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David Adlington-Rivers

@forensichope.bsky.social

580 followers 1.4K following 180 posts

Forensic Hope Researcher at Durham University (PhD). Aspiring Forensic Hope Psychologist. Prison reform. Associate Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, Hope and Resilience at Bucks New University. Author of prison book: Freedom is in the Mind.

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Dec 30

Some time ago I made a short clip of the power of forensic hope.

youtu.be/Meq127tDSmI?...

Forensic hope: an overview of its potential

YouTube video by Freedom is in the Mind

youtu.be

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Aug 19

My supervision team has changed. It’s been a pleasure to be supervised by the distinguished Professor Graham Towl.

I now have Professor Tammi Walker, Asst Professor Leanne Trick (Durham) and Assoc Professor Jake Phillips (Camb) coming on board.

Hope is getting closer.

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Aug 3

Provisional title:

A Game of Snakes and Ladders: A Qualitative Study of Hope, Motivation and Purpose in the Lives of Former Prisoners

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Aug 3

It's been a while since I posted, but by way of update, I am now about to start the substantive phase of my hope research with people released from prison. The sample is a lot bigger this time round.

Reposted by David Adlington-Rivers

The Howard League @thehowardleague.bsky.social · Feb 20

"Pregnant prisoners ‘forced to wear handcuffs in labour’".

A shocking insight into the realities face by some women in prison: www.channel4.com/news/exclusi...

Exclusive: Pregnant prisoners ‘forced to wear handcuffs in labour’

The ministry of Justice is urgently looking into concerns raised by Channel 4 News that women at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey have been shackled and restrained while in labour - at times by male prison o...

www.channel4.com

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Feb 3

I recently contributed to a comment piece with Dr Nicola Mallowan for @bnuni.bsky.social about potential alternative solutions to imprisonment, to coincide with David Gauke's forthcoming sentencing review, commissioned by Lord Timpson.

www.bucks.ac.uk/news/comment...

#prison #forensichope

Comment: How the UK's sentencing measures are failing offenders and society

Comment piece by Dr Nicola Mallowan, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology.

www.bucks.ac.uk

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Feb 3

There are now two facts in life.

1. We will all meet our death one day.
2. Energy prices will rise in the UK every year.

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Feb 3

Guantanamo Bay was wrong the first time round, and it's wrong this time too. These people are humans with feelings and families; not commodities used for political point scoring.

These activities only encourage future extremist actions due to the anger and revenge of the people held captive.

Carceral Abolition @carceralabolition.bsky.social · Feb 3

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that President Trump does not plan to hold illegal immigrants indefinitely at the naval detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/fe...

Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem downplays prospect of indefinite detentions at Guantanamo

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that President Trump does not plan to hold illegal immigrants indefinitely at the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

www.washingtontimes.com

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Feb 3

Keep an eye on the future, but always remember the present moment and make the most of the time.

Nobody can turn back the clock.

Reposted by David Adlington-Rivers

The Howard League @thehowardleague.bsky.social · Feb 3

The prison population stands at 86,802. There are 339 more people in prison than there were last week.

By the prison service's own measure of safe and decent accommodation, there is room for only 79,409, the population is 7,393 above this level.

howardleague.org/prison-watch/

The old governors house now used for Clinks restaurant inside HM Prison Brixton (photo by Andy Aitchison)

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Feb 2

The Justice Committee will hear from organisations and charities working across prisons and probation during the first evidence session in Parliament on Tuesday 4 February of its inquiry ‘Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending the cycle of reoffending’. The session will be on Parliament TV.

Reposted by David Adlington-Rivers

Susie Dent @susiedent.com · Dec 31

Word of the Day is one I keep posting at the end of the year, hoping its time will come.

‘Respair’, from the 16th century, is fresh hope, and a recovery from despair.

Here’s to a few drops of respair in 2025.

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 30

Positive thinking.

Sounds good doesn't it? It's not just words. It's power.

It's always a pleasure to do hope and resilience workshops for students on the Masters in Positive Psychology degree at @bnuni.bsky.social

We get out what we put in.

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 30

It is sad to read that an organisation designed to help people in need in the criminal justice sector is closing (The New Leaf Initiative CIC), after many years hard work and dedication. This is the reality of being funded by public contracts that can be volatile.

Reposted by David Adlington-Rivers

The Howard League @thehowardleague.bsky.social · Jan 28

Becoming a Howard League member is the easiest way to get involved in our movement for change and make your voice heard. We are the world's oldest prison charity. We safeguard our independence and do not accept any funding from government.
howardleague.org/membership/

SUPPORT OUR WORK: Please help us to continue our work, either by joining as a member or making a donation.

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 28

Why Oxford and Cambridge?

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jan 28

Reeves plans to create ‘Silicon Valley’ between Oxford and Cambridge

Chancellor to announce plans to improve infrastructure in region to put it at forefront of science and tech advances Rachel Reeves is unveiling plans to create “Europe’s Silicon Valley” between Oxford and Cambridge as she stakes the government’s success…

www.theguardian.com

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 25

Absolutely. Beyond belief really.

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 25

Sounds about right. Why deal with the homeless problem when you can simply criminalise it? Next, they'll be wanting a prison for the homeless.

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 25

@carolvorderman.bsky.social @peterstefanovic.bsky.social

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 25

This ridiculous saga continues at the expense of a lady that is effectively receiving a re-punishment due to technical issues with electronic tags.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Just Stop Oil protester, 78, has jail term extended after no suitable tag found

Exclusive: Gaie Delap told she will have to serve 20 more days that correspond to period of time at home after recall

www.theguardian.com

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 24

There is a Hope programme running in UK prisons that is not scientifically validated. I aim to introduce a scientifically validated version.

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 23

Dealing with the root causes of the bleed must be a better option than putting plasters on to stop the bleed.

David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 23

The continuing IPP scandal in the UK perpetuated by successive Governments. Human rights violation.

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 23

Thank you. It’s like hope theory sat on a dusty bookshelf for a few years. I took it off the shelf and applied the theory to the forensic population. The idea lived in my head for a long time.

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 23

I am feeling the pressure of producing my best ever work for my hope thesis. It has significant value to me but I don’t think it will have value more broadly for a few years. I’d like it to make a difference to those that need it.

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David Adlington-Rivers @forensichope.bsky.social · Jan 23

Thank you David for those kind comments.