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This is the second webinar for the International Network for Criminal Justice Development. Part One of this session had contributions from Nick Glynn of Open Society, UK, Nicky Woods – Director, Befrienders Yarlswood Detention Centre, UK.
This seminar continued IN-CJ’s exploration of the future for international development in criminal justice, focusing on reform, legitimacy, and the role of communication strategies. The session began with a presentation from Nick Glynn, who drew on his experience as a senior police officer and work on stop-and-search reform. He reflected on policing culture, the challenges of sustaining change, and the need for evidence-based practice. Nick posed difficult questions about how reforming voices can be supported within police organisations without jeopardising careers, and how to avoid cycles of crisis, reform, and backsliding.
Nicky Woods followed with reflections from her career in international development and communication. Drawing on work in Africa, Asia, and the UK, she highlighted the importance of embedding communication strategies in justice reform. Nicky emphasised ownership, access, and participation as essential elements, noting how women in detention often face barriers to voice and representation. She pointed to parallels between international post-conflict contexts and the UK’s detention system, stressing the need for both top-down leadership and grassroots participation.
The discussion broadened to include contributions from across the network. Participants compared lessons from policing, probation, and prisons, noting shared challenges around culture, trust, and legitimacy. Issues of diversity, gender, and inequality were highlighted, alongside the importance of small-scale reforms that can have systemic impact. Communication was identified as a thread running through all areas, from media strategies to the ability of individuals and communities to be heard.
What emerged from the session was the recognition that sustainable international justice reform requires more than technical fixes. It depends on cultural change, inclusive communication, and a balance between structural leadership and grassroots empowerment. By bringing diverse voices together, the seminar highlighted the value of the IN-CJ network as a space for open, critical, and collaborative dialogue.