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The Criminologist

Joe Arvidson

Host Joseph Arvidson brings criminologist, practitioners, academics and those with lived experiences from around the world together to discuss the age old dilemma of responding to society's criminal element. Merging established correctional policy with emerging desistance models, this show illustrates how adopting a holistic lens and constantly questioning established approaches can best serves justice involved individuals.

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S6 · E251
Tuesday · 57 min
EP 251: Dr. Jerrod Brown on the Gut-Brain Axis — The Hidden Link Between Health and Behavior
What if some of the behaviors correctional professionals label as noncompliance, impulsivity, poor motivation, or treatment failure are being influenced by factors we rarely consider? Dr. Jerrod Brown—the most frequent returning guest in the history of The Criminologist Podcast—returns for another thought-provoking conversation, this time exploring the gut-brain axis and its potential relevance to criminal justice, behavioral health, probation, parole, and correctional practice. The gut and brain are engaged in constant, two-way communication. Emerging research suggests that disruptions in this system may be associated with mood, attention, stress regulation, sleep, fatigue, self-control, and other areas of functioning that justice professionals encounter every day. But this episode is not about turning probation officers into physicians or nutritionists. It is about broadening the lens. The conversation explores how factors such as nutrition, food insecurity, chronic stress, sleep problems, sedentary behavior, and overall physical health may affect a person's ability to engage successfully in treatment and supervision. The discussion also connects these ideas directly to the Risk-Need-Responsivity framework, particularly the Responsivity Principle. If responsivity means creating the conditions in which interventions have the best chance to succeed, should practitioners be paying more attention to the biological and lifestyle conditions surrounding the people they serve? Among the topics explored: • The basics of the gut-brain axis and gut microbiome • Connections between gut health, mood, cognition, and self-regulation • Nutrition, food insecurity, and justice-involved populations • Sleep, stress, trauma, and lifestyle factors • Gut dysbiosis and emerging neurocriminology research • Impulsivity and executive functioning • Lifestyle medicine and the Blue Zones research • The role of nutritionists, dietitians, and multidisciplinary collaboration • Why these issues may represent important responsivity considerations • The danger of interpreting every struggle in supervision or treatment simply as unwillingness or noncompliance Jerrod repeatedly emphasizes an important caution: none of these factors alone explain criminal behavior. Human behavior is complex, and these are pieces of a much larger puzzle. The challenge for practitioners is simpler: Stay curious. Ask better questions. And keep looking beyond the behavior immediately in front of you. Resources mentioned in this episode Examining the Link Between the Human Microbiome and Antisocial Behavior: Why Criminologists Should Care About Biochemistry, Too https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2017.1410373 Blue Zones — Power 9 Principles https://www.bluezones.com/resources/principles/ Lifestyle Medicine: Prevention, Treatment, and Reversal of Disease https://www.bluezones.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Lifestyle-Medicine-Prevention-Treatment-and-Reversal-of-Disease.pdf Contact Dr. Jerrod Brown: Jerrod01234Brown@live.com Remember: There is no them. There is only us.
S6 · E250
October 23 · 1 hr 18 min
EP 250: A Different Kind of Justice. How Leadership Culture Shapes Corrections
What if some of the biggest challenges in corrections are not simply about programs, policies, or training—but about the way we lead? In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, filmmaker, author, and organizational culture expert Dara Barlin joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about human-centered leadership, correctional culture, staff well-being, implementation, and the ripple effects leadership can have throughout a justice organization. Dara is the Executive Director of the Center for Transforming Culture, author of A New Kind of Power, and filmmaker behind the documentary A Different Kind of Justice. Her work asks a provocative question: What happens when correctional organizations move away from rigid, top-down leadership and create cultures where information, ideas, and accountability can move in multiple directions? The conversation explores: • Why great training often fails to translate into sustained practice—the "knowing-doing gap" • The relationship between organizational culture, officer wellness, morale, retention, and performance • Why emotionally intelligent leaders may be hiding in plain sight inside correctional organizations • The importance of listening to frontline staff and people with lived experience • How leadership practices can create either a negative or positive cascade throughout an organization • Why accountability and human-centered leadership are not mutually exclusive • The parallel process between how leaders treat staff and how practitioners ultimately engage the people they serve • What these ideas mean not only for prisons, but also for probation, parole, and community corrections • Why meaningful organizational change requires much more than a one-time training event • How A Different Kind of Justice uses storytelling to help correctional leaders see what a different model of leadership can look like This episode challenges listeners to look beyond individual programs and interventions and consider the environment surrounding the work itself. Because culture matters. Leadership matters. And how people are treated inside justice organizations may ultimately shape how those systems treat everyone else. Learn more about Dara Barlin, A Different Kind of Justice, upcoming Watch Parties, and ways to get involved: https://www.humansfirstproductions.org/ Contact Dara directly: dara@humansfirstproductions.org
