Eds.). (2026). Women, Relationships & Criminal Justice: The Personal and Professional. Policy Press.

National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance website: https://artsincriminaljustice.org.uk/

Geece Theatre Handbook, details available here: https://www.geese.co.uk/the-geese-handbook/

Kasia Urbaniak (2021) Unbound: A Woman’s Guide to Power. Penguin

Thompson, J. (2012) Applied Theatre, Bewilderment and Beyond. Peter Lang

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.

Andi’s own life story, rising from substance addiction and multiple prison sentences to becoming an influential voice in community justice, shapes his bold perspective on reform. He shares powerful insights on how lived experience deepens practice, why trust is the foundation of desistance, and how bureaucratic systems can hinder genuine connection. Discover practical ways to foster compassion in challenging environments, from prison corridors to probation meetings, and how small shifts in practice can reshape outcomes at every level of the criminal justice system. If you want to see systems through the eyes of those they serve and lead with compassion, this episode is for you.

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.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro to Probation Perspectives

01:45 - Andi Brierley's Youth Justice Journey

06:47 - Building Trust in Probation Practices

13:30 - Challenges in Developing Trust

17:37 - Impact of Prison on Individuals

20:52 - Insights into Justice Systems

27:04 - Adversity, Change, and Growth

32:58 - Reflective Practice in Probation

Show notes and readings:

We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice possible.

• Freddie Hunt – Podcast producer

• Jill Dealey – Podcast development and content support

• Lauren Meredith – Logo and jingle development

• Jenn Grant & Michelle McDermott – Management and support

• All of our guests for sharing their expertise and experiences

Here are the details of the resources and readings that were referred to within the episode:

Brierley, A. (2019). Your honour can I tell you my story?. Waterside Press.

Brierley, A. (2023). The good prison officer. New York: Routledge.

Brierley, A., & Dennehy, M. (2025). The rehabilitation industry: Lived experience and performance. Probation Journal, 72(3), 317-324.

Brierley, A. (2026). ‘I sit somewhere in that sort of sweet spot’: Liminal legitimacy in criminal justice practice. Punishment & Society, 14624745261436432.

Brierley, A., & Best, D. (2025). Desistance habitus: Strategically Using experience in practice. Incarceration: An International Journal of Imprisonment, Detention and Coercive Confinement, 6.https://doi.org/10.1177/26326663241310603

Foucault, M. (2019). Discipline and punish: the birth of the prison. Penguin

Johns, D. (2017). Being and becoming an ex-prisoner. Taylor & Francis Group.

van der Kolk, B. A. (2015). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books