Just Festival 2019

The 19th Just Festival will take place at St John’s Church, Princes Street/Lothian Road, 2nd-25th August. This year’s theme is ’Transitions’, with a programme of performing arts events, conversations, talks and exhibitions that address an array of different transitions moments in life: ageing, resettlement, gender reassignment, and socio-political changes. The theme explores the impact on our choices and well-being. On Monday 19th August at 5.30pm the Minister will chair a conversation on, “Breaking the Cycle.” In the last 20 years the prison population in Scotland increased from 5,869 in 2000 to 7,595 in 2018, reaching its peak at 8,212 in 2012 (World Prison Brief). Many lives are thereby directly or indirectly affected by the imprisonment of a family member or friend. With widespread criticism over traditional justice systems that punish but fail to reduce reoffending, the Scottish justice system has undertaken several reviews to improve connectedness with family members and the community at large, with young offenders in particular in mind. Join our panel to discuss ways in which offenders and ex-offenders can be supported as they transition back to civilian life, to ensure their wellbeing and to increase public safety. The panelists are the Very Revd Dr Andrew McLellan (former HMI Scottish Prisons) and Sandy Cameron (Chair of SACRO – Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders). Entrance is free. For information about the other Just Festival events, see their website www.just-festival.org/2019-just-festival-programme-edinburgh