S6 · E229
October 7 · 52 min
EP 229: Leadership in Corrections. Brian Gates and the Five Instruments of Leadership
What separates a leader who simply manages people from one who actually develops them? In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, Brian K. Gates, Director of Programs with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, joins the show for a practical conversation about leadership, culture, community supervision, and what it takes to build stronger professionals inside complex correctional systems. Brian brings more than three decades of experience in community corrections, beginning his career as a probation and parole officer and progressing into statewide executive leadership. Along the way, he developed a memorable framework he calls The Five Instruments of Leadership: Eyes to observe Ears to listen Brain to discern Heart to care Mouth to communicate Brian explains how these five instruments work together with four leadership domains — Character, Relationships, Empowerment, and Stewardship — and his 16 Leadership Commitments to move leadership from theory into daily practice. One of Brian's most memorable leadership principles is: "Be the parachute, not the pilot." Great leaders support their people when needed, but they also create room for staff to think, make decisions, grow, and develop sound professional judgment. The conversation also turns to the TIDES Supervision Model and Brian's leadership in helping bring TIDES to North Carolina. What began as an initial pilot has grown into a broader implementation effort involving multiple cohorts of officers and a federally supported initiative focused on trauma-informed community supervision. Brian shares what he has observed about the model, the importance of leadership presence during implementation, and why training attendance alone is never enough — we also need to ask whether practice is actually changing. This episode is especially relevant for probation and parole professionals, correctional leaders, supervisors, trainers, and anyone interested in building healthier organizational cultures without sacrificing accountability or public safety. Explore Brian's Five Instruments of Leadership infographic: https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D4E22AQGwwm8SG5mCIA/feedshare-shrink_1280/B4EaEMVV7hJkAQ-/0/1791208284180?e=1793232000&v=beta&t=hivEkZkQi9JCpQiA274T4-OfJZxgc0sKEbmgocQvvEg Connect with Brian Gates: 📧 bkgates7@gmail.com If you work in corrections, community supervision, leadership, or organizational change, this is a conversation worth hearing.
S6 · E248
September 9 · 18 min
EP 228- Train and Pray: What Happens After the Training Ends?
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a70a912-4b0c-83ea-80e4-8435cf4a6e16-3" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a70a912-4b0c-83ea-80e4-8435cf4a6e16-3" data-testid= "conversation-turn-28" data-turn="assistant"> Training matters. But what happens after the training ends? In this special mini-episode of The Criminologist Podcast, Joseph Arvidson reflects on a question that correctional organizations—and perhaps the broader helping professions—need to ask more often: How do we know whether training actually resulted in learning, application, and improved proficiency? Agencies invest significant time and resources in conferences, certifications, curricula, and staff development. We document attendance. We issue certificates. We check the box. But then what? Your host introduces what he jokingly calls the "Train and Pray" model—the tendency to provide training and then simply hope that people remember it, understand it, and transfer it into practice. Using examples from Risk-Need-Responsivity and a memorable golf analogy, this episode explores a different way of thinking about professional development: Train → Practice → Measure → Reinforce. The goal is not to diminish the importance of good training. It is to recognize that training is only one part of a larger learning and implementation system—one that should include practice, feedback, reinforcement, and opportunities to demonstrate proficiency. Joseph doesn't claim to have the entire solution figured out....not just yet! But he believes this is a question the field should be asking. What happens after training in your organization—and how do you know whether people can actually apply what they learned? 🎙️ The Criminologist Podcast #Corrections #Probation #Parole #RiskNeedResponsivity #RNR #ProfessionalDevelopment #ImplementationScience #CriminalJustice #Training #TheCriminologistPodcast _:empty]:hidden">
S6 · E248
September 9 · 18 min
EP 228- Train and Pray: What Happens After the Training Ends?
