Following the release of Humane Justice, a book published by Khulisa as part of the Monument Fellowship, we released a series of podcasts with individuals featured in the book. The podcast is produced by the Prison Radio Association. Find out more about each episode in our most recent series below.
Episode 1: The light of compassion will shine brightest in the darkest places - Jayne Richards
Before release from prison, in 2014, Jayne achieved a BA (Hons) in Humanities with the Open University, The Barrow Cadbury Scholarship award with Koestler Arts, and began a voluntary position on Release on Temporary Licence with the creative charity Only Connect, based in London. In 2018, Jayne was awarded with the “Outstanding service to Catch 22” award at Hertfordshire police headquarters, presented by Princess Anne, Catch 22’s patron, after being nominated by the police and crime commissioner. This was followed by the 2018 Rehabilitation award by HMPPS Wales. In 2020, Jayne was featured in the HMPPS online communications, titled ‘Progress in partnership’ for continued commitment to helping people lead law-abiding and positive lives.
Listen to Jayne’s experience on our podcast featuring topics of suicide, abuse, and how she experienced positive changes.
Episode 2: Seeing the person - Tanjit Dosanjh
Tanjit Dosanjh is an optometrist. When his father went to prison, he decided he wanted to help people in prison by using his professional skills.
Between 2016–2019 Tanjit trained 60 prisoners, 45 whom secured jobs with opticians. He also secured optometry contracts in 60 prisons. Spectacles for prisoners are made by prisoners which makes the organisation financially self-sustaining.
Tanjit became an optometrist in 2008 and learned of the optical labs in California’s prisons. He asked the UK prison service to copy their model but, frustratingly, could not make any headway. So in 2012 he self-funded his optical training lab inside HMP Standford Hill.
By 2015 he was awarded £262,000 from the Sainsbury Family Trust, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and The Triangle Trust, enabling him to set up an optical lab in Maidstone.
Listen to Tanjits experience on our podcast about prison employment, building self-worth, and the power of listening to prisoners.
Episode 3: The butterfly effect - Mr Gee
Mr Gee specializes in poetry workshops and has a vast experience working in prisons.
Mr Gee has performed poetry for two decades. Perhaps best known as the “Poet Laureate” on Russell Brand’s infamous Radio show, he’s toured the world & had his work featured in The Times & The Guardian. He has presented “Bespoken Word”, “Rhyme & Reason”, and “Poetic Justice” all on Radio 4, the latter of which focused on his extensive prison rehabilitation work. He also featured on BBC 2’s BAFTA nominated programme, “Poetry Between the Lines”. He developed a digital art-work called “Bring Me My Firetruck” for the Open Data Institute (showcased at the Tate Britain for their 2020 “Blake Now” series).
Listen to Mr Gee’s experience on our podcast about hope, triggers to change, and racism.
Episode 4: Random acts of kindness - The Tartan Con
Michael served over 4 years in prisons across the country. He now works in prisons to develop practical solutions, grounded in his experience, to tackle prisoners’ anxiety, stress and frustration. From the first days spent behind bars to the days spent preparing for release, Michael’s work helps prisoners to cope with an alien environment, to reduce the staggering toll of self-harm, suicide and violence inside. His approaches have been adopted by every organisation managing prisons in the UK in both public and private sectors.
Michael campaigns for a zero target for self-harm in prisons and argues for an approach to criminal justice based on evidence over ideology. Michael blogs and records podcasts under the pseudonym The Tartan Con.
Listen to Michael’s experience on our podcast about community, Ramadan, small acts of kindness, suicide, and eating disorders.
Episode 5: A matter of life or death – Brenda Birungi
Brenda, who also goes by the name Lady Unchained, works to prove that there is life after prison. Through poetry she tells her own personal story and the stories of those with experience of the criminal justice system; stories that are often left untold because of shame, stigma and negative labels. With the support of her friends, she was inspired to set up Unchained Poetry, a platform for artists with experience of the criminal justice system. She regularly works with a number of charities, and hosts Unchained Nights in partnership with Artsadmin at Toynbee Stations, a night of inspirational storytelling, through poetry and music, performed by artists with lived experience of the justice system.
Listen to Brenda’s experience on our podcast about suicide, women, and refugees.
Episode 6: Hope - the exit ramp for crime - Callum Hutchinson
Callum Hutchison is from Glasgow. He was an active Gang member for 15 years and has had contact with the criminal justice system since he was 16 years old. He has now turned his life around and works for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit as a Development officer.
Listen to Callum’s experience on our podcast about knife crime, change, and self worth.