At forty years of age in 2007 I found myself in prison and received a twelve year sentence for drug trafficking: six in prison six on licence.… Read more “Why I wrote ‘My Life Began At Forty’, by Michael Irwin”
Category: Criminal justice system
The Story of Bo: Abuse, addiction, prison.
Bo’s Story You are eight years old. You have been beaten and humiliated by your stepfather for as long as you can remember. He has moved into… Read more “The Story of Bo: Abuse, addiction, prison.”
Michaela Booth on victims and redemption
Redemption What does it mean to be free? Can I ever be free? For people who want ‘justice’, do they know what justice means, or is justice… Read more “Michaela Booth on victims and redemption”
Locked Away, by Emma Hetherington
Foreword It is my belief that there is always truth in the compassionate perspective. This perspective is sometimes lost in otherwise intelligent, intellectual academic writing. Narratives are… Read more “Locked Away, by Emma Hetherington”
Is There Life after Death?
Is There Life After Death? For the purpose of this blog, the context of this elusive question concerns life after prison. Prison is a death sentence for… Read more “Is There Life after Death?”
On leaving prison: Michael Irwin’s account
My arch nemesis Governor has to sign me out. He quips, ‘Thank God you’re leaving Michael. Maybe now we can get some peace’. My retort ‘I always… Read more “On leaving prison: Michael Irwin’s account”
Interview with Peter Woolf on his journey into Restorative Justice
Peter Woolf is a very good person who spent many years in prison during a chaotic period in his life. Since turning his life around through restorative… Read more “Interview with Peter Woolf on his journey into Restorative Justice”
What the police did to a young Muslim
“Yo yo Jay” “Bless, yeah, bless” Jay replied. Gold and platinum chains, sparkling watch and close cut beard that looks like it had been painted on masked… Read more “What the police did to a young Muslim”
Explicit Consent! Swedish Sex Bill and the Pseudo-Politics of Awareness Raising
Following the #metoo moral outrage, even governments jumped on the wave of awareness raising – awareness not of the problem, but of the idea that the governments… Read more “Explicit Consent! Swedish Sex Bill and the Pseudo-Politics of Awareness Raising”
Interview with Prof Steve Hall on ultra-realist criminology
You’re one of the leading figures in what’s known as “realist” or “ultra-realist” criminology. Can you briefly explain what this means? Ultra-realism is the first genuinely new… Read more “Interview with Prof Steve Hall on ultra-realist criminology”