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a70a912-4b0c-83ea-80e4-8435cf4a6e16-3" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a70a912-4b0c-83ea-80e4-8435cf4a6e16-3" data-testid= "conversation-turn-28" data-turn="assistant"> Training matters. But what happens after the training ends? In this special mini-episode of The Criminologist Podcast, Joseph Arvidson reflects on a question that correctional organizations—and perhaps the broader helping professions—need to ask more often: How do we know whether training actually resulted in learning, application, and improved proficiency? Agencies invest significant time and resources in conferences, certifications, curricula, and staff development. We document attendance. We issue certificates. We check the box. But then what? Your host introduces what he jokingly calls the "Train and Pray" model—the tendency to provide training and then simply hope that people remember it, understand it, and transfer it into practice. Using examples from Risk-Need-Responsivity and a memorable golf analogy, this episode explores a different way of thinking about professional development: Train → Practice → Measure → Reinforce. The goal is not to diminish the importance of good training. It is to recognize that training is only one part of a larger learning and implementation system—one that should include practice, feedback, reinforcement, and opportunities to demonstrate proficiency. Joseph doesn't claim to have the entire solution figured out....not just yet! But he believes this is a question the field should be asking. What happens after training in your organization—and how do you know whether people can actually apply what they learned? 🎙️ The Criminologist Podcast #Corrections #Probation #Parole #RiskNeedResponsivity #RNR #ProfessionalDevelopment #ImplementationScience #CriminalJustice #Training #TheCriminologistPodcast _:empty]:hidden">
S6 · E247
August 18 · 1 hr 6 min
EP 247: Taking RNR Across Cultures. Carolina Báez Hernández on Evidence, Implementation, and Reform
What does it take to move evidence-based corrections across cultures — and make reform survive the real world? In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, Joseph Arvidson sits down with Chilean psychologist and correctional reform specialist Carolina Báez Hernández for a wide-ranging conversation about evidence-based practice, Risk-Need-Responsivity, implementation, culture, leadership, and the realities of correctional reform. Joe and Carolina first met in Barcelona at the International Training School on Core Correctional Skills, where Joe was an instructor and Carolina was a participant. Their professional paths later crossed again in Uruguay, where Carolina joined Joe during his Fulbright Specialist work with prison professionals, and most recently in Bali, where they presented together at the World Congress on Probation and Parole. Their conversation explores questions that matter far beyond any single country or correctional system: • What happens when evidence-based models developed in one setting are introduced into another culture? • How do we balance fidelity with adaptation? • Why is implementation rarely just a technical problem? • What roles do politics, culture, leadership, and narrative play in whether reform succeeds or collapses? • What can Latin America teach the rest of the world about rehabilitation, resilience, and justice reform? One of the central themes of the episode is simple but powerful: Good evidence is not enough. Reform succeeds or fails in the space between research and implementation. For probation and parole professionals, correctional leaders, researchers, policymakers, educators, and anyone interested in making evidence-based practice work in the real world, this is a conversation you will not want to miss. 🎙️ Guest: Carolina Báez Hernández 🎧 Host: Joseph Arvidson, The Criminologist Podcast #Corrections #Probation #Parole #RNR #EvidenceBasedPractice #ImplementationScience #CriminalJustice #Desistance #Rehabilitation
S6 · E246
August 4 · 51 min
EP 246: Why We Can't Look Away. Dr. Debbie Goodman on True Crime, Victims & Violence
Why are we so fascinated by high-profile crime—and when does that fascination cross the line from understanding into entertainment? In Episode 246 of The Criminologist Podcast, Joseph Arvidson welcomes criminologist, professor, author, media contributor, and host Dr. Debbie Goodman for a wide-ranging conversation about crime, justice, and public understanding. Dr. Goodman explores the difference between consuming true crime and examining crime through a criminological lens. She discusses how victims and survivors are represented in the media, why complex acts of violence resist simple explanations, and what the public often misunderstands about juvenile offending, mass violence, familicide, and other serious crimes. The conversation also examines the responsibility criminologists and justice professionals carry when commenting publicly on active or high-profile cases—and what future police officers, probation professionals, attorneys, advocates, and justice leaders should understand before entering the field. This episode moves beyond sensational headlines and asks a more important question: How can we talk about crime in ways that inform the public without losing sight of the people whose lives are affected? Learn more about Dr. Debbie Goodman: 🌐 Crime Time with Dr. Debbie https://www.crimetimewithdrdebbie.com/ 🔗 Connect with Dr. Goodman on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-debbie-goodman-05a52a229/ Subscribe to The Criminologist Podcast and share this episode with a colleague, student, or justice professional who values thoughtful conversations about crime and justice.
S6 · E235
July 21 · 1 hr 17 min
EP 245: Creating Conditions for Success. Dianna Kalandros on Justice Innovation
In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, host Joseph Arvidson welcomes Dianna Kalandros, Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in Coconino County, Arizona, for a conversation about collaboration, innovation, and what it means to humanize the justice system in practical ways. Dianna discusses the role of Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils, the importance of bringing stakeholders together, and how local systems can respond to long-standing challenges in probation, courts, corrections, and community justice through creativity and collaboration. A central theme of the conversation is the shift from simply asking, "How do we respond when people fail?" to asking, "How do we create more opportunities for people to succeed?" Joe and Dianna explore incentive-based approaches, removing barriers, supervision fees, justice system collaboration, and the importance of recognizing progress. Dianna also shares the impact of the Client of the Month project and how it helped humanize individuals involved in the justice system for local stakeholders. The episode also touches on innovative efforts such as the Justice Bus, broader CJCC work in Coconino County, and examples of how communities can rethink access, accountability, and support. This conversation is especially relevant for probation, parole, pretrial services, courts, corrections, reentry, behavioral health, and justice-system leaders interested in improving outcomes through collaboration, practical innovation, and a more human-centered approach. Selected resources provided by Dianna are included below: Tempe incentives program article from KJZZ A look at how a Tempe-run program helps people charged with misdemeanors offset fees, connect with supports, and get back on track. https://www.kjzz.org/kjzz-news/2024-10-30/tempe-run-program-helps-people-charged-with-misdemeanors-offset-fees-get-back-on-track Coconino County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council More information about the CJCC in Coconino County, including Dianna's role and local CJCC work. https://www.coconino.az.gov/943/Criminal-Justice-Coordinating-Council National Network of Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils — JMI Justice Learn more about CJCCs, standards, essential elements, and national resources. https://jmijustice.org/nncjcc/ CJCC Essential Elements — National Institute of Corrections A resource outlining the ten essential elements of high-performing Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils. https://nicic.gov/resources/nic-library/all-library-items/cjcc-essential-elements-companion-national-standards Justice on the Road with Coconino County — JMI Justice A feature on Coconino County's Justice Bus initiative and its effort to bring justice-related services directly to communities. https://jmijustice.org/justice-on-the-road-with-coconino-county/ Coconino County Justice Bus information Information on Justice Bus events and services, including court documents, name changes, marriage licenses, set-asides, marijuana expungement applications, fine/fee payments, and other access-to-justice supports. https://www.coconino.az.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/3383 Justice Bus Award Announcement Coconino County announcement on the Justice Bus winning the Arizona Supreme Court's 2025 Strategic Agenda Award for Expanding Access to Justice. https://www.coconino.az.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/3307
S6 · E244
July 7 · 1 hr 13 min
EP 244: Sound, Somatics, and Rehabilitation: Caroline Georgiou on Healing Inside Prison
n this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, host Joseph Arvidson welcomes Caroline Georgiou for a conversation unlike any we have had on the show before. Caroline is a trauma-trained counsellor, somatic movement therapist, clinical supervisor, and one of the world's leading innerdance facilitators and trainers. Her work explores the relationship between sound, trauma, the nervous system, emotional regulation, identity, inner awareness, and human transformation — including within prison settings. Together, Joe and Caroline explore what happens when rehabilitation moves beneath words. In corrections, probation, parole, and treatment, so much of the work is built around conversation: interviews, assessments, groups, case plans, accountability, motivation, and behavior change. But Caroline invites us to consider the role of the body, the central nervous system, sound, somatic awareness, safety, connection, dysregulation, co-regulation, and identity in the change process. The conversation also connects with themes familiar to those interested in trauma-informed practice and the TIDES Supervision Model, including polyvagal theory, nervous system regulation, the importance of feeling safe and connected, and the role of identity in meaningful change. Caroline discusses how sound and music affect the body, mood, emotion, and behavior — and how this knowledge has long been used in other parts of society, from film directors shaping emotional experience to casinos creating environments that influence attention and behavior. That raises an important question for criminal justice professionals: if sound can be used to heighten emotion or shape behavior, how might it also be used ethically and intentionally to support reflection, regulation, healing, and rehabilitation? Joe and Caroline also discuss her work bringing sound-led transformation into prison settings, her vision for prison radio and sound-based wellbeing programs, and the intriguing possibility of developing a custom TIDES soundscape. Listeners will also hear selected samples from Caroline's free soundscape, available through her website, The Sound of Dreams. Learn more about Caroline Georgiou and access her resources here: https://www.thesoundofdreams.com/ This episode invites us to consider a powerful question: What if rehabilitation is not only about the conversations we have, but also about the environments we create?
