Evolving Prisons

William Noguera spent 40 years on death row at San Quentin Prison for a murder he committed at age 18. Last year he was taken off death row but he is still in prison. He chats to us from his prison cell, telling us how a day on death row looked, how it felt to be given an execution date, how he feels about potentially being released one day into a society he hasn't been in for 41 years and how he has stayed disciplined to write books, host podcasts and create art while on death row.Subscribe to monthly bonus episodes of Evolving Prisons for £3 per month here. William's linksWebsitePodcastYouTubeEvolving Prisons linksWebsite: evolvingprisons.comInstagram: @evolvingprisonsLinkedIn: kaigancarrie

This is a 20-minute teaser of my full conversation with Rob Parkes, released as this month's bonus episode. Subscribe here for $3.85 (£3) to listen to the full conversation and all monthly bonus episodes.Rob Parkes was married to Victoria Breeden. Victoria is now serving a 9 year prison sentence for conspiracy to murder Rob. Rob speaks about being the victim of coercive control, how Victoria's second husband, Wayne, set fire to Rob's car while he was sleeping and how he discovered that Victoria was trying to hire somebody to kill him. Victoria is up for parole soon and Rob talks about his feelings towards this and whether he thinks prison will rehabilitate someone like her.You can buy a copy of Rob's book here. Rob's story also featured on 24 hours in police custody.Evolving Prisons linksWebsite: evolvingprisons.comInstagram: @evolvingprisonsLinkedIn: kaigancarrie

Carl Scott joined a gang at 13 years old and subsequently spent 8 and a half years in prison. He was a victim of a knife attack which almost killed him. Carl chats about how a life of crime leaves you always looking over your shoulder, how prison might seem like a holiday camp but that loss of control is the real punishment, and how he lost his best friend to knife crime, who sadly died in his arms. Carl is now a knife crime ambassador.Subscribe to monthly bonus episodes of Evolving Prisons for £3 per month here. Carl's linksWebsiteInstagramEvolving Prisons linksWebsite: evolvingprisons.comInstagram: @evolvingprisonsLinkedIn: kaigancarrie

This is a 20-minute teaser of my full conversation with Gen Glaister, released as this month's bonus episode. Subscribe here for $3.85 to listen to the full discussion and all monthly bonus episodes.Gen was a prison officer in England and had been eager to become one since age 15. She talks about the difficulty of comprehending how some people can be so gentle and kind but also be a human trafficker, how she'd try to educate prisoners convicted of rape that wearing protection doesn't mean it isn't rape and the worry of losing the ability to feel compassion at all after witnessing so much trauma in prison. You can order a copy of Gen's book, The Prison Officer, here. Evolving Prisons linksWebsite: evolvingprisons.comInstagram: @evolvingprisonsLinkedIn: kaigancarrie

Why do prisons in California and Texas have so many gangs? Why didn't they exist prior to the 1950s? What happens to somebody who leaves the prison gang? How much influence do prison gangs have over people on the streets? I sat down with Professor David Skarbek who has published extensively on this topic. His book, The Social Order of the Underworld: How Prison Gangs Govern the American Penal System, can be bought here. Subscribe to monthly bonus episodes of Evolving Prisons here. Evolving Prisons linksWebsite: evolvingprisons.comInstagram: @evolvingprisonsLinkedIn: kaigancarrie

Marc Conway has served 10 prison sentences, stuck in the revolving door of crime until his final prison sentence in HMP Grendon, a therapeutic prison in England, made him think about why he'd been behaving the way he had. Marc discusses growing up with a distrust of police and how he feels that the government needs to do more to improve equality in our society.Subscribe to monthly bonus episodes of Evolving Prisons here. Evolving Prisons linksWebsite: evolvingprisons.comInstagram: @evolvingprisonsLinkedIn: kaigancarrie

This is a 20-minute teaser of my full conversation with Iain Smith, released as this month's bonus episode. Subscribe here for $3.85 to listen to the full discussion and all monthly bonus episodes.Iain was a prison officer in Australia for 15 years until 2020. He tells us about a number of experiences he had, from working with a prisoner who was involved in 55 self-harm or behavioural incidents over a 4-month period to a prisoner who was convicted of driving his truck into a bar after being denied alcohol, killing multiple people. Evolving Prisons linksWebsiteInstagramLinkedInIain's videos about his time as a prison officer can be viewed here.

Lee Davies was a prison officer in England and was imprisoned in May 2010 for taking contraband, namely mobile phones and cannabis, into prison for prisoners. Lee tells us how he started taking contraband in, how he got caught, ways to limit corrupt staff taking contraband into prisons and the impact that corrupt staff have on the prison service. A monthly bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is released every month and you can subscribe to listen to them here.Evolving Prisons linksWebsite: evolvingprisons.comInstagram: @evolvingprisonsLinkedIn: Kaigan Carrie

This is a 20-minute teaser of my full conversation with Brendan O'Friel, released as this month's bonus episode. Subscribe here for $3.85 to listen to the full discussion and all monthly bonus episodes.The Strangeways Prison riot is the longest recorded riot in British penal history, lasting 25 days in April 1990. Brendan O'Friel was the governor of the prison at that time. He tells us about the condition of the prison leading up to the riot, how 147 officers and 47 prisoners were injured and 1 officer and 1 prisoner lost their life, how Brendan navigated the riot without a contingency plan for such events in place and the aftermath. Brendan has documented the riot in his book Prison Governor's Journal which you can buy from his ⁠website.⁠ Evolving Prisons links⁠Instagram⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Website⁠

Bruce Perham is a social worker and therapist in Melbourne, Australia. He has provided counselling and debriefing to prison officers after traumatic incidents for many years. We hear ways in which the job takes its toll on prison officers, including hearing about an officer who was beaten, leaving him with a brain and spinal injury and unable to work, and another officer recounts the impact of finding prisoners who have taken their own life. One bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is released every month. You can subscribe to listen to these bonus episodes for £2.99 a month ⁠here⁠.Connect with Bruce Perham at Let's Talk Differently. Evolving Prisons linksInstagramLinkedInWebsite

Brianna Ghey, age 16, was murdered in England in February 2023 in a premeditated stabbing attack by two 15 year olds, Scarlett and Eddie. The court decided the offence was primarily motivated by sadistic tendencies. They were sentenced last week to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years and 20 years respectively. I sat down with one of the UK's most respected forensic psychologists, Dr Naomi Murphy, who has 25 years experience working with violent and sexually violent offenders, to ask some questions like:How might the risk they pose change as their brains mature?Would Scarlett watching violence on the dark web have contributed to her decision to murder Brianna?What impact might naming the killers have?What might adult prison be like for them by the time they get there?How do we better support the staff who are caring for people who have committed such heinous crimes?One bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is released every month and these episodes don't appear on the main page. You can subscribe to listen to these bonus episodes for £2.99 a month ⁠here⁠.Dr Murphy's linksLocked Up Living podcastOctopus PsychologyEvolving Prisons linksInstagramLinkedInWebsite

This is a 20-minute teaser of my full conversation with Vanessa Frake, released as this month's bonus episode. Subscribe here to listen to the full discussion and all monthly bonus episodes.Vanessa Frake worked for the prison service in England for 27 years and was awarded an MBE in 2012 for her work. Vanessa shares her biggest regret in her career where a prisoner escaped while on escort and a prison officer took their own life. We chat about riots and assaults, corrupt prison officers and the difficulty of fitting into society when you've spent your entire career behind bars. Order a copy of Vanessa's book here.Evolving Prisons linksLinkedIn: kaigancarrieInstagram: @evolvingprisonsWebsite: evolvingprisons.com

Why do so many people have a fascination with serial killers? What's it like to meet one? How do serial killers justify their crimes? Can they be rehabilitated or is prison merely for their containment? Dr Scott Bonn answers these questions and more. He is a criminologist, author of 'why we love serial killers' and he provides expert commentary for high profile true crime TV shows. One bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is also released each month. You can view and listen to the bonus episodes by subscribing here.Evolving Prisons linksLinkedIn: kaigancarrieInstagram: @evolvingprisonsWebsite: evolvingprisons.comDr Scott Bonn's linksWebsiteTour ticketsWhy we love serial killers book

