Informing New Violence Reduction Strategies for Professionals working with Young People in Custody

Description of impact

Claire's research on violence management at a Secure Training Centre was used as evidence to develop their new Violence Reduction Strategy (VDS) and to inform training for their Specialist Interventions Teams. It has provided a clearer understanding of the impact of domestic violence on young people to training centre staff (Paterson-Young et al., 2017 and Paterson-Young, 2018). For example, the research outlined the traumatic impact of restraint on young people in custody (especially those with a history of domestic violence) and offered frameworks to enhance outcomes from their time in custody. It has had a positive impact on young people in the justice system through increased support. Since the implementation of the VDS, the number of young people receiving support after restraint has increased from 58% (October 2017) to 73% (June 2018) (Ofsted, 2017 and Ofsted, 2018).

Stakeholders/Beneficiaries

Young People in Secure Training Centres (and more generally in the criminal justice system)
Staff and Management in Secure Training Centres
Policy Makers
Regulatory bodies such as Ofsted and the Youth Justice Board
Academic researchers

How have research outputs led to this impact?

Claire's research explores the social impact of custody on young people in the criminal justice system (Paterson-Young, 2018). She seeks to articulate an alternative vision for youth justice, one that is centred on the young people’s holistic needs, in a manner that deals with the underlying causes of their criminal behaviour (abuse, trauma, education, and personal agency etc.) (Paterson-Young et al., 2017; Paterson-Young, 2018; and Paterson-Young et al., Forthcoming). Claire's research has illustrated that social impact measurement (the intended and unintended, positive and negative impact of services/interventions) provides an opportunity to begin to reframe the debates and narratives within youth justice towards a young person centred approach to welfare and rehabilitation, rather than punitive approaches to what society sees as ‘problem’ children (Paterson-Young et al., Forthcoming). Through this holistic framework, institutions and stakeholders within youth justice are made accountable for the outcomes achieved by young people, essentially reducing offending and improving positive outcomes for young people. This work has resulted in impact for young people (increased support after restraint) and staff (new violence reduction strategy) within Secure Training Centres.

Impact status	Ongoing
Impact date	Sept 2015
Category of impact	Public policy impacts, Quality of life impacts, Social impacts, 03: Good Health and Well-Being (UN SDG), 04: Quality Education (UN SDG), 10: Reduced Inequalities (UN SDG)