S6 · E243
June 23 · 48 min
What Story Is Probation Telling? Pitts and Mozers, Part Two
In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, we continue Part Two of my conversation with Stephen Pitts and Imants Mozers, authors of The Missing Story: Probation, Legitimacy, and the Battle for Public Understanding. If you have not yet listened to Part One, released as Episode 241, I encourage you to go back and begin there. This second part picks up the conversation by going deeper into probation's identity, public legitimacy, leadership, and the stories the field tells — or fails to tell — about itself. Stephen and Imants challenge us to think about why probation cannot simply assume its value is self-evident. Agencies must be able to explain what they do, why it matters, and how the work contributes to safer and healthier communities. That requires leadership, shared language, strategic communication, and a willingness to listen to voices that are sometimes left out of the official story. In Part Two, we explore: • why probation agencies need a clearer professional identity • the role of leadership in shaping shared language and public understanding • the value of lived experience in explaining justice interventions • why agencies should be strategic about who they try to reach and persuade • how professional probation networks are growing across the world • the importance of APPA, CEP, the Caribbean Association of Probation and Parole, and emerging networks in Africa • Stephen and Imants' reflections on the future of probation • the next World Congress on Probation and Parole, scheduled for Riga, Latvia, in May 2028 Listeners can learn more about Stephen and Imants' work at probationfutures.com, where you can also sign up to receive access to the digital version of The Missing Story when it becomes available. I have also been releasing short YouTube video highlights from this conversation. You can find those, along with additional video content from The Criminologist Podcast, on my YouTube channel. As always, thank you for listening to The Criminologist Podcast. Please subscribe, share this episode with a colleague, and continue following along as we explore the ideas, people, and practices shaping the future of probation, parole, desistance, and community corrections. Links mentioned in this episode Probation Futures: https://probationfutures/com The Criminologist YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCriminologist Short YouTube highlight from this conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4TLNu40TAI American Probation and Parole Association: https://www.appa-net.org Confederation of European Probation: https://www.cep-probation.org World Congress on Probation and Parole information via CEP: https://www.cep-probation.org/world-congress-on-probation/
S6 · E242
June 9 · 54 min
EP 242: Responsivity in Action: LEGO®-Based Interventions with Dr. Jerrod Brown
In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Jerrod Brown for a fascinating conversation on LEGO®-based interventions with justice-involved populations. At first glance, LEGO® bricks may not seem like an obvious tool for probation, corrections, forensic mental health, or human services. But as Dr. Brown explains, structured LEGO®-based activities can provide a powerful, hands-on way to engage individuals who may struggle with traditional talk-based interventions. This conversation explores the intersection of neurodisability, responsivity, trauma-informed practice, and skill development. Many justice-involved individuals experience challenges related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, autism-related needs, dyslexia, learning disabilities, attention, memory, executive functioning, communication, emotional regulation, and social problem-solving. When these realities are missed, professionals may misinterpret confusion as resistance, poor memory as dishonesty, difficulty following instructions as defiance, or emotional dysregulation as simply "bad behavior." Dr. Brown helps us think differently. LEGO®-based interventions can offer a structured, non-threatening, and highly practical way to help individuals build and practice skills such as: communication cooperation problem-solving emotional regulation perspective-taking frustration tolerance planning and sequencing following directions teamwork confidence and mastery For professionals grounded in the Risk-Need-Responsivity framework, this episode is especially relevant. Risk tells us who to prioritize. Need tells us what to target. But responsivity reminds us that how we deliver interventions matters deeply. If the intervention does not fit the learner, we should not be surprised when the intervention does not stick. This episode challenges us to consider how hands-on, visual, structured, and experiential approaches may help make evidence-informed practice more accessible for the people we serve. A huge thank you to Dr. Jerrod Brown for joining the podcast once again and for continuing to push our field to think more carefully, creatively, and compassionately about effective intervention. For additional questions, Dr. Brown can be reached at: Jerrod01234Brown@live.com Thanks for listening to The Criminologist Podcast. And always remember, There's no them...There's only us.
S6 · E242
June 9 · 54 min
EP 242: Responsivity in Action: LEGO®-Based Interventions with Dr. Jerrod Brown
In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Jerrod Brown for a fascinating conversation on LEGO®-based interventions with justice-involved populations. At first glance, LEGO® bricks may not seem like an obvious tool for probation, corrections, forensic mental health, or human services. But as Dr. Brown explains, structured LEGO®-based activities can provide a powerful, hands-on way to engage individuals who may struggle with traditional talk-based interventions. This conversation explores the intersection of neurodisability, responsivity, trauma-informed practice, and skill development. Many justice-involved individuals experience challenges related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, autism-related needs, dyslexia, learning disabilities, attention, memory, executive functioning, communication, emotional regulation, and social problem-solving. When these realities are missed, professionals may misinterpret confusion as resistance, poor memory as dishonesty, difficulty following instructions as defiance, or emotional dysregulation as simply "bad behavior." Dr. Brown helps us think differently. LEGO®-based interventions can offer a structured, non-threatening, and highly practical way to help individuals build and practice skills such as: communication cooperation problem-solving emotional regulation perspective-taking frustration tolerance planning and sequencing following directions teamwork confidence and mastery For professionals grounded in the Risk-Need-Responsivity framework, this episode is especially relevant. Risk tells us who to prioritize. Need tells us what to target. But responsivity reminds us that how we deliver interventions matters deeply. If the intervention does not fit the learner, we should not be surprised when the intervention does not stick. This episode challenges us to consider how hands-on, visual, structured, and experiential approaches may help make evidence-informed practice more accessible for the people we serve. A huge thank you to Dr. Jerrod Brown for joining the podcast once again and for continuing to push our field to think more carefully, creatively, and compassionately about effective intervention. For additional questions, Dr. Brown can be reached at: Jerrod01234Brown@live.com Thanks for listening to The Criminologist Podcast. And always remember, There's no them...There's only us.