Tony Attwood has 25 years of lived experience with addiction and crime. Peter Ross was a judge who sentenced him to a period of imprisonment and subsequently to a rehabilitation treatment centre. Tony later founded Hope and Vision Communities with Peter, providing people with a home to stay at after they successfully leave addiction treatment services. This is a remarkable story of two individuals on opposing sides of the criminal justice system coming together to help society.One bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is also released each month. You can view and listen to the bonus episodes by subscribing here.Learn more about Hope and Vision Communities.Evolving Prisons linksLinkedIn: kaigancarrie Instagram: @evolvingprisonsWebsite: evolvingprisons.com

George Bannister served time in prison in England for an attempted robbery on a post office to fund his drug addiction. He talks about learning the value of karma, respect and gratitude in prison, and how connection is key to a life free from addiction. One bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is also released each month. You can only view and listen to the bonus episodes by subscribing here. You can connect with George Bannister here. Evolving Prisons links LinkedIn: kaigancarrie Instagram: @evolvingprisons Website: evolvingprisons.com

Joe Arvidson is a criminologist and desistance advocate from the United States of America. Joe shares with us how he feels the media portrays a narrow view of corrections, and how prison can cause more harm than good. He also shares the importance of self-regulation, identity, resilience and social support in desistance.One bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is also released each month. You can only view and listen to the bonus episodes by subscribing here. Evolving Prisons linksLinkedIn: kaigancarrieInstagram: @evolvingprisonsWebsite: evolvingprisons.comJoe's podcast, The Criminologist.

Alex McClintock was a prison officer at HMP Perth in Scotland for 19 years and he featured on Channel 4's Banged Up. Alex shares how his mental health declined to the point he had a breakdown and intended to take his own life. He tells us how his PTSD manifests itself, we discuss how prison officers can look after their wellbeing and we chat about the Banged Up TV show experience. One bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is also released each month. You can subscribe to listen to the monthly bonus episodes for £2.99 here.Evolving Prisons linksLinkedIn: kaigancarrieInstagram: @evolvingprisonsWebsite: evolvingprisons.com

This is a 20-minute teaser of my full conversation with Alex South, released as this month's bonus episode. Subscribe here to listen to the full discussion and all monthly bonus episodes.Alex is the author of the incredible book, Behind These Doors. She worked for the prison service in England for 10 years in HMP Whitemoor, HMP Belmarsh and HMP Wormwood Scrubs. We talk about the impossible task of keeping on top of the contraband entering some prisons, the violence that occurs in prison, the dangers of Spice and drug psychosis, and the detrimental impact prison can have on people where prisoners and staff are taking their own lives. Buy a copy of Alex's book here. Evolving Prisons linksLinkedIn: kaigancarrieInstagram: @evolvingprisonsWebsite: evolvingprisons.com

Clare Pearson spent almost 22 years working in prisons in England. She governed 4 public prisons and was the director of a private prison. Clare also appeared as the governor on Channel 4's TV series 'Banged Up'. We chat about the difference between working in a male and female prison and how Clare's leadership style varied across each, the time a prisoner assaulted her and she required surgery for a double jaw fracture, and how close to real prison life the Banged Up TV show was. One bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is also released each month. You can subscribe to listen to the monthly bonus episodes for £2.99 here. Evolving Prisons linksLinkedIn: kaigancarrieInstagram: @evolvingprisonsWebsite: evolvingprisons.com

Why is there a high risk of suicide in Vantaa Prison in Finland? What values are needed to be a good prison officer? Do some prison staff join the service with a power complex or does the job create this within them? Minna Liukkonen works in Vantaa Prison, Finland's largest prison. She recruits, inducts and mentors new prison officers. One bonus episode of Evolving Prisons is released every month and these episodes don't appear on the main page. You can subscribe to listen to these bonus episodes for £2.99 a month here. Evolving Prisons links LinkedIn: kaigancarrie Instagram: @kaigancarrie Website: evolvingprisons.com