Criminal justice, representation and the lived experience scholar

This article examines the integration of lived experience narratives into criminal justice, highlighting a significant shift towards a more inclusive and experiential approach within the field. We explore the contributions of scholars with lived experiences of the criminal legal system (CLS) to the academic and advocacy landscape, emphasising the emergence of convict criminology and lived experience criminology. These subdisciplines centre on the insights of those directly impacted by the CLS, offering a critical view from within and a broader perspective on personal interactions with the system. We argue that incorporating lived experiences can enrich criminal justice research and practice, leading to more effective, empathetic policies and interventions. However, we also identify a gap in the literature concerning the representational dynamics within this emergent paradigm, specifically the sociodemographic constitution of lived experience contributors. Utilising Hanna Pitkin's seminal theories on political representation, we critically evaluate the extent to which lived experience narratives embody both symbolic and substantive representation. We suggest that while individuals with lived experiences may not fully encapsulate the demographic diversity of those impacted by the CLS, their narratives provide crucial insights that transcend mere demographic congruence. We conclude that more needs to be done to encourage and value diverse voices within this space, highlighting the need for criminal justice to address power dynamics, bridge the gap between academic and experiential knowledge, and promote public engagement and discourse. This engagement with lived experiences is posited as essential for driving meaningful policy and systemic reform, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and just CLS.

© The Author(s) 2024.

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