Current projects
The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies aims to encourage and facilitate an understanding of the complex nature of issues concerning crime and related harms.
All our work is characterised by our independent and objective approach and a commitment to promote just and effective responses to crime and related harms. Below are the current themes and projects that we are working on.
Community SentencesThe Community Sentences project is a three year project providing analysis and information about the new generic community sentence introduced under the 2003 Criminal Justice Act. |
CrimeinfoOur public information website on crime and the criminal justice system. |
Grosvenor Scoping ReportThere are a number of statutory and voluntary sector initiatives underway to develop innovative community based centres for female offenders but comparatively little for men. We are scoping out a model for a community based centre for male adult offenders with multiple needs looking at how it might link in with it. |
Harm and SocietyThe Harm and Society project is a social policy and criminal justice think tank based at the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies The project has embarked on a detailed work programme to stimulate debate about the role and limits of criminal justice and enhance understanding of the foundations and characteristics of a safer society. |
Knife crimeIn December 2007 we published a review of evidence and policy on knife crime. The report, 'Knife Crime: A review of evidence and policy'
is the second edition of a report originally published in August 2006. |
Offenders and EducationWe recently published a study examining how prison officers viewed prison education and we are currently planning scoping work on meeting the educational needs of offenders in the community and in custody. You can find out more about Wings of Learning from the project page. |
Prison, sentencing and crime ratesWith the prison population continuing to reach record levels this project will be looking at changing sentencing patterns and critically considering the link between crime rates and the prison population. A policy briefing paper report will be published and then used as the basis for public debate and discussion at a number of special events. |
Sentencing - Evaluation of Local Crime and Community SentencesCCJS has been involved in a unique project looking at how the public's understanding and knowledge of sentencing practice can be improved. |
Una Padel AwardThe award recognises outstanding and inspiring organisational and individual contributions in the field of criminal justice. |
What is crime?A public policy project funded by the Wates Foundation and a new addition to the Centre's work in 2008. The programme for this project is currently in development and more information will be available soon. Click here for more details. |
Whose Justice?Whose Justice? is a strategic project offering critical and innovative perspectives on the scope and purpose of the criminal justice system in the UK, shedding new light on old problems. |
Youth Justice - Youth Justice Audit2008 will mark ten years since the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act was introduced which required all local authorities in England and Wales to establish a multi disciplinary youth offending team (Yot) working with under 18 year olds who are sentenced by the courts and also children who are 'at risk' of offending. In the same year the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales was set up to oversee the introduction and performance of Yots. Ten years on an audit of youth justice will assess the performance and progress of the youth justice system against its key targets and objectives. |