Our research stimulates sector-wide debates on the best way to deliver a range of services and our recommendations improve the way services are commissioned.
Research
Current research
The Experiences and Inclusion of Trans People in Community Justice Services
Using a mix of online surveys and face-to-face interviews, we speak to both hub staff and transgender participants attending the hubs to highlight different people’s experiences. This research will not only be used to improve provision and care for trans people utilising our hubs but is also an important early step in understanding how trans people experience criminal justice services in the community.
Research on Domestic Abuse is crucial to working towards creating safer communities. The first step in that process is identifying and understanding how it occurs, and that is the foundation of our 2021 report titled “The Complex Pathways to Violence in the Home.”
Additionally, we have had an article published in the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) Journal on the subject of challenging the identities of domestic abuse perpetrators. We have also further contributed to the sector debates through the creation of literature reviews, looking more specifically at domestic abuse within the LGBT communities and Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority groups.
Research
Summary:
The Complex Pathways to Domestic Violence in the Home (2021)
Full report:
The Complex Pathways to Violence in the Home
Literature reviews
Domestic abuse evidence review
Domestic abuse in LGBTQIA+ communities
Domestic abuse in Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Groups
Other published work
Article for Russell Webster (2022)
Understanding men who perpetuate domestic abuse
Our research on monitoring and supporting people in the community.
Research
Restorative Justice: Enabling Communication, repairing harm (2021)
Remote Supervision: Getting the Balance Right (2021, a joint report with the University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology)
The Family Involvement Project (2020)
Other published work
A Review of Probation and Mental Health after the pandemic (2022)
Remote Probation Supervision – Getting the Balance Right (2021)
Doing Time on Probation: Some experiences of family members (2020)
How Should Probation Work with Families (2020)
The rise of the far-right terrorist: reconceptualising risk in probation practice (2018)
Research centred on issues of staff wellbeing and emotional labour are fundamental to our commitment to stimulate sector-wide debates on the best ways to deliver public services.
Exploring the women’s lead role (2020)
Other Published work
The Costs of Empathy: Women who Supervise Women on Probation (2020)
The Demands of Delivering a Women-led Probation Service (2020)
Probation Staff Supervision: Valuing Me Time in Congested Spaces
Our researchers
Dr Kerry Ellis Devitt
(SHE / HER)
Head of Research
Kerry has 24 years’ experience as a researcher, and has worked in the public, private, academic and charity sectors. Having begun her career in 1998 as a psychology-based, quantitative researcher, she moved into social research in 2003, and specialised in criminal justice research in 2008.
Kerry has lectured for many years in various universities, teaching psychology, criminology and social research, and most recently held a post at the University of Portsmouth as a lecturer on the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP) programme. In 2020, she completed her PhD with her research, The life-stories of young adult men in the criminal justice system: A critical narrative analysis.
Kerry’s research interests include, young adults in the CJS, women in the CJS, probation practice, families of people on probation, practitioner wellbeing, mental health in probation, and most recently, the life-stories of domestic abuse perpetrators.
Email Dr Kerry Ellis Devitt:
Practice Researcher – Jess Lawrence
(SHE / THEY)
Practice Researcher
Jess has a background in Social Psychology, and has been working in the justice sector since 2017. She is a qualitative researcher and has worked on several collaborative research projects, including with the University of Cambridge and in the HMPPS Probation Workforce Programme. She has conducted research on supported housing, reviewing the Senior Probation Officer role, and the experiences of transgender people at CFO Activity Hubs.
Jess is passionate about diversity and improving outcomes for both the people accessing services and the staff that deliver them. Her research interests include exploring the experiences of LGBTQ+ people (particularly people with minority gender identities), supporting the workforce and practice.
Email Practice Researcher – Jess Lawrence: