An effective justice system plays an integral role in the maintenance of a peaceful, fair and cohesive society. Research within this theme attempts to understand the causes and mechanisms at play within the UK justice system and society, and examines issues such as reoffending, rehabilitation and the far-reaching impact of crime.
One of ADR UK’s flagship programmes of work within this research theme, Data First, is an ambitious data-linking programme led by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). It aims to unlock the potential of the wealth of data already created by MoJ, by linking administrative datasets from across the justice system and beyond, and enabling researchers – within government as well as accredited academics – to access the data in an ethical and responsible way.
More in-depth information about the individual data linkage and research projects being undertaken within this theme can be explored below.
Crime & justice projects
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Understanding change in the offender population and patterns of sentencing in Scotland
5 November 2026
This project aims to improve understanding of who is being convicted in Scotland’s courts, what offences people are being convicted for, and how sentencing patterns have changed over time.
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ADR UK Research Fellows: Data First: Cross-justice system
24 August 2026
ADR UK is funding Research Fellows to conduct policy-relevant research using the Data First: Cross-Justice System - England and Wales dataset, a groundbreaking resource that includes Ministry of Justice data from across the justice system in England and Wales.
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ADR UK Research Fellows: Ministry of Justice & Department for Education linked dataset
24 August 2026
ADR UK is funding Research Fellows to conduct research and analysis using the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) & Department for Education (DfE) linked dataset. They will uncover insights into how educational factors contribute to young peoples’ interactions with the criminal justice system. The projects are the result of ADR UK Fellowship opportunities which invited applications to conduct research using eligible ADR England flagship datasets.
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Crime & justice news
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Recording: How data-driven evidence can transform youth justice outcomes
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ADR UK announces Academic Leads to work with the Ministry of Justice for data-driven impact
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ADR UK funds 17 Research Fellowships to answer critical policy questions using linked administrative data
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Bridging the research-practice gap: What linked administrative data reveals about young people’s pathways into criminal justice involvement
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Building a community for crime and justice administrative data
Crime & justice publications
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Policy Briefing: Was there an association between police enforcement and health vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic?
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Policy Briefing: Who benefited most from the crime drop? Measuring stability and change in victimisation inequality across different socio-demographic groups
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Data Insight: Ethnic disparities in recall on licence
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Data Insight: From custody to community: Does post-release supervision reduce re-offending?
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Data Insight: School exclusions and criminal justice system involvement
