ADR UK Research Fellows: Data First: Cross-justice system

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.

This dataset contains de-identified data on an individual person- and case- level, from the start of criminal prosecutions in the magistrates’ courts and Crown Court, through to periods spent in prison custody or under supervision of the Probation Service. This data is now linkable to information on adults and children involved in family court cases dealing with child arrangements, divorce, or adoption, as well as people (and companies) involved in civil cases, for example, in relation to housing or debt, as claimants or defendants.

The Data First: Cross-Justice System dataset therefore offers a unique opportunity to explore how people experience and interact across different justice jurisdictions, from criminal prosecutions to civil and family court cases. These can provide insights into research questions that have not been possible before, such as to what extent people involved in the criminal justice system are also dealing with cases in relation to children, housing or debt in the civil and family courts.

By studying these patterns, research using the dataset can help to build a picture of how justice system interactions can shape broader social outcomes. These Research Fellows are using the linked criminal justice data in this dataset to explore ethnic inequalities, reoffending and offender rehabilitation. They will access the dataset via the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service.

Learn more about the Research Fellows and their projects below.