In this episode, we explore what the public think and feel about crime and justice, with Dr Tom McNeil, CEO of The JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls and former Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands. In this discussion Edwina and Tom look at how attitudes are shaped not just by facts, but by media coverage, political messaging, personal experience, and powerful emotions like fear, anger, and empathy.
We hear about the links between trauma, poverty, abuse and women’s involvement in the justice system, and why understanding these pathways matters for shaping fairer and more effective responses to crime. The conversation also touches on bias in how women are judged, the impact of sending primary carers to prison, and the limits of imprisonment as a solution.
More broadly, the episode asks what it would take to have higher-quality public debate about crime – including better public education, more honest political leadership, and a media and social media environment that supports, rather than distorts, informed discussion.
Dr Tom McNeil has written a book, Public Opinion on Crime: Message Framing and Deliberative Democracy for a Progressive Consensus. You can access it for free here: https://jabbswomenandgirls.org.uk/resources/open-access-book-public-opinion-on-crime/
Learn more about The JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls: https://jabbswomenandgirls.org.uk/
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