S5 · E240
May 25 · 53 min
The Missing Story: The Battle for Probation's Public Image with Stephen Pitts & Imants Mozers — Part One
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6980e079-2d08-832c-91e0-4a28660cace1-7" data-turn-id-container= "request-6980e079-2d08-832c-91e0-4a28660cace1-7" data-testid= "conversation-turn-638" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> 🎙️ Episode Show Notes — Part One The Missing Story of Probation with Stephen Pitts & Imants Mozers What is the story probation tells about itself? And perhaps just as importantly… What happens when probation does not tell that story clearly? In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, we begin a powerful two-part conversation with Stephen Pitts and Imants Mozers, co-authors of the new book: 📘 The Missing Story: Probation, Legitimacy and the Battle for Public Understanding This conversation was so rich, timely, and engaging that we decided to release it as a two-part series. In Part One, Steve and Imants help us explore why probation remains one of the most important — yet often misunderstood — parts of the justice system. Too often, the public hears about probation only when something goes wrong. But what is missing from that narrative? The daily work of supporting change. The quiet building of accountability. The role probation plays in desistance. The contribution probation makes to safer communities. And the professional identity of the people doing this work every day. 🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss: ✅ Why probation has a "missing story" ✅ How public understanding shapes legitimacy ✅ Why probation is often defined by failure rather than impact ✅ The importance of narrative in justice reform ✅ How probation professionals can better communicate their value ✅ The connection between legitimacy, trust, and effective practice ✅ Why probation's identity matters — both internally and externally ✅ The role of leadership in shaping public understanding 🌍 Why This Conversation Matters Probation is not simply about monitoring people. It is about supporting rehabilitation, reducing reoffending, building social reintegration, and helping create safer futures. Yet too often, probation is undervalued because its most meaningful work happens quietly — in conversations, relationships, case plans, community partnerships, and moments of human change that rarely make headlines. Steve and Imants challenge us to think differently. They invite us to ask: 👉 Who tells the story of probation? 👉 What story does the public actually hear? 👉 What happens when probation is misunderstood? 👉 And how can the field become more intentional in communicating its purpose, value, and impact? 📘 About the Book The Missing Story: Probation, Legitimacy and the Battle for Public Understanding explores the urgent need for probation to better explain itself — not as a soft option, not as an invisible arm of the justice system, but as a vital public service rooted in accountability, rehabilitation, and community safety. Learn more about the Probation Futures project here: 🌐 www.probationfutures.com There, you can sign up for updates and learn more about the digital book release and related probation-focused conversations from around the world. 🎧 Stay Tuned for Part Two In Part Two of this conversation, we continue the discussion by exploring: 🔹 The importance of including perspectives of people with lived experience 🔹 How probation can become more transparent and credible 🔹 The future of international probation collaboration 🔹 And the next World Congress on Probation and Parole, which will be held in Riga, Latvia 🎙️ Final Thought Probation's missing story is not simply about what probation does. It is about what probation means. And if probation does not tell that story clearly, someone else will tell it for us. 🔗 Connect & Learn More 📘 Probation Futures: www.probationfutures.com 🎙️ The Criminologist Podcast: thecriminologistpodcast@gmail.com 🌊 Learn more about the TIDES Supervision Model: TheTIDESLLC.com And as always… There's no them. There's only us.
S6 · E239
April 28 · 28 min
Quantum Desistance: How to Shape Behavior Change One Week at a Time
What if the people you supervise aren't one fixed version of themselves… but multiple possible versions—each shaped by what gets reinforced over time? In this episode, I introduce a practical way to think about behavior change in supervision—what I've been developing as Quantum Desistance. This isn't about physics. It's a lens. A way to understand how change actually unfolds—not through one intervention, but through patterns that repeat, stabilize, and eventually become identity. We build from what you already know: The Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model Desistance theory and identity transformation The role of reinforcement, environment, and relationships And then take the next step: 👉 Moving from managing risk → shaping probability 👉 From behavior → identity 👉 From compliance → coherence You'll hear how this shows up in real supervision using a case example, and how small, intentional shifts can begin to change what becomes more likely for the people you work with. I also walk through a simple, field-tested tool: "Shift the Week, Shift the Self" A structured way to: Map a client's real week Identify patterns that drive behavior Introduce the Three Selves (Working, Feared, Preferred) Apply 1–2 small changes that move behavior—and identity—in a new direction Because lasting change doesn't come from one moment. It comes from what gets repeated. 🔧 If you want to go deeper To learn more about the TIDES Supervision Model, visit: 👉 TheTIDESLLC.com Questions about the "Shift the Week, Shift the Self" tool? 📩 thecriminologistpodcast@gmail.com Or connect with me on LinkedIn. 🎯 Bottom line You are not just managing risk. You are shaping probability. You are helping determine which version of that person becomes real.
