Impact case study database
ICS1: From Veteranality to Criminological Artivism: understanding the veteran-offender through transformative criminological research
1. Summary of the impact
This case study details the impact that our conceptual and methodological innovations generated in public and third sector research and in thinking among policymakers, as well as on the practice of stakeholder organisations in the arts and penal reform sectors. Murray devised the concept of Veteranality to reframe the problem of the military veteran-offender and this conceptual innovation has shaped the work of organisations working with military veterans in the UK, whilst also highlighting the limitations of standard approaches to social research in this context. In response, Murray and Jackson developed Criminological Artivism, a new model of collaborative and interdisciplinary research for the social sciences. This established a new approach to the coproduction and dissemination of research between arts organisations, penal reform campaigners and criminological researchers and has had significant cross-sector impact.
2. Underpinning research
The programme of work began in 2014 with Murray’s development of the notion of Veteranality, a new conceptual tool to critically address the problem of the military veteran-offender. This conceptual innovation, devised to critically address the multiple agencies and actors involved in the governance of veterans in the UK, has reframed the issue of military veterans in the criminal justice system for criminological researchers and organisations working in this field. In advocating a new understanding of the identity of the veteran-offender, Murray has argued for new approaches to research that foreground the voice of veterans within academic and policy debates, placing the embodied and aesthetic experiences of their lives as they know them in sharp focus.
Murray and Jackson have conducted a programme of work that has explored the ways in which knowledge exchange via the medium of art can lead to a different perspective on individuals’ lived experience of the criminal justice system. Starting with the military veteran-offender as an object of criminological research, this work has developed new ways of understanding and challenging problems in the criminal justice system today. This aligned approach to research has employed participatory methodologies that place individuals and communities at the centre of a collaborative, creative process. Since 2014, the diverse programme of research informