Empowerment for People With Lived Experience of the Justice System? Peer Leadership and the ‘Spectrum of Public Participation’

ABSTRACT

Drawing from Arnstein’s original ladder model, and the political philosophy of Dewey, Fraser and Pitkin, it is argued that people with lived experience of the justice system require a coherent social movement if they are to be collectively empowered by lived experience consultations. I argue that social services for people in the justice system can foster the development of movements through a relational approach grounded in the ethics of care. Lived experience co-production can build solidarity, agency and voice and provide opportunities for people to ‘come out’ as activists. Once movements demonstrate engagement, alignment, adaptation and influence, consultations can be collectively empowering.