A Wee Chat About Justice

We know that social media has played a large part in radicalisation over the years. Continual development of platforms, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the effect of the attention economy may be increasing the risk of online harm poses to our communities. In these episodes, our Research and Development team talk about online spaces to consider the impact on vulnerable populations, the process of implementing safeguards and restrictions; and how legislation must be shaped to help keep communities safe in the digital age.  This is the second part of a two-part episode. Find out more about the work of the RMA: www.rma.scot References & Useful Links Ashurst, L., & McAlinden, A. M. (2015). Young people, peer-to-peer grooming and sexual offending: Understanding and responding to harmful sexual behaviour within a social media society. Probation Journal, 62(4), 374-388. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264550515619572 Fisico, R., & Harkins, L. (2021). Technology and sexual offending. Current psychiatry reports, 23(9), 59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-021-01269-1  Kenyon, J., Binder, J., & Baker‑Beall, C. (2022, December 8). The Internet and radicalisation pathways: Technological advances, relevance of mental health and role of attackers. His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/internet-and-radicalisation-pathways-technological-advances-relevance-of-mental-health-and-role-of-attackers Ofcom (2025). Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-and-attitudes/media-habits-children/children-and-parents-media-use-and-attitudes-report-2025 Slavtcheva-Petkova, V., Nash, V. J., & Bulger, M. (2015). Evidence on the extent of harms experienced by children as a result of online risks: implications for policy and research. Information, Communication & Society, 18(1), 48-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2014.934387

We know that social media has played a large part in radicalisation over the years. Continual development of platforms, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the effect of the attention economy may be increasing the risk of online harm poses to our communities. In these episodes, our Research and Development team talk about online spaces to consider the impact on vulnerable populations, the process of implementing safeguards and restrictions; and how legislation must be shaped to help keep communities safe in the digital age.  This is the first part of a two-part episode. Find out more about the work of the RMA: www.rma.scot References & Useful Links Ashurst, L., & McAlinden, A. M. (2015). Young people, peer-to-peer grooming and sexual offending: Understanding and responding to harmful sexual behaviour within a social media society. Probation Journal, 62(4), 374-388. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264550515619572 Fisico, R., & Harkins, L. (2021). Technology and sexual offending. Current psychiatry reports, 23(9), 59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-021-01269-1  Kenyon, J., Binder, J., & Baker‑Beall, C. (2022, December 8). The Internet and radicalisation pathways: Technological advances, relevance of mental health and role of attackers. His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/internet-and-radicalisation-pathways-technological-advances-relevance-of-mental-health-and-role-of-attackers Ofcom (2025). Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-and-attitudes/media-habits-children/children-and-parents-media-use-and-attitudes-report-2025 Slavtcheva-Petkova, V., Nash, V. J., & Bulger, M. (2015). Evidence on the extent of harms experienced by children as a result of online risks: implications for policy and research. Information, Communication & Society, 18(1), 48-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2014.934387

It's been a long time coming! We're proud to be able to launch our newest online directory, Selecting Approaches for Effectively Responding to Risk (SAFERR). In this episode, Geoff talks to our Researcher Jihad Diab and our Chief Executive Mark McSherry, about the challenges of translating complex information into an accessible online directory. SAFERR is specifically focussed on the implementation and evaluation of a variety of risk management approaches in the context of their application to forensic populations. SAFERR is ongoing and we're keen to receive feedback on how we can continue to improve what we do to support colleagues working in public protection.  Have a look at SAFERR: https://saferr.rma.scot/ Find out more about the work of the RMA: https://www.rma.scot/  

In this bonus feature length episode, we're thrilled to welcome Dr Rajan Darjee to the podcast. Raj has worked in forensic psychiatry for over 20 years, beginning in the UK and now more recently working in Australia. Raj has been an Accredited Risk Assessor with the Risk Management Authority, a vital role in the Scottish justice system when an Order for Lifelong Restriction is being considered. He has worked in secure hospital, prison and community settings, and has extensive experience of working with people who have committed, or are at risk of committing, sexual offences, stalking, intimate partner violence, homicide and other types of serious interpersonal violence. In this episode, Raj talks to us about multi-disciplinary approaches throughout his career, and it all started with Silence of the Lambs... Find out more about RMA Accredited Assessors: https://www.rma.scot/olr/risk-assessors/ Find out more about Dr Rajan Darjee: https://fbacs.com.au/our-team Find out more about the work of the RMA: www.rma.scot 

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: www.rma.scot

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 from the risk of serious harm. It is made up of a punishment part served in custody, and lifelong risk management. In this epsiode the team discuss the sentence, how it's managed in custody and community, and some of the recent Risk Management Authority research to better understand the experience of the OLR, to better support individuals' progression whilst maintaining public protection.    Find out more about the OLR: https://www.rma.scot/olr/about-the-olr/ Find our research: https://www.rma.scot/research/olr-2/ www.rma.scot 

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 the work of the RMA: www.rma.scot  Find out more about AVERT Research Network: AVERT Research Network

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 the increasing availability of content on the internet, and consider some of the challenges this presents. This is the first part of a two-part episode. Find out more about the work of the RMA: www.rma.scot

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 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 Follow us on Bluesky: rmascotland.bluesky.social Follow us on X (Twitter): @RMAScotland Email: [email protected]  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/