Today’s episode is an exclusive interview with Martin Jones CBE, who was appointed His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation in March 2024. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive of the Parole Board from 2015.

Sam meets Martin Jones at the MOJ building, 102 Petty France, Westminster in July 2024 to discuss the IPP scandal in the shadow of the looming prisons crisis. It had been a big week for criminal justice: the new Justice Minister, Shabana Mahmood had just announced she was dealing with the crisis by allowing the early release of prisoners on standard determinate sentences after serving 40% of their sentences in custody. However, Martin tells Sam that 97% of probation areas are falling short of expectations, an extraordinary figure which starkly highlights a system that is not only in crisis, but has spectacularly failed. Martin’s message to the new government is that they need to invest in an already struggling probation service. The system is broken everywhere and there are no quick fixes. And he says he hopes the new government will “look again” at IPP sentences, which are “hugely costly, hugely burdensome for the system”.

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For more info about the IPP campaign visit UNGRIPP | www.ungripp.com | @UNGRIPP | And the IPP Committee In Action @ActionIpp

Contributors in order of appearance:

Martin Jones CBE, HM Chief Inspector of Probation | @jones_martinw

Voices in Archive:

Shabana Mahmood, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor | @ShabanaMahmood

Credits:

Reporter: Samantha Asumadu | @SamanthaAsumadu

Executive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald | @melissafitzg

Producer: Steve Langridge | @SMLANGERS

Consultant: Hank Rossi

An Ear Worm Production for the Institute of Now

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