Parole: Law, Policy and Practice in 2018 MONDAY 2 JULY 2018 10AM – 5.30PM, CAMBRIDGE LAW FACULTY

The law and practice of parole is in transition. Recent judicial decisions and the Government’s review into the law, policy and procedure relating to parole decisions are likely to lead to profound changes. This timely conference will focus on these recent developments and aims to enrich the responses to the Government’s current consultation. The consultation is open until 28 July.

Experts in parole, public law and the Chief Executive of the Parole Board will lead sessions at the Conference, with a panel of respondents. Each session will include time for questions and comments from the audience. Other confirmed panellists include Phillippa Kaufmann QC and Dr Jackie Craissati. The conference will be of interest to academics, legal practitioners, Parole Board members and everyone interested in the future of parole.

Delegate fee: £30 (to cover administrative costs and refreshments)

Book here https://onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/faculty-of-law/parole-law-policy-and-practice-in-2018/parole-law-policy-and-practice-in-2018

 'Life Beyond Crime: What do those at risk of offending, prisoners and ex-offenders need to learn?' was the collection of the responses to the first annual Monument Fellowship question.  There were more than 60 contributions from serving prisoners, ex-offenders, artists, academics and many criminal justice practitioners.  We wanted to hear about their experiences as contributors.  Some of these are given below.

Comments from contributors

“I have found the essays in the book fascinating, inspiring and provocative. I hope to meet more  of the contributors in the future.” Tom Millest, Parole Board

“The book launch … made me feel proud that my experiences might go on to help others feel a little better in some way and your efforts to do the same warm me" Gareth Evans, Cambridge University Institute of Criminology

“The book a fantastic achievement, an important resource for anyone interested in making the prison system safer, more humane and ultimately more effective in promoting better outcomes for its many “stakeholders” Tom Pauk, prison visitor

“It was lovely to be in a room of such inspirational people. It is such things which power me to do the best I possibly can for the people we work with.” Clare O’Sullivan, HMP Frankland

“I found the atmosphere and discussion provocative and emotional, so thank you so much for involving me, I feel very privileged to have play a small part.” Corin Morgan-Armstrong, HMP Parc

“It was a real honour to be a part of the book launch, and great to meet both yourself and Gerard as well as hear more about the work of the Monument Trust. I haven’t yet managed to read all of the contributions, but of those I have read there were many that moved me. I also found the open discussion during the launch very affecting; I think it’s so important to be addressing these themes… from my experience, the prison environment is severely lacking in emotional intelligence/understanding/awareness, and the more we can discuss crime and punishment within this context the better.” Ella Whittlestone, HMP Peterborough

“I thought the event was great and I have already started to promote the book to our postgrad students. Whilst I am still ploughing my way through the contributions, what is immediately clear is that the voices of contributors retain a sense of optimism and authenticity, despite the obvious challenges facing HMPS.”  Paul Hamilton, Nottingham Trent University

“I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and am finding the book so interesting. What a privilege to be part of such a great project.” Ruth McFarlane, Open University

“It was a great event and the book is brilliant, we need more books like this as it shows how many different prospective there are on this subject.” Shirl Tanner, Sussex Pathways

Can you answer our question for 2018?

The Monument Fellowship

The Question for 2017-2018

 

"How can we be a less violent society?"

 

#lessviolentsociety

http://themonumentfellowship.blogspot.co.uk

Centre for Justice Innovation, Clinks, Diagrama UK, Khulisa UK, Koestler Trust,

Lemos&Crane, National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, Restorative Solutions

Please be in touch with your ideas. Would you like to set them out in a piece for our second Monument Fellowship book? Please be in touch at themonumentfellowship@gmail.com

Life Beyond Crime - The Fellowhip is One Year Old: We answer our first year's Question

Life Beyond Crime brings together in an insightful and passionate debate, through prose, poems and pictures the assembled first-hand experience and wisdom of more than 60 contributors responding to the question What do those at risk of offending, prisoners and ex-offenders need to learn?

Contributors include current and former prisoners including the work of artists and poets who have been recognised by Koestler awards; criminal justice practitioners; educators and academics; as well writers from the voluntary and arts worlds including theatre director Phyllida Lloyd, lyricist Sir Richard Stilgoe and sculptor Sir Antony Gormley.

Learning and understanding are discussed in their widest sense, covering not just formal learning and learning skills, but also - and most importantly - learning about yourself, your past and future identity, your family life and your aspirations and role in society.  These types of understanding are explored in the contexts of diversion from crime, young people, adults in prison, and returning to the community. 


For more details:
https://www.lemosandcrane.co.uk/home/news?bid=237912
 
Go to the Koestler Trust Shop to get your copy at £15:

https://www.koestlertrust.org.uk/shop/books/life-beyond-crime/

 

 

And, moving on to 2018 ....

 

The Monument Fellowship

The Question for 2017-2018

 

"How can we be a less violent society?"

 

#lessviolentsociety

http://themonumentfellowship.blogspot.co.uk

Centre for Justice Innovation, Clinks, Diagrama UK, Khulisa UK, Koestler Trust,

Lemos&Crane, National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, Restorative Solutions

 

What do prisoners and ex-offenders need to learn?

Every year, the members of the Monument Fellowship will ask themselves a question and work towards answering it, through the work of each organisation and in working together.

The Monument Trust is also asking all its friends, including present and past grant-holders too, to offer their answers too. In autumn 2017, we will set out the thinking and ideas that emerge at an event, and issue a publication. Please send us 600-1000 words with your thoughts, knowledge, experience and achievements. (for 2018 we will focus on another question.)

What do prisoners and ex-offenders need to learn?

Please write to themonumentfellowship@gmail.com

On 17 October 2016 The Monument Trust Fellowship and its inaugural publication 'Working Together To Improve Criminal Justice' were launched at an event attended by over 50 people and hosted by The Koestler Trust's annual exhibition of art 'We Are All Human'.

Mark Woodruff of The Monument Trust explained the Trust's work and its impact in criminal justice as well as the thinking behind creating an enduring legacy for Simon Sainsbury's aspirations. The Trust wanted to invite 8 organisations (that it had worked with for many years) to form a Fellowship to pursue their particular approaches in concert for the next 5 to 6 years in the hope that they will achieve a momentum and lasting influence greater than the sum of the parts. The Monument Trust believes that their distinctive approaches add up to a comprehensive response to the offender's journey through chances for diversion and taking opportunities for personal change, towards desistance from offending and rehabilitation in society. 

Chief Executive of the Koestler Trust, Sally Taylor talked to Mick and Linda about their journeys from offending and imprisonment. They told their inspiring stories of how they overcame the different challenges they faced.

Gerard Lemos, partner at Lemos&Crane and author of 'The Good Prison'  announced an inaugural question for 2017: 'What Do Prisoners and Ex-Offenders Need to Learn?', responses to which would be gathered from the Fellowship organisations and far beyond, reflecting The Monument Trust's belief that the Fellowship is not exclusive and makes no claim to have all the answers.

In addition to the staff and governing members of the Fellowship organisations - Centre for Justice Innovation, Clinks, Diagrama Foundation, Khulisa, Koestler Trust, Lemos&Crane, National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance and Restorative Solutions - the following organisations were among the well-wishers represented at the event: Geese Theatre, Clean Break, British Board of Film Classification, Leap Confronting Conflict, John Lyons Charity, Changing Paths Charitable Trust, Retired Greyhound Trust, Ministry of Justice, MEAM, Arts at the Old Fire Station, Caritas Westminster, Agenda, Sir John Cass Foundation, Rise Mutual, Catch 22, the Sieff Foundation, Orchestras Live, West London Mission, and Third Sector.

Working Together to Improve Criminal Justice: The Monument Manifesto

Last night at the 2016 Koestler Exhibition at the South Bank Centre, we launched our common manifesto for the Fellowship taking forward the objectives of The Monument Trust as it concludes its fifty year history of grant-making.

We did not wish merely to end our work without leaving something behind that might have a chance of gaining momentum and have a positive and lasting effect into the future. So we set in place a six-year funded Fellowship, working around each of the steps of the Journey of an Offender. Our Fellowship is a concerted effort between:

- Centre for Justice Innovation
- Clinks
- Diagrama Foundation UK
- Khulisa UK
- Koestler Trust
- Lemos&Crane: The Good Prison
- National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance
- Restorative Solutions CIC

and of course The Monument Trust and any who wish to ally with us and support the work.

Download Working Together to Improve Criminal Justice

Each year, we will work round a theme together, answering a question that we will seek answers for across the Fellowship and from all out friends and networks. We will translate this into practice and at the end of twelve months, we will gather the answers and the thinking up into a publication, or an event.

Our question for the next year is: What do prisoners and ex-offenders need to learn? Please visit the sites of any of the Fellowship members to give your answer.