A Wee Chat About Justice is a new podcast discussing themes in justice, forensic psychology and social work, brought to you by the Risk Management Authority. Each episode, we look at what's happening in justice in Scotland and across the world, look at new research and evidence of what works, and consider what changes we might like to see for the Scottish system.
For more information on the work of the Risk Management Authority see: www.rma.scot
Music 'Wings of Liberty' via Pixabay License
Episode 13: How We Got Here #3: Careers in Justice
This is the third in our How We Got Here series, where we ask colleagues what made them want to work in the Scottish justice sector. In this episode, we're chatting with members of our Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) team. OLR case workers Ailish, Eva and Chloe join Geoff to talk about their experiences at university (maths isn't for everyone!), the value of volunteering, their first steps into working in justice settings, and how changing your perspective can turn rejection into redirection.
Find out more about the RMA: www.rma.scot
Learn more about Victim Support Scotland: https://victimsupport.scot/
17 Aug 2026
Episode 12: How We Got Here #2: Careers in Justice
This is the second in the series of How We Got Here, asking our colleagues what made them want to work in the Scottish justice sector. In this episode, we're chatting to our Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) team. OLR Team Manager, Amanda, and OLR Lead, Heather, tell us about how they went from Spice Girls and Ally McBeal... to the Risk Management Authority.
We talk about what happens at the end of University, finding experience in different settings and the steps they took in their careers, to how time out and taking a step back can help give you perspective.
Find out more about the RMA: www.rma.scot
Find our research: https://www.rma.scot/research/ (https://www.rma.scot/research/)
20 Jul 2026
Episode 11: How We Got Here: Careers in Justice Research and Development
What does a career in Research at the RMA actually look like? In this episode, we sit down with our Research and Development team to hear how they got started, the paths they've taken, the lessons they've learned along the way, and the work they do today.
Find out more about the RMA: www.rma.scot
Find our research: https://www.rma.scot/research/ (https://www.rma.scot/research/)
21 May 2026
Episode 10: Notification Requirements: Purpose, Process and Impact
The UK Sex Offender Register (SOR) was introduced in the 1990s to support public protection. In Scotland, this is known as Notification Requirements. In this epsiode we're talking about what the system is and how it came about, we consider the benefits and drawbacks to how it works, and discuss existing research on the systems in the UK and internationally, including reducing reoffending and the impact on people and communities.
Find out more about the work of the RMA: Home - RMA - Risk Management Authority (https://www.rma.scot/)
References & Useful Links
Sex offenders register explained | Scottish Sentencing Council
2025 - Ansbro & Fitzgibbon - UK Sex Offender Register - Has Net Been Cast Too Wide. The UK sex offender register: Has the net been cast too wide? - Maria Ansbro, Wendy Fitzgibbon, 2025
2014 - Carr - The Effect of Sex Offender Registries on Recidivism. (99+) The Effect of Sex Offender Registries on Recidivism: Evidence from a Natural Experiment
2025 - Hanson et al - How Public Registries Obscure Sexual Recidivism Risk Evidence from State Administrative Data. How public registries obscure sexual recidivism risk: Evidence from state administrative data.
2006 - Wakefield - The Vilification of Sex Offenders. Do Laws Targeting Sex Offenders Increase Recidivism and Sexual Violence. The Vilification of Sex Offenders: Do Laws Targeting Sex Offenders Increase Recidivism and Sexual Violence? | IPCE
2 Mar 2026
Episode 9: Algorithms, AI and Online Harm (Part 2)
Host Dr. Victoria Nash and Dr. Liam McAlinden explore how AI and social media amplify online harm, discussing safeguards and legislation for community safety in this interview.
2 Mar 2026
Episode 8: Algorithms, AI and Online Harm (Part 1)
Host Dr. Victoria Slavtcheva-Petkova and guest Dr. Liam Ashurst explore how AI and social media amplify online harm, offering insights into safeguarding vulnerable communities.
21 Oct 2025
Episode 7: Selecting Approaches for Effectively Responding to Risk
Researcher Jihad Diab and Chief Executive Mark McSherry discuss the challenges of creating an accessible online directory, SAFERR, for risk management approaches in forensic populations in an interview with Geoff.
24 Jul 2025
Episode 6: Dr Rajan Darjee - Bonus Feature-Length Episode
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Rajan Darjee discusses his extensive experience with multi-disciplinary approaches in forensic psychiatry across various settings, stemming from an early interest sparked by *Silence of the Lambs* in this interview.
8 Apr 2025
Episode 5: The Future of Justice: Does Artificial Intelligence Have a Role?
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
1 Apr 2025
Episode 4: Scotland’s Unique Lifelong Sentence: The Order for Lifelong Restriction
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 (https://www.rma.scot)
25 Mar 2025
Episode 3: Counter-Terrorism in Australia and Scotland with Debra Smith and Lise Waldek (Part 2)
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
17 Mar 2025
Episode 2: Counter-Terrorism in Australia and Scotland with Debra Smith and Lise Waldek (Part 1)
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
11 Mar 2025
Episode 1: Improving the Court Experience? Scotland’s Specialist Offence Courts
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 (https://www.rma.scot/)
Follow us on Bluesky: rmascotland.bluesky.social
Follow us on X (Twitter): @RMAScotland
Email: communications@rma.gov.scot
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/
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Jihad Diab
Mark McSherry
Dr Rajan Darjee
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