Does prison work?

To kickstart Season 4 of Crossing Channels, Richard Westcott chats with Alison Liebling, Nicola Padfield and Arnaud Philippe about the growing prison population, the prison experience, and the most effective ways to rehabilitate ex-offenders.
Our experts discuss why the prison population is growing and the similarities and differences across European countries. They share their expertise on the impact of the prison environment and the privatisation of prisons for rehabilitation. They also identify best practices for effectively rehabilitating and reintegrating ex-offenders into society.
This episode is hosted by Richard Westcott (Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus), and features guest experts Prof Alison Liebling (University of Cambridge), Prof Nicola Padfield (University of Cambridge) and Prof Arnaud Philippe (University of Bristol, former IAST fellow).
Season 4 Episode 1 transcript: www.bennettins...
Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform: pod.fo/e/2716d3
For more information about the Crossing Channels podcast series and the work of the Bennett Institute and IAST visit our websites at www.bennettins... and www.iast.fr/.
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With thanks to:
Audio production by Steve Hankey
Associate production by Stella Erker and Burcu Sevde Selvi
Visuals by Tiffany Naylor and Aurore Carbonnel
More information about our host and guests:
Richard Westcott is an award-winning journalist who spent 27 years at the BBC as a correspondent, producer and presenter. Last year, Richard left the corporation and he is now the communications director for Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, both organisations that are working to support life sciences and healthcare across the city. @BBCwestcott
Alison Liebling is Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Cambridge and the Director of the Institute of Criminology’s Prisons Research Centre. She has carried out research on life in prison for over 30 years. She was made a member of the British Academy in 2018. @AlisonLiebling
Nicola Padfield KC (Hon) is Emeritus Professor of Criminal and Penal Justice at the Law Faculty, University of Cambridge, where she has worked for more than 30 years. She has a broad research lens, engaged in both ‘hard’ law and in socio-legal-criminological research. She is a leading European expert on sentencing law, including the law and practice of release from (and recall to) prison.
Arnaud Philippe is an associate professor at the School of Economics of the University of Bristol. He studies the criminal justice system to better understand the determinants of criminal behaviour, how judicial decisions are made, and the consequences of sanctions on individuals. He is currently an associate researcher at the French Penitentiary Administration, where he explores the effect of carceral experience on recidivism. @ArnaudPhilipp