What happens when someone is sentenced to prison? What education programs are available to prisoners? What does the day-to-day life of a prisoner look like? In this episode of Sentencing Explained, we sit down with retired Commissioner of Corrective Services and current Sentencing Council member Peter Severin.

Listen in to find out what happens after someone is sentenced to prison – from when they leave the courtroom to their release back into the community. Former Commissioner Severin also takes us through the prison classification system and discusses how the system responds to prisoner issues and needs.

What happens when someone is sentenced to prison? What education programs are available to prisoners? What does the day-to-day life of a prisoner look like? In this episode of Sentencing Explained, we sit down with retired Commissioner of Corrective Services and current Sentencing Council member Peter Severin.
 Listen in to find out what happens after someone is sentenced to prison – from when they leave the courtroom to their release back into the community. Former Commissioner Severin also takes us through the prison classification system and discusses how the system responds to prisoner issues and needs.

Sentencing Explained is a podcast about NSW sentencing trends and practices. Join Chair of the NSW Sentencing Council, the Hon Peter McClellan AM KC, in conversation with esteemed guests including judges, police, public interest lawyers, prosecutors, victims’ advocates, and Sentencing Council members. They provide a window into the NSW justice system for students, lawyers, and anyone interested in criminal law. Episodes are released on Mondays. If you’re a student, get the most of each episode and download the study guide at sentencingcouncil.nsw.gov.au/podcast

Sentencing Explained

Prison and community corrections with retired Commissioner of Corrective Services Peter Severin

Parole is an important part of our criminal justice system. It provides offenders with a path to rehabilitation as they transition from the prison system back into the community. But how does parole work?

In this episode, Peter is joined by the Honourable James Wood AO KC. Mr Wood has had a long career in the law, including as the former Chair of the State Parole Authority. They discuss how parole decisions are made, what happens when an offender breaches a parole condition and whether parole actually does reduce re-offending.

Parole is an important part of our criminal justice system. It provides offenders with a path to rehabilitation as they transition from the prison system back into the community. But how does parole work?
In this episode, Peter is joined by the Honourable James Wood AO KC. Mr Wood has had a long career in the law, including as the former Chair of the State Parole Authority. They discuss how parole decisions are made, what happens when an offender breaches a parole condition and whether parole actually does reduce re-offending.

An insight into parole with the Hon James Wood AO KC

In this episode, we are joined by Magistrate Mark Douglass to talk about his experiences as an Aboriginal magistrate and his perspective on Aboriginal people and the criminal justice system.

Magistrate Douglass discusses how he overcame early life challenges to reach his current position. He shares his hope that the criminal justice system is changing, including through the expansion of culturally-specific processes and his work as Chair of the Local Court’s First Nations Committee.

Please note this episode contains content that some listeners may find distressing, including mentions of domestic violence, sexual assault and suicide. If you want to avoid this content, skip from 1:41 to 3:07 and from 22:35 to 23:36. If you need support, you can contact these services free of charge:
Beyond Blue: call support services on 1300 22 4636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au
Lifeline: call the 24-hour crisis line on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au
FullStop Australia: call 1800 424 017 or visit www.fullstop.org.au
National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Service: call 1800RESPECT or 1800 737 732,or visit www.1800respect.org.au

In this episode, we are joined by Magistrate Mark Douglass to talk about his experiences as an Aboriginal magistrate and his perspective on Aboriginal people and the criminal justice system.
Magistrate Douglass discusses how he overcame early life challenges to reach his current position. He shares his hope that the criminal justice system is changing, including through the expansion of culturally-specific processes and his work as Chair of the Local Court’s First Nations Committee.
Please note this episode contains content that some listeners may find distressing, including mentions of domestic violence, sexual assault and suicide. If you want to avoid this content, skip from 1:41 to 3:07 and from 22:35 to 23:36. If you need support, you can contact these services free of charge:
<ul>
<li>Beyond Blue: call support services on 1300 22 4636 or visit <a href="http://www.beyondblue.org.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.beyondblue.org.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1682740524086000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0e0OF6q9QwabarJajDNDtr">www.beyondblue.org.au</a></li>
<li>Lifeline: call the 24-hour crisis line on 13 11 14 or visit <a href="http://lifeline.org.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lifeline.org.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1682740524086000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Gm-yAgqHK8zwjZ91fUt-q">lifeline.org.au</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>FullStop Australia: call 1800 424 017 or visit <a href="http://www.fullstop.org.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.fullstop.org.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1682740524086000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PeOPQhSbXJRP2dCVKDJYK">www.fullstop.org.au</a></li>
<li>National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Service: call 1800RESPECT or 1800 737 732,or visit <a href="http://www.1800respect.org.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.1800respect.org.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1682740524086000&amp;usg=AOvVaw198j-laXrl8Ik95ZZm2f7u">www.1800respect.org.au</a></li>
</ul>

Aboriginal people and the criminal justice system with Magistrate Douglass

In this episode we are joined by Darumbal and Gunggari woman Maree Jennings to talk about the Circle Sentencing program. A former community panel member and Project Officer in Circle Sentencing, Maree now works on the operational side of the program with the Department of Communities and Justice.

Listen in to hear about Maree’s experience sitting on Circles, how Circle Sentencing works and why she thinks the program is making a difference to Aboriginal people’s lives.

In this episode we are joined by Darumbal and Gunggari woman Maree Jennings to talk about the Circle Sentencing program. A former community panel member and Project Officer in Circle Sentencing, Maree now works on the operational side of the program with the Department of Communities and Justice.
Listen in to hear about Maree’s experience sitting on Circles, how Circle Sentencing works and why she thinks the program is making a difference to Aboriginal people’s lives.

Prison and community corrections with retired Commissioner of Corrective Services Peter Severin

Sentencing Explained

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips