Crime and Nourishment - Special Podcast Series

(1) The Kids Aren't Alright

In Part 1 of this special podcast series, chartered psychologist Kimberley Wilson examines the evidence that shows a beneficial effect of nutrition on childhood behavioural disorders, and the surprising and worrying link between hunger and school exclusions.

Contributors:

• Dr. Alex Richardson - Founder Director of FAB Research, and Senior Research Associate, Dept of Physiology, Anatomy Genetics, University of Oxford
• Carmel McConnell MBE - Activist and Founder of Magic Breakfast
• Sarah Dove - Strategic Director Phoenix Education Consultancy. President of PRUsAP

(2) The Prison Studies

In 2002, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed that nutritional supplementation could reduce violence in prison by 37%. This study has since been replicated in prison populations in the UK, The Netherlands and Singapore.

• Dr Bernard Gesch, Research Consultant
• Professor John Stein - Emeritus Professor of Physiology, Dept of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford University
• Professor Adrian Raine - Richard Perry University Professor of Criminology & Psychiatry, Department of Criminology of the School of Arts and Sciences and Dept of Psychiatry of the School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

This episode moves away, temporarily from 'prison studies' to consider other research around the world showing the profound effects of nutrition on behaviour and mental health - including decision-making, and protection from stress and PTSD.

Contributors

• Prof. Dr. Soyoung Park - Head of department of Decision Neuroscience & Nutrition and Joint professor of Charité – University Hospital Berlin and the German Institute of Human Nutrition
• Prof. Julia Rucklidge - the Director of the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Group at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing.

(4) You Be The Judge

The evidence of improved behaviour and academic outcomes for children with access to breakfast clubs, of reduced violence with improved nutrition in prison populations, as well as other research from around the world on nutrition, brain and behaviour, is well-established.

This episode focuses on the key question. Why aren’t we doing anything with this information?

Kimberley Wilson speaks to legal experts about why the UK government and judicial system has failed to integrate biological research into sentencing guidelines.

Contributors

• Prof. Nicola Padfield QC - Professor of Criminal and Penal Justice, University of Cambridge. Life Fellow, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
• Fabio Tartarini – Chartered Psychologist and Ph.D. Candidate - Prisons Research Centre, University of Cambridge.
• Luis Navarro – Restaurateur, consultant to prison kitchens in association with Learning Together prison education programme.
• John Samuels QC FRSA – Retired judge, former Chairman of the Criminal Sub-committee of the UK Council of Circuit Judges, former Chair of the Prisoners’ Education Trust.