S5 · E238
March 30 · 1 hr 10 min
EP 238: Making Good—and Staying Good | Paul Doke on Long-Term Desistance
In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, host Joseph Arvidson is joined by Paul Doke, PhD candidate at Liverpool John Moores University, to explore one of the most overlooked questions in our field: What does it take not just to desist from crime—but to stay desisting over time? Building on Shadd Maruna's groundbreaking Liverpool Desistance Study, Paul's research—"Made Good and Stayed Good"—examines identity, recovery, and belonging among long-term members of Narcotics Anonymous who have sustained desistance from crime and substance use for 5, 10, even 40 years. Together, Joseph and Paul explore: Why the concept of "stable recovery" at 5 years may be incomplete Where long-term desisters go after disengaging from the system The critical role of identity transformation in sustained desistance How Narcotics Anonymous fosters belonging, meaning, and pro-social identity Why lived experience must be centered in desistance research and practice The shift from thinking of people as having "desisted" to actively desisting Paul also shares his own powerful journey—from cycles of criminality and substance use to higher education and doctoral research—bringing a rare and essential perspective as both scholar and lived experience expert. And in a remarkable full-circle moment, Paul reflects on his connection to the original Liverpool Desistance Study—not just as a researcher, but as a participant. This is a conversation about the long arc of change, the power of community, and what it truly means to make good—and stay good. 🔗 Learn More To learn more about applying desistance principles in your own work, explore the TIDES Supervision Model: 👉 https://thetidesllc.com/ 🎙️ Connect with the Show Have questions or want to connect? Reach out through The Criminologist Podcast. 🔑 Final Thought Desistance is not a destination. It is a process—one that unfolds over time, through identity, belonging, and human connection.
S5 · E237
January 8 · 1 hr
A TIDES Update & and R-N-R Remix with Brad Bogue!!!
After a brief production pause, The Criminologist Podcast returns with a powerful blend of updates and reflections — both current and classic!!! In this episode, host Joseph Arvidson shares some exciting developments surrounding the ongoing implementation and development of the TIDES Supervision Model, including: ✅ Recent success rolling out TIDES with Partners in Behavioral Health in Minnesota ✅ Expansion of our training delivery options — now offering both in-person (3-day) and virtual formats for the Initial User Training ✅ The launch of our Train-the-Trainer (ToT) curriculum, designed to support internal agency capacity-building ✅ A heartfelt shoutout to Nicole Kimberley-Staeheli (TIDES Co-Creator) and Heather Young (our newly minted TIDES Trainer) — your dedication is helping this model thrive! 🎯 As part of our collaboration with PBH, we also began integrating the DRAOR assessment (Dynamic Risk Assessment for Offender Reentry), developed by Dr. Caleb Lloyd, as a dynamic complement to TIDES. For agencies seeking a desistance-aligned measurement tool, DRAOR is a game changer. But that's not all... 🔁 In the spirit of "Greatest Hits" and in lieu of a new guest, we're re-releasing a must-hear 2021 interview with the legendary Brad Bogue of J-SAT. Brad offers an unparalleled critique of the Needs Principle in RNR, challenges assumptions around the so-called "Big Four," and presents a re-framing that still stirs discussion today. This is essential listening for anyone committed to evidence-based supervision, differential diagnosis, and the evolution of our field. 📌 Links & Resources 🔗 Learn more about Brad Bogue and J-SAT: https://www.j-sat.com/ 🔗 Explore the TIDES Supervision Model: https://thetidesllc.com/ 🎥 Subscribe to The Criminologist YouTube Channel for bonus content and video drops: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCriminologist Learn more about Partners in Behavioral Healthcare: Partners in Behavioral Healthcare 🎧 As always, thank you for being part of this growing community. And remember: There's no them. There's only us.
S5 · E236
Nov 13, 2025 · 1 hr 26 min
EP 236: Tech, Truth, and Transformation...A conversation with Kam Stevens!
