Inspiring a new generation of criminal justice professionals at Lancaster University.

Posted on: 7th November 2024 | 3 min

On our recent visit to Lancaster University it was pleasure to meet with Dr Camilla De Camargo Lecturer in Criminology with our lived experienced speaker and founder of Crime Guardians CIC Darryl Kennedy. We had some interesting discussions around why people commit and get involved with crime and why it’s vitally important for the next generation of criminal justice professionals to understand the importance of leading with an empathetic approach.

The highlight of the day was the story of Darryl who shared is story with 250 first year students and the feedback from both the students and staff was encouraging and kept the audience engaged captivated and on the edge of their seats with some very interesting questions from the attendees.

Darryl’s life has been marked by a remarkable transformation, from a troubled past to a dedicated advocate on child crime, exploration awareness, early intervention & youth crime prevention Initiatives and restorative justice.

Born and raised in Manchester in the 1960s, Darryl’s story took a different path from the age of 9, when his father involved him in domestic burglary.
Key indicators of why people commit crime in the first place include poverty, neglect, low self-esteem, negative influence, alcohol and drug abuse can all be connected to why people break the law.

Some people are also at risk of offending because of their circumstances. For example living in poverty, feeling hungry will be the cause of shoplifting.
For those of us who have experienced the criminal justice system, many will know we have been judged, labelled and stigmatised and for most of us some from an early childhood.

Being labelled can have huge consequences that can be hard to overcome. Trust is lost and we tend to lose hope and rebel against a system that judges and fails them across multiple services.

Removing negative labels and fully understanding empathy is having the ability to listen, being compassionate and sharing the feelings of others. In the criminal justice system, this skill is invaluable. It bridges gaps to opportunity, fosters trust, and transforms interactions into meaningful conversations to create tailored solutions to the needs. We must pursue a more equitable society.

Everyone deserves a chance and a opportunity to change so Instead of judging people let’s start helping others, being more understanding and empathetic towards each other, so together we can build a brighter future for all.

Sharing our lived experiences with criminology lectures and students is vitally important in rebuilding our broken education and justice system.

Inspiring Change with Meet & Motivate

Our Meet & Motivate sessions bring dynamic speakers into universities, schools, prisons, youth offending teams, police and the probation services to share their personal stories of overcoming adversity and achieving success.

These powerful, real-life narratives inspire students to push beyond their limits, helping them to see the value in their education and the potential for their future. Designed to engage and uplift, our sessions encourage self-belief and resilience, showing students how they can turn daily habits into long-term achievements.

Discover how these sessions can transform attitudes and motivate students to realise their full potential.

Change is coming.

#education #criminaljustice #helpothers

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