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Faith Spear FRSA

@faithspear.bsky.social

Lead author, The Criminal Justice Blog; prison-reform advocate; criminal-justice system commentator; criminologist thecriminaljusticeblog.com

484 Followers  |  328 Following  |  98 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024  |  2.117

Latest posts by faithspear.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Chocolate & Grace: Succeed in the face of adversity Back in 2017, in The Clink restaurant in HMP Brixton, I had lunch with Chris Moore, the then Chief Executive of The Clink Charity, and a lady from Scotland. We listened carefully as she shared her โ€ฆ

Chocolate & Grace: Succeed in the face of adversity

Women describe the empowerment they feel when they are truly valued, treated with respect, and given the agency to rebuild their lives.ย 

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/09/26/c...

26.09.2025 19:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Chocolate & Grace: Succeed in the face of adversity Back in 2017, in The Clink restaurant in HMP Brixton, I had lunch with Chris Moore, the then Chief Executive of The Clink Charity, and a lady from Scotland. We listened carefully as she shared her โ€ฆ

Chocolate & Grace: Succeed in the face of adversity

Women describe the empowerment they feel when they are truly valued, treated with respect, and given the agency to rebuild their lives.ย 

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/09/26/c...

26.09.2025 19:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

๐ŸšจIf you are not yet familiar with the shocking IPP scandal hold onto your seats and watch this jaw dropping update

17.09.2025 15:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 109    ๐Ÿ” 51    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Dichotomy of Lived v Learned Experience I first stepped foot in a prison in 2010; I was invited to be a community witness for a victim awareness course at HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay, around 40 minutesโ€™ drive from my home. The environment was โ€ฆ

Dichotomy of Lived v Learned Experience

โ€œYou donโ€™t have lived experienceโ€

A statement that is levelled against me far too many times to remember along with being White, A woman and Middle classโ€ฆetc.

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/08/15/d...

17.09.2025 10:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Worth the read. Must chat with you about this down the line.

20.08.2025 10:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Love to

20.08.2025 10:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

A typically thought provoking piece by @faithspear to the rigid, zero sum formula which reduces โ€˜livedโ€™ and โ€˜learnedโ€™ experiences to separate and warring poles.

19.08.2025 21:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thank you Mary, I have wanted to write a piece on this subject for white a while. Now seemed the right time.

19.08.2025 21:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Dichotomy of Lived v Learned Experience I first stepped foot in a prison in 2010; I was invited to be a community witness for a victim awareness course at HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay, around 40 minutesโ€™ drive from my home. The environment was โ€ฆ

โ€œYou donโ€™t have lived experienceโ€
A statement that is levelled against me far too many times to remember along with being White, A woman and Middle classโ€ฆetc.

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/08/15/d...

15.08.2025 20:07 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Reading about the new contracts for prison education. Slightly concerned that no award for West Midlands (as yet) and that its the same providers just changing their areas.

Do we have confidence that just changing the areas into 11 lots will bring about any tangible improvement?

02.08.2025 10:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@katemiller01.bsky.social thank you for following me Kate

30.07.2025 21:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@casper-does-art.bsky.social so lovely to meet you today. Your art is amazing. I hope you are inspired to continue

27.07.2025 17:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Prisons minister: โ€˜There are too many drugs in prisonsโ€™ We spoke to the Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Minister, Lord Timpson.

"We are really in a battle to make sure that our prisons are safe."

The Minister for Prisons, Lord Timpson tells Jackie Long about the drug crisis 'they inherited from the last government' and what he plans to do about it.

Read and watch:
www.channel4.com/news/prisons...

09.07.2025 10:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 23    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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It is time to release prisoners trapped by inhuman endless jail terms Thousands of offenders are caught in a cruel legal limbo by IPP sentencing. Indeterminate prison terms are not only unjust โ€“ they point to a failure of political courage and leadership, says former ch...

www.independent.co.uk/voices/ipp-p...

04.07.2025 13:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Campaigning Lawyer Calls On Prime Minister To Back Plan Drawn Up By Lord Thomas To End Shocking IPP Scandal In Viral Video Campaigning Lawyer and CEO of CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Peter Stefanovic โ€“ whoโ€™s films have been watched hundreds of millions of times online โ€“ has posted a new film calling on Prime โ€ฆ

An expert working group convened by The Howard League and led by Lord Thomas has come forward with considered proposals aimed at protecting the public while ending the long-running IPP scandal.
@peterstefanovic.bsky.social
@thehowardleague.bsky.social
thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/06/28/c...

28.06.2025 11:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL Campaigning Lawyer and CEO of CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Peter Stefanovic โ€“ whoโ€™s films have been watched hundreds of millions of times online โ€“ has posted a new film, this time callinโ€ฆ

CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL
A fresh attempt will be made to resolve the IPP scandal once & for all in the form of a Private Membersโ€™ Bill by the Labour peer Lord Woodleyย 
@peterstefanovic.bsky.social

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/05/28/c...

