Project
The REPPP project is an innovative partnership between the School of Law, University of Limerick and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). The School is leading the development of evidence-informed policy research in the youth crime area in Ireland. Current activities include • A project to determine the value of routine data collected by the multiple actors in the youth justice system with respect to making judgments about effectiveness. • Test the generalisability of findings (national survey of JLO’s) and re-test the methodology to gauge whether it could work in other contexts and whether there were other resonances of Greentown findings (two new Greentown case studies using original Greentown methodology). • A project to design a new evidence informed intervention to reduce offending by children caught up in organised crime networks • A project to identify the best way of reviewing international evidence to make policy decisions informed by the available evidence • A project to evaluate the impact of the recently DCYA commissioned bail supervision programme for juveniles remanded to detention • Ad Hoc requests by officials for advice
All REPPP activities derive from or seek to support the Youth Justice Action Plan 2014-2018 and so are tied at the outset to policy priorities determined by the political system and relevant officials. In addition, the REPPP is tasked with developing policy-led youth crime research in Ireland by increasing this type of activity by other third level institutions. This role will further develop in years 2 and 3, however work has already commenced on developing a youth crime teaching module and academics in institutions outside UL are now engaged in supporting REPPP activities outlined above.
The REPPP project is supported by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Justice and Equality, the Irish Youth Justice Service, and the Irish Research Council. As a multidisciplinary project, REPPP seeks extensive contributions beyond the more specialised legal sphere.
REPPP impact will be demonstrated by the degree of policy, programme and practice uptake and influence it achieves. Supporting objectives will include: • The quality of research output in terms of substance, accessibility and capacity for practical application (effectiveness) • The quality, quantity and impact of research output compared with alternative models of research commissioning
Learning
One of the most important projects of the REPPP has been the design a new evidence informed intervention to reduce offending by children caught up in organised crime networks. The ‘Greentown Programme Design’ was an expert-led deliberative process initiated to establish an evidence base in the design of a proto-type programme to reduce network influence and improve pro-social opportunities for children. This 3-stage process focused on problem definition, the development of a theory of change and culminated in a 2-day workshop with 20 Irish experts and 5 international experts contributing to an outline programme.
A pilot has been commissioned by the Irish Youth Justice Service through the Department of Children and Youth Affairs for this programme to be undertaken in 2018.
• Garda management • Local authorities • Tusla management • Youth Work management
It is envisaged that the REPPP team will lead on the development of an adapted EMMIE protocol in 2018. This will allow for policy or programme questions commissioned by Irish Youth Justice Service to be tested.
Research
This project has drawn on and captured the best available professional and scientific knowledge received from youth crime experts nationally and internationally following the 3-stage programme design process, a first of its kind in the country.
It is envisaged that the REPPP team will lead on the development of an adapted EMMIE protocol in 2018. This will allow for policy or programme questions commissioned by Irish Youth Justice Service to be tested.
Resources
