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Venue: Royal Statistical Society, 12 Errol Street, London, EC1Y 8LX

Through this conference we wish to help kick-start the debate about the re-personalisation of the criminal justice system. To do this we would particularly like to have significant involvement from people of influence from the criminal justice sector, people like you. Your involvement will give the outcomes of the day much greater political impact. It will also give ex-prisoners an opportunity to speak directly to decision makers.

It has become widely accepted that recent prison policy has been driven by what is measurable, rather than what is effective. We hope this conference will influence the new government to look at the changes needed to reduce re-offending.

And this boils down to something simple – personal support! While giving prisoners practical skills is obviously important, it is only part of the answer. Prisoners need the motivation to change, and prisoners and ex-prisoners have told us so many times that the thing that gave them motivation when working with us was that we treated them like a person, not a problem. It’s not rocket science.

This conference will follow on from the Close to the Edge booklet sent out earlier this year. Our guest speakers will include international criminologist Shadd Maruna, Director of Clinks, Clive Martin and our trustee and ex-prisoner Sharon Brown.

It is important to note that we do not intend holding a conference in which we tell everyone what they should be doing; we wish to draw attention to the problem, give evidence for it, to inspire people with stories and songs of success, and then ask delegates to come up with suggestions that can be taken to the new Prime Minister for consideration.

Conference Outline

Morning:

Following an introduction from Richard Pendlebury, founder of Changing Tunes, the stage will be given to ex-prisoners who, through songs and stories of their experiences, will set the scene of life in prison and the road to rehabilitation. 

Sharon Brown, once a prisoner who attended our sessions and now a Changing Tunes trustee, will speak from her unique perspective on the subject of 'hope'.

Shadd Maruna Ph.D - Professor of Human Development and Justice Studies at Queen's University Belfast Law School is one of the leading thinkers in the sphere of criminology and rehabilitation. We are excited that Shadd has agreed to close the morning session, speaking on the subject of 'hope; purpose; motivation'. 

Afternoon:

The afternoon will begin with an address from Clive Martin, Director of the organisation Clinks, who support voluntary organisations working with offenders and their families.

Tim Snowdon, the Director of Changing Tunes, will issue a challenge on the urgent need to re-personalise work in prisons, speaking on the theme 'waking up what is lost'.

The second half of the afternoon will be given to a workshop on re-personalising the criminal justice system. In groups, we will have the opportunity to join the discussion and build on thoughts that have been raised throughout the day. Feedback from this session, representing a broad range of experience and perspectives, will be invaluable as we seek to produce a report for government.

Timings:
9:30 Registration and coffee
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch
16:15 Close

For more information and booking, please email Liz at lizt@changingtunes.org.uk

Inform, Inspire, Create, Communicate and Influence