A Critical Reflection of Victimhood Narratives in Criminal Justice Spaces
A Critical Reflection of Victimhood Narratives in Criminal Justice Spaces This blog is likely to be controversial to a great many people in the Criminology and Criminal Justice field. However, at times, we have to stand up and speak our truth, even if it's uncomfortable for some; otherwise, we lose our integrity and fail to provide alternative, critical perspectives. In the UK, we - the general public, both left and right - seem to be obsessed at the moment with vilifying criminal justice institutions and services. I have a few reflective observations about this contemporary, widely accepted meta-narrative of an oppressive criminal justice system and how we - academics and critical reformers - seemingly seek to elevate the voices of people like me with "lived experience" of what is often described as "system harms." I'm someone who grew up in a chaotic, traumatic and impoverished home. I spent time in the care system and although I hardly attended primary