Project
In 2017, the Research Evidence into Policy Programmes and Practice (REPPP) project began studying data processes in youth justice systems. The purpose was to study how to make better use of evidence generated routinely by the system – in administrative and reporting processes – to inform youth justice policy and practice. In pursuit of these objectives, the first study phase researched data use and processes in the youth justice system in Ireland and in six selected systems internationally. A second phase researches data processes in stakeholder agencies of Ireland’s youth justice system.
This research is to enhance understanding and knowledge of evidence-informed practice and decision-making in youth justice. There has been an increasing focus on the effectiveness and responsiveness of services for children and youth, within a context where high standards of accountability and good governance are supported. Recent policy on children has identified a need to ensure that services are designed and delivered effectively and highlights the importance of finding ways of systematically measuring the impact of services and programmes for children. The primary goal of the study is to identify opportunities for incremental reform of such processes, which offer value in terms of measuring the effectiveness of the system. The policy question was ‘how useful is data we keep in the youth justice system in terms of informing the tax-payer about how well the youth justice system is operating’?
The Irish Youth Justice Service, the Department of Justice and Equality, the Irish Research Council, and youth justice stakeholder agencies in Ireland.
The research is overseen and monitored by funders/stakeholders - the Irish Youth Justice Service, the Department of Justice and Equality, and the Irish Research Council. All published reports produced in the study have been peer reviewed – by the School of Law, and stakeholder departments and agencies. The funding by stakeholders of follow-up stages provides an indication of the value of the study. In the recent Irish Research Council Strategic Plan 2020-2024 the research was highlighted as ‘excellent research generating long-term impact’.
Research
In Ireland, recent policy on children has identified a need for effective resource allocation and highlighted the importance of finding ways of systematically measuring effectiveness in children and youth services. Policy on children commits to an increasing focus on the effectiveness and responsiveness of services for children and youth, within a context where high standards of accountability and good governance are supported. The national policy framework for children and youth, specifies that services and programmes to support children and young people must be more outcomes-driven and evidence-based.
This project researches data collection and reporting processes in the youth justice system in Ireland and in international justice systems. It examines how data is collected from young people, what data is collected and how it is used and reported. A primary goal is to provide an account of current data practices in systems and to identify potential ways of improving how the effectiveness of youth justice responses are measured.
The research is overseen and monitored by funders/ stakeholders - the Irish Youth Justice Service, the Department of Justice and Equality, and the Irish Research Council. All published reports produced in the study have been peer reviewed and assessed – by the School of Law, and stakeholder departments and agencies.
