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Sorry if you thought this was about finances as its about sentences, and I don't mean written ones. Although most of my sentences were not exactly short, or overly long, my experience of prison still involved the revolving doors of crisis and crime. To a point where I was happier and more content in prison … Continue reading Short V Long →

On Thursday September 29, 2022, on the first floor of Millenium Point in Birmingham I had the honour and pleasure of chairing NHS England's learning and development day. The day provided an opportunity for RECONNECT services to come together to meet, share ideas and improve ways of working together. It was not only a pleasure … Continue reading RECONNECT: Cross Border →

On September 20, 2022, as a member of Revolving Doors' Lived Experience Team I was due to give a talk at this year's Perrie Lectures, however, due to the passing and funeral of my dear old former landlady, aka the queen, the lectures had to be postponed until sometime next year, by which time I … Continue reading Inside Knowledge →

I don’t know about you but for me, January, is, by far, my least favourite month; and not just because it is cold and bleak. You won’t know this, but I’ve been thinking for five minutes since writing that last sentence on what is good about January. The beginning of a year full of what … Continue reading Almost not here! →

Well, I'm pleased to start with that I haven't been a person on probation since April 26, 2019. The first time from since I last wore plimsols (or got hit with one by a teacher). My school to prison pipeline didn't appear to have a light at the end of the tunnel, until, ironically, prison … Continue reading a person on probation →

Making friends has never been a part of 'what can be', mainly because I knew that, along the way, I will make friends. New friends, that is, as I gave most of my old 'friends' up. I had to, for me. So, I've not been afraid of what to talk about or what to share, … Continue reading Justice? →

Formed in 1931, following the Castellammarese War, New York’s original ‘Five Families’ consisted of the Luciano, Profaci, Gagliano, Mangano, and Maranzano organised crime families. After attempting to have Luciano murdered the wheels were turned on Maranzano on September 10, 1931, and following Maranzano’s death, Joseph Bonanno, at the age of 26, became one of the … Continue reading Book Launch!! →

Thanks to the fantastic work I am involved in, through being a member of Revolving Doors Lived Experience Team and those we work with, I get to see the criminal justice system as a whole thing rather than a myriad of sections. Which, in a way, is just like reducing reoffending. I can't speak for … Continue reading The Bigger Picture →

I hadn't planned to write a part two on prison life; then again, I don't plan any of my blogs. I write when, and what, I feel. When I do write and the subject is on prison, I usually find my mind drifting back to a prison cell. Not in a bad way, as I've … Continue reading Prison Life 2 →

What’s prison like? Is a question you tend to get often if you’ve been to prison, it’s usually followed by, is it the same as it is on the television? Did you meet any murderers? Was another. A lot of the time, it can be incredibly boring, no and its prison, of course I did. … Continue reading Prison Life →