Can Lived Experience Leaders Drive Systemic Change in the Criminal Justice System?
On Sunday 18th July 2021 we celebrated International Nelson Mandela Day. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of those tackling some of society’s most ingrained issues. A call to action, an opportunity to amplify the voice, and communicate the real challenges that are prevalent in most cities across the world.
However, it’s not about images, videos, social sharing, and hashtags for those on the front face. Acknowledging your wins, and embracing the insights is crucial. These are moments when reflection, self-determination, introspection, and foresight all collide in our minds. Questions abound;
- Why am I doing this?
- What did we achieve this year?
- Are we moving closer to our goal?
- Why can’t others see our value?
- Where is this going to lead?
- How can I communicate better?
These are all deeply rooted in our very sense of self. We will go the extra yard for a purpose that drives us internally. But wait. Is that transferring the power to those systems and actors we seek to challenge? There is no point in being the drivers of change if those very drivers are operating with the handbrake on, with hazards at every juncture. Therein lies the problem, and the possible solution. How do you re-engineer systems change?
Can time and pressure, two words prevalent in prison regimes act as guiding tools to tackle systemic inequalities? Let’s explore my experiences in the criminal justice sector as both a previous service user, and now as a lived experience leader.
What is Lived Experience?
“The experience(s) of people on whom a social issue, or combination of issues, has had a direct impact’ (2).
To explore this further we need to return to 1996. This is where the diamonds of my experience can be unearthed. Returning to civilian life after a period of incarceration can be difficult for many prisoners. Depending on the charge, time served, and willingness to change they have two options to consider;
- Do you want to return to prison?
- What steps are you going to take to avoid that?
There is a range of protective factors they require to assist them to integrate back into the community including; housing, family/peer relationships, drugs/alcohol support, access to training, social security, mental health assistance, and a job. Given most employment opportunities undertake a criminal record check, it’s at the discretion of the employer whether to give them a chance, after reviewing offenses.
The one-year reoffending rates in the U.K. are 29% of adults and 42% of children (3). These are significant costs to the public purse and show a real disconnect in preparing prisoners for life back in the community.
“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”
-Nelson Mandela-
Desistance studies, therefore, aim to examine the social and personal processes by which they achieve desistance; this evidence seeks to explain not why people get into crime but how they get out of it and what can be done to assist them in this process. (1).
Experts by Experience: ‘Social change-makers who seek to use their lived experience to inform the work of social purpose organizations, to drive and lead social change, and/or to drive their social impact work. (2).
There is momentum building through the establishment of networks (criminal justice alliance) collaborations (albeit small), and partnerships who want to drive social change work within the criminal justice sector across the U.K. Membership of these organizations varies in skill levels, competencies, expertise, and leadership experiences.
Lived experience involvement, service user engagement, co-design, and stakeholder consultation, are terms that come to the fore when Government policy, directives, procurement, commissioning, reform, or strategy are being devised.
However, there are real gaps in leadership positions within organizations from those whose knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of the multi-faceted problems former service users face could yield real benefits. Why? Is it power and privilege that disempowers those that are empowered to act as catalysts of community change? There is transformative action required at this level. Not just specific to those that control the levers of power in central government.
No. The real innovation, lateral thinking, and intransigence needs addressed at senior level in non-profit organizations, funders, and prime contractors. How can you provide services for those formerly incarnated if your executive team contains 0–5 % who have experienced what that means?
Not to sound disparaging but that is the equivalent of appointing a private sector organization to run mass testing of Covid19 without any experience in providing such services. Oh shit, that did happen.
Enabling experts by experience is paramount in embedding processes that can help develop and lead change. We hear the word thought leadership used extensively in the business community.
“Thought leadership is the idea that a person or business is a pioneer in thought, an intellectual capable of generating ideas that inspire and influence others.
The term can also describe someone who is an expert in their field, who publishes new ideas and leads people and organizations into new eras” Build Your Brand By Transforming Your Employees Into Thought Leaders (everyonesocial.com)
Are those with 10 plus years within the criminal justice sector not afforded the same platform, opportunity, or position that could foster benefits at the cold face? Is this too simplistic? Why would you pay a painter to fix your car? You are compounding the problem.
When I speak with those who have been formerly incarcerated service users they find it easier to share their stories. It works in the same manner in alcoholic/gambler addiction services. To build authority you need to influence, persuade and communicate why others should listen to you. How can you do that shouting from the sidelines with a face mask on?
Don’t get me wrong there are some great leaders in criminal justice organizations, who will give their soul to provide services benefiting the communities which they serve. There are others at every level however, who pay lip service to the voices of lived expertise.
These are the systems that need to be challenged. How can you show concern, empathy and compassion with those whose path you have never walked? Just an observation. As mentioned these are personal experiences. It is paramount we learn to co-exist, share power, and deliver solutions that aids desistance.
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”
-Nelson Mandela-
Value-added, or box-ticking?
There is a myriad of ways in which those former service users feel disenfranchised by the contributions they provide. When we hear terms such as; bid candy, informants, manipulation of stories (lived experience) box-ticking, stigma, labeling, and filtering (barriers to accessing employment) we need to listen. These are real problems that need to be tackled. Is there a platform that can weave within this process to implement change?
I was part of a recent online program with Clore Social, Centre for Knowledge Equity, and Lex Leaders exploring leadership within the Criminal Justice Sector. There is momentum building through a motivated group of activists to lead from the front. We are not alone. Voices that need to be heard will no longer be silenced. Hands up for social action.
Let’s go back to the beginning. Nelson Mandela spent the best part of his life in prison fighting for social injustice both within and beyond the walls upon release. The United Nations celebrates this day in recognition of his efforts as a peacebuilder, humanitarian, and one of the world’s great inspirational leaders.
Mandela knew fighting systemic inequalities cemented in the highest positions of power would take decades. Bourgeois can pervade, persuade, and prevent progress at every path. I’m confident lived expertise leaders value their principles, ethos, self-determination and beliefs to initiate a purpose driven change. The time for talk has ended. Jobs to be done.
This story was previously published-International Nelson Mandela Day: Tackling Some of Society’s Most Ingrained Issues — The Good Men Project
References
1. Mc Neill, F. (2012). Counterblast: A Copernican Correction for Community Sentences? The Howard Journal, 51, 1, 94–99.
2. Sandhu, B. (2017). The value of lived experiences in social change. The need for leadership and organisational change in the social sector.
3. Ministry of Justice (2018). Proven Reoffending Statistics Quarterly Bulletin (April 2018-June 2018). London: MoJ.
