Episode 1: Improving the Court Experience? Scotland’s Specialist Offence Courts
Release Date: 03/11/2025
Episode 5: The Future of Justice: Does Artificial Intelligence Have a Role?
A Wee Chat About Justice
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere right now - from Chat GPT to helping with complex medical diagnoses. But could it be used in crime prevention - for example, can AI really tell if someone is lying? In this episode the team discuss how AI is being used in the justice system today, and if there are areas it could be used in the future, or if our human bias might affect how it performs. Find out more about the work of the RMA:
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Episode 4: Scotland’s Unique Lifelong Sentence: The Order for Lifelong Restriction
A Wee Chat About Justice
In this episode the team talk about the unique Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) in Scotland, and the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) in England and Wales. These are indeterminate sentences - they don't have a fixed release date. The OLR was introduced in Scotland in 2006 and can only be imposed by the high court. With the OLR, it's possible that the index offence – the crime the individual has been convicted of – may not be a serious violent or sexual offence, but part of a pattern which demonstrates serious harm. The purpose of the sentence is to protect the public...
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Episode 3: Counter-Terrorism in Australia and Scotland with Debra Smith and Lise Waldek (Part 2)
A Wee Chat About Justice
How do we get people to choose to desist from crime? To be ready to change? Can people be 'worn down with kindness'? In this episode, we continue talking to Dr Debra Smith from the AVERT Research Network and Lise Waldek from Macquarie University about their research based on unprecedented access to those who have participated in an Islamist terrorism rehabilitation program in Australia. The team discuss the ethical challenges, the idea of assessing the person in risk assessment, how we can become more resilient, and what might be the next steps for work in this area. Find out more about...
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Episode 2: Counter-Terrorism in Australia and Scotland with Debra Smith and Lise Waldek (Part 1)
A Wee Chat About Justice
In this episode we speak to two highly experienced experts, Dr Debra Smith from the AVERT Research Network and Lise Waldek from Macquarie University. We discuss their latest research which represents the most comprehensive analysis of any countering-violent extremism program in Australia and is based on unprecedented access to those who have participated inan Islamist terrorism rehabilitation program. The team also discuss similarities and differences in the UK and Australia's approach to counter-terrorism and counter-violent extremism, such as the growing awareness of far-right extremism and...
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Episode 1: Improving the Court Experience? Scotland’s Specialist Offence Courts
A Wee Chat About Justice
Can specialist offence courts help improve the experience of victims and witnesses in the Scottish justice system, and could this initiative encourage and empower more people to share their experiences? The Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill was introduced in April 2023 and proposes that there should be a specialist sexual offences court in Scotland. In this episode, recorded in 2024, we discuss the potential impacts of this - how it would work where an individual has multiple convictions for different crimes, what are the aims of the specialist courts and what do we really...
info_outlineCan specialist offence courts help improve the experience of victims and witnesses in the Scottish justice system, and could this initiative encourage and empower more people to share their experiences?
The Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill was introduced in April 2023 and proposes that there should be a specialist sexual offences court in Scotland. In this episode, recorded in 2024, we discuss the potential impacts of this - how it would work where an individual has multiple convictions for different crimes, what are the aims of the specialist courts and what do we really mean by 'specialist'? We also consider how the court experience could be improved for those involved in the justice system, including trauma-informed approaches and practical steps.
Features Chartered Psychologists & Registered Forensic Psychologists Geoff Tordzro-Taylor (RMA Head of Development) and Debbie Campbell (Head of OLR) and our Development Lead, Forensic Psychologist in training, Rachel Webb.
For more information on the work of the Risk Management Authority see: www.rma.scot
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Futher Reading:
Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/s6/victims-witnesses-and-justice-reform-scotland-bill
RMA Standards and Guidelines: https://www.rma.scot/standards-guidelines/