In this powerful reunion episode, Kam Stevens returns to The Criminologist—not only as a global changemaker, but as a passionate advocate for lived experience, human dignity, and digital innovation in justice reform. Since first joining us on Episode 40 nearly five years ago, Kam's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. In this conversation, we explore his global justice work through the lens of digital equity, system transformation, and cultural healing. We talk about the evolving landscape of Justice 2.0, the power of elevating lived experience inside systems, and how Kam continues to champion trauma-informed, person-centered approaches to change. We also dive into his latest project—Sphear Music, a Web3-based platform reshaping how music, storytelling, and justice-oriented voices are heard and valued. From frontline reintegration to high-level digital consultancy, Kam invites us to reimagine what true reform can look like—where technology and humanity are no longer at odds, but allies. 🎧 Whether you work in probation, prisons, tech, policy, or the arts—this conversation will move you, challenge you, and inspire action. 🔗 Listen now and join the movement toward systems rooted in connection, equity, and collective growth. Learn more about Justice 2.0 Connect with Kam on Linked In
S5 · E235
Oct 11, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
EP 235: Becoming the Brave One: Amanda Carrasco on Surviving Trauma, Embracing Restorative Justice, and Reclaiming Her Voice
In this powerful episode of The Criminologist Podcast, Joseph Arvidson sits down with author, restorative justice advocate, and survivor Amanda Carrasco. Her debut memoir, Becoming the Brave One, chronicles her harrowing journey through childhood trauma, systemic injustice, and ultimately, transformation through healing and storytelling. Amanda opens up about the writing process, and why accountability, not punishment, should be the cornerstone of a truly restorative justice system. Her work challenges practitioners, policymakers, and survivors alike to imagine a world where courage and compassion coexist. If you've ever wondered what it means to not just survive, but to thrive — this is the episode for you. 📚 Learn More About Amanda Carrasco 🌐 Official Website: amandacarrasco.com 📖 Buy the Book – Becoming the Brave One: Amazon Link 📘 Goodreads: Follow the Book 📱 Follow Amanda on Social Media 📸 Instagram: @amanda_the_brave_one 🎵 TikTok: @amandacarrasco.com 🐦 X (formerly Twitter): @Amanda_Carrasco 🔗 Episode Highlights The emotional and intellectual process of writing Becoming the Brave One Amanda's experience with restorative justice — and why survivors need a voice, not vengeance Advice for justice professionals who work with survivors of complex trauma The healing power of storytelling — and the risks of staying silent 🎧 Connect With The Criminologist Podcast If this conversation moved you, please: ⭐ Leave us a review 📲 Share this episode 🔔 Subscribe for more interviews exploring desistance, neuroscience, trauma, and transformational justice Thank you for supporting voices that matter.
S234 · E5
Aug 23, 2025 · 59 min
WP 234: Killer in the Family....Understanding Intra-Familial Homicide with Dr. Jerrod Brown
In this gripping episode, we welcome back frequent guest and forensic mental health expert Dr. Jerrod Brown to explore the devastating phenomenon of intra-familial homicide—when murder occurs within the home, at the hands of someone trusted and loved. From uxoricide (husbands killing wives) to parricide (children murdering parents), these crimes tear at the fabric of our social and emotional understanding. Why do they happen? How can we spot the warning signs? And what role does neurocriminology play in helping us make sense of the unthinkable? 🎙️ Dr. Brown brings insight from his recent media appearance in People Magazine, where he was quoted in their True Crime Special Edition: A Killer in the Family. As he explains: "People are fascinated by complex and deviant behavior. They want to understand the 'why' behind these cases." – Dr. Jerrod Brown, People Magazine, August 2025 We also discuss: Patterns and motivations in family-based homicide Prevention and risk factors from a forensic lens The psychological dynamics of betrayal, control, and violence 🌍 PLUS: Host Joe Arvidson shares a special shout-out to his new friends and listeners in Uruguay, where he just returned from a Fulbright Specialist assignment training national justice professionals on evidence-based supervision strategies. 🔗 Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 📖 People Magazine: A Killer in the Family Read the article 🧠 AAMFT article on Intra-Familial Homicide Definitions and Framework 📜 Professional Certificate: Becoming a Neurocriminology-Informed Professional Explore the Program 📬 Contact Dr. Jerrod Brown: Jerrod01234@live.com 🎧 Explore more episodes featuring Dr. Brown by searching The Criminologist Podcast in your favorite app! 🧠 Follow us for more insights into criminal behavior, neuroscience, desistance theory, and human-centered supervision strategies. 🎙️ The Criminologist Podcast And always remember, folks—there's no them. There's only us.
S5 · E233
Aug 2, 2025 · 7 min
EP 233: From Minnesota to Montevideo: Fulbright Reflections and RNR in Motion
In this quick-hit mini-sode, host Joe Arvidson checks in with listeners to share exciting updates from The Criminologist universe! Joe talks about prepping for his upcoming Fulbright Specialist assignment in Uruguay—where he'll be training corrections professionals in evidence-based practices like the Risk-Need-Responsivity model, trauma-informed care, and desistance theory. He also reflects on summer podcast plans, international connections, and what to expect in upcoming episodes. It's a brief message, but packed with gratitude, global perspective, and a sneak peek into what's next. 🌎 Montevideo is calling. 🎧 Tune in now, share with a colleague, and stay subscribed for more! #TheCriminologist #Fulbright #Uruguay #EvidenceBasedPractice #RNR #TraumaInformedCare #Desistance #GlobalJustice #CorrectionsTraining #PodcastMiniSode

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