Building a community for crime and justice administrative data

Administrative data is transforming understanding of crime and justice, helping researchers uncover patterns, evaluate interventions, and generate evidence that can improve outcomes across the justice system. Yet unlocking the full potential of this data requires collaboration across academia, government, policy, and practice. In this blog, Dr Bogusia Wojciechowska, Senior Research Manager at ADR UK, reflects on the launch of the Criminal Justice Administrative Data Network.

On the 28 May, I had the pleasure of joining researchers, data experts, policymakers, and practitioners at the University of Huddersfield for a full-day event exploring the power and potential of administrative data in crime and justice research. This also marked the launch of the Criminal Justice Administrative Data Network, or CJADN, an affiliate community of ADR UK.

Hosted in the Charles Sykes Building, there was a clear sense that we are building something bigger together: a collaborative community focused on using data-driven insights to improve the justice system.

Setting the scene

The day opened with remarks from Professor Phillip Brown (Strategic Lead for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Huddersfield) and Dr Emma Gordon (ADR UK’s Director), who highlighted the growing importance of administrative data in shaping evidence-based policy and the need for stronger cross-sector collaboration.

The challenge of working with real-world data

Professor Iain Brennan (University of Hull, also an ADR UK Ambassador) delivered a keynote on the complexity of linking violence and school exclusion data. He described administrative data research as a kind of “methodological whack-a-mole”, where solving one issue often reveals another. It was a relatable way of capturing both the frustration and the value of this kind of work.

What the research is showing

Across the morning, ADR UK research fellows shared how they are using linked datasets to answer difficult, real-world questions:

• Dr Hannah Dickson (Senior Lecturer, King’s College London) examined how educational experiences influence outcomes after prison, using Ministry of Justice linked to Department for Education (MoJ-DfE) data.
• Professor Tim McSweeney (Dawes Chair of Public Protection, Anglia Ruskin University) explored reintegration outcomes for individuals approved for release by the Parole Board using Data First.
• Dr Paul Garcia (Senior Research Officer, University of Essex), using MoJ-DfE data, focused on earlier life stages, analysing how socio-emotional development shapes adolescent offending and the implications for early intervention.

Together, these projects showed how administrative data can connect different stages of people’s lives in ways that were not previously possible.

Barriers and shared solutions

In the afternoon, Claire Mokrysz, Alice Major, and Carys Pugh (Ministry of Justice) introduced the Data First programme, sparking discussion around dataset access, linkage, and analytical challenges. Breakout sessions reinforced that many barriers are collective – however, that also means their solutions can be too.

Engaging the public and building trust

A panel on impact and public engagement, featuring Shayda Kashef (Senior Public Engagement Manager, ADR UK), Professor Tim McSweeney, Dr Hannah Dickson, Dr Vickie Barrett (Senior Lecturer, University of Huddersfield, ADR UK Fellow, and CAJDN Co-Chair) and Dr Angela Sorsby (Lecturer, University of Sheffield, ADR UK Fellow, and CAJDN Co-Chair), explored how to communicate research using sensitive data, embed lived experience, and build trust through transparency and inclusion. These discussions highlighted the importance of engaging the public meaningfully alongside technical work.

Launching CJADN

One of the key moments of the day was the launch of the Criminal Justice Administrative Data Network, introduced by Dr Vickie Barrett and Dr Angela Sorsby.

The network aims to bring together researchers, analysts, and practitioners, creating space for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation to maximise the impact of crime and justice data research. The response in the room suggested a real appetite for this kind of connection, and a willingness to shape the network together.

Looking ahead

The day closed with reflections from Dr Emma Gordon and an informal networking session that carried conversations well beyond the final remarks.

What stayed with me was a simple but important point: administrative data has huge potential, but its real value depends on how we work together. CJADN feels like a meaningful step towards a more connected and collaborative community in this space.

If you would like to learn more about CJADN, please contact Dr Vickie Barrett at V.Barrett2@hud.ac.uk. You can also sign up to ADR UK’s communities newsletter to stay updated on affiliate communities, or visit the ADR UK website for further information.