18.06.2025 06:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL Campaigning Lawyer and CEO of CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Peter Stefanovic โ€“ whoโ€™s films have been watched hundreds of millions of times online โ€“ has posted a new film, this time callinโ€ฆ

CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL

Campaigners have hit out at the โ€œshort-sightedโ€ decision not to include prisoners on IPP sentences in the plans announced to reduce the prison population.
@peterstefanovic.bsky.social

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/05/28/c...

13.06.2025 06:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 33    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@thepawnbroker1.bsky.social thank you for following me Phil

13.06.2025 06:02 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

ITโ€™S NOT TOO LATE for the government to change course. Keir Starmer is being advised to urgently pause the Government's plans to cut disability & health benefits by Parliament's work & pensions committee who say they should not go ahead without a comprehensive impact assessment

Contact your MP, NOW

11.06.2025 19:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 148    ๐Ÿ” 60    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 9    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

@probationjournal.bsky.social thank you for following me

10.06.2025 07:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL Campaigning Lawyer and CEO of CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Peter Stefanovic โ€“ whoโ€™s films have been watched hundreds of millions of times online โ€“ has posted a new film, this time callinโ€ฆ

"Refusing to engage in the resentencing exercise recommended by the House of Commons Justice Select Committee the Labour government is allowing one of the most cruel, inhumane & monumental injustices of the past half-century"ย 
@peterstefanovic.bsky.social

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/05/28/c...

07.06.2025 07:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 38    ๐Ÿ” 12    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL Campaigning Lawyer and CEO of CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Peter Stefanovic โ€“ whoโ€™s films have been watched hundreds of millions of times online โ€“ has posted a new film, this time callinโ€ฆ

Campaigning Lawyer and CEO of CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE @peterstefanovic.bsky.social postedย a new film, calling on the Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end the IPP scandal by backing a Private Membersโ€™ Bill by Labour peer Lord Woodley

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/05/28/c...

07.06.2025 07:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 43    ๐Ÿ” 17    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Faith Spear FRSA: โ€˜I don't regret being a whistleblower' Danielle Lett chats to whistleblower Faith Spear FRSA, who defied all odds and bravely spoke out against injustices in the prison system

What shocked me the most was the waste of human life. I often refer to prisons as โ€˜warehouses of the vulnerableโ€™ because thatโ€™s how I saw it.โ€ฏ
www.eadt.co.uk/news/2333592...

27.02.2025 23:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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An interview on a Summerโ€™s day How/why did your involvement in the CJS come about? I turned down a place to study for a degree and instead moved from Lincolnshire to Essex at the age of 19. My first โ€œproperโ€ job was in admin witโ€ฆ

Everybody wants to have their say and everyone has an opinion. But there is a big difference between those who say their piece ad nauseum and those who have something to say.

faithspear.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/a...

13.04.2025 12:05 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Prisons: still we build them and still we fill them Transcript of speech by Faith Spear FRSA delivered at Battle of Ideas, Church House, Westminster, London on 20 October 2024. โ€œIโ€™m not a political personโ€ฆ Iโ€™ve never wanted to get involved&#82โ€ฆ

โ€œWe have to stop this madness of believing that we can change people and their behaviour by banging them up in warehouse conditions with little to do and not enough to eat and sanitation from a previous century.โ€

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2024/10/20/p...

09.05.2025 12:58 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I couldnโ€™t believe this when I heard about it 5 or so years ago. 18 years in jail for TRYING to steal a coat, 11 years for stealing a mobile phone and 16 years for stealing a flowerpot! It must be so easy to just release them, like they did when prisons were overcrowded. Civilised society my arse.

30.05.2025 08:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL Campaigning Lawyer and CEO of CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Peter Stefanovic โ€“ whoโ€™s films have been watched hundreds of millions of times online โ€“ has posted a new film, this time callinโ€ฆ

CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/05/28/c...

28.05.2025 13:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 65    ๐Ÿ” 16    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL Campaigning Lawyer and CEO of CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Peter Stefanovic โ€“ whoโ€™s films have been watched hundreds of millions of times online โ€“ has posted a new film, this time callinโ€ฆ

CAMPAIGNING LAWYER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO END SHOCKING IPP SCANDAL

thecriminaljusticeblog.com/2025/05/28/c...

28.05.2025 13:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 65    ๐Ÿ” 16    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Independent Sentencing Review: Final report The Independent Sentencing Review sets out proposals to address prison and probation challenges and support victims.

Not sure which is the biggest news in our household this morning, the Sentencing Review or that Peppa pig has a new baby sister called Evie. Probably both of equal importance depending on which hat I am wearing

www.gov.uk/government/p...

22.05.2025 07:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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โ€˜Itโ€™s a scandalโ€™: Prisoners on IPP jail terms excluded from recall release scheme Exclusive: Seven in 10 recalled IPP prisoners have committed no further crime but are held for more than two years on average. Releasing them would free up a prison, but they have been left out of the...

โ€˜The government could help fix the prison crisis by fixing the issue with IPP altogether or at the very least, release those who have committed no further crime, which would empty one of the largest prisons entirely.โ€˜

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...

18.05.2025 18:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 34    ๐Ÿ” 13    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@faithspear is following 20 prominent accounts