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: Ministry of Justice & Department for Education linked dataset
31 January 2025
ADR UK is funding five 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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ADR UK Research Fellows: Data First: Cross-justice system
9 December 2024
ADR UK is funding two Research Fellows to conduct policy-relevant research using the Data First: Cross-Justice System - England and Wales dataset, a groundbreaking resource that links Ministry of Justice data from the civil and family courts with criminal justice system data. These form part of ADR UK’s fellowship opportunities which invited applications to carry out research using eligible flagship datasets.
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ADR England Research Community Catalyst: Youth Transitions
23 July 2024
This project aims to build a research landscape informed by existing research and evidence gaps in the field of youth transitions. It provides opportunities to address these gaps using administrative data and offers a platform for existing and prospective researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and voluntary and community sector organisations to learn, collaborate and innovate.
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Crime & justice news
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Early learning difficulties and poverty linked to later youth justice contact, study finds
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Shaping the future of criminology: ADR UK research at EUROCRIM 2025
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How does early socio-emotional development in childhood relate to later offending?
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Child poverty linked to early youth offending, ADR Scotland study finds
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Study reveals how community sentences vary by ethnicity and sex
Publications
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Data Insight: Experience of poverty and other risk factors among young people who offend in Scotland
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Data Insight: Ethnicity, sex, and community orders
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Care experienced children and young people: Research insights from administrative data
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Data Insight: Were people with health vulnerabilities more likely to be fined by the police during the Covid-19 pandemic?
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Data Insight: Children involved with child welfare services and the likelihood of a custodial sentence
