Statement of Purpose-

The Centre for Applied Criminal Justice and Policing Research undertakes high-quality research that is policy-relevant, practice-focused, and has impact across criminal justice, policing and associated systems, such as health and education.

The Centre brings together researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and those with lived/ living experience of criminal justice:

• To deliver high-quality research
• To facilitate knowledge exchange to improve the social, economic, physical, and psychological wellbeing of those coming into contact with criminal justice sytems, including policing
• To inform learning, teaching, and training of those working in criminal justice and partner organisations, and
• To better understand how to develop and support systems that deliver fair, effective, and accountable criminal justice for all. 

Mission Statement 

To undertake high-quality, inter- and multi-disciplinary research that is policy-relevant, practice-focused, and impacts criminal justice, policing, and associated systems, such as health and education. This includes knowledge exchange, research-led and evidence-informed learning, training, and teaching, and the development and mentoring of early career researchers (ECRs), postgraduate researchers (PGRs), and practitioners moving into academic research.

In doing so, the Centre brings together researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and those with lived/ living experience of criminal justice to better understand how to develop and support systems that deliver fair, effective, and accountable criminal justice for all, particularly offenders, victims, and communities 

Co-Directors 

Dr. Anna Bussu 

Dr. Rebecca Phythian 

Dr. Nicholas Longpre 

Steering Group 

Dr. Jude Towers

Prof. James Renton 

Prof. Matt Greig 

Linda Olubajo 

Billy Brooke 

Dr. Susie Marriott 

Dr. Gary Tebble 

Dr. Muhammad Usman 

Areas of Focus 

The Centre has three key areas of focus:

(1) Research

The inter- and multi-disciplinary nature of the Centre supports collaborations and partnerships across disciplinary boundaries expanding the reach and influence of research outputs.

The interdisciplinary nature of the Centre fosters the development of new methodological approaches that capture best practice across different disciplines, alongside the development of holistic and coherent concepts and measures that extend across academic disciplines and public service institutions. 

(2) Research Development and Mentoring

The Centre supports the development and mentoring of ECRs, PGRs, and practitioners moving into academia, fostering capacity building and career development. 

(3) Knowledge Exchange 

The Centre's strong links with external professional practice members and criminal justice-experienced advisors provide a range of knowledge exchange opportunities. 

These include maintaining a policy- and practice-relevant research agenda, and supporting the development and implementation of knowledge exchange activities, such as CPD, contract research, responses to policy consultations, and potential Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

Research Themes 

The Centre will evolve its themes collaboratively and through co-production with its members across academic disciplines, policy, and practice, and with those with lived/living experience of the criminal justice system.

A key aim is to develop a meaningful taxonomy that engages researchers, practitioners, government, and official bodies at the intersections of social institutions across the criminal justice pipeline. 

Aims 

The aims of the Centre for Applied Criminal Justice and Policing Research are to:

1. Become the leading centre for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research in applied criminal justice and policing in the UK over the next five years;
2. Produce high-quality, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that is policy-relevant, practice-focused, and impacts across criminal justice, policing and associated systems, including multi-agency and co-location contexts; 
3. Produce high-quality evidence and engage in knowledge exchange activities within criminal justice, policing and associated systems at both strategic and operational levels;
4. Act as a national hub for the co-production, implementation, and dissemination of research and knowledge exchange in criminal justice and policing;
5. Further enhance Edge Hill University's local, regional, and national reputation for criminal justice and applied research with impact; 
6. Bring together researchers, policy makers, practitioners, and those with lived/ living experience of criminal justice to better understand how to develop and support systems and institutions that deliver fair, effective, and accountable criminal justice for all. 

Contacts 

If you would like to be part of our Centre, or for any collaboration requests or information please contact Dr. Anna Bussu 

[email protected] 

Website: Centre for Applied Criminal Justice Research - Edge Hill University