Crime & Justice
Crime will affect each and every one of us at some point during our lives, and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable groups in our society. It is critical that we understand the conditions that influence crime in the UK.

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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ADR UK Research Fellows: The first users of the Data First probation and criminal justice linked datasets
28 February 2023
ADR UK is funding two Research Fellows for 12 months to conduct analysis using the newly available Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Data First probation and criminal justice system linked datasets. The research aims to improve our understanding of experiences of the criminal justice system.
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ADR UK Research Fellows: Ministry of Justice and the Department for Education linked datasets fellowships
16 December 2021
ADR UK is funding five 12-month Research Fellowships to conduct analysis using the Ministry of Justice (MoJ)-Department for Education (DfE) linked dataset to understand links between childhood characteristics, educational outcomes, and offending.
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ADR UK Research Fellows: The first users of the Data First magistrates’ and Crown Court datasets
16 June 2021
ADR UK is funding four Research Fellows for seven to 12 months to conduct analysis using the Data First magistrates’ or Crown Court linked datasets, or a linking dataset enabling analysis of relationships between the two. Both datasets contain case and defendant level data on criminal court use between 2011 and 2020.
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Crime & Justice News
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Developing trajectories of (re)-offending using UK administrative data
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Enforced alcohol abstinence: does it reduce reoffending?
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ADR UK invests further funding in AD|ARC: A UK-wide agricultural data programme
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Ethnicity, gender and community sentences
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Using linked data to evaluate special educational needs provision and offending risk
Publications
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Data Insight: The outcomes of serious and organised crime cases appearing before the criminal courts in England and Wales
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Ethnic inequalities in the criminal justice system
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Data Insight: The nature, extent and outcomes of serious and organised crime cases prosecuted in England and Wales
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Data Insight: Inequalities in sentencing in the Crown Court - evidence from the Ministry of Justice Data First criminal justice datasets
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Data Insight: The number of convictions before the imposition of a short sentence of immediate custody
Find out more
If you are a researcher interested in working with admistrative data within this theme, or a policymaker interested in how ADR UK work can improve your insights and support your decision making in this area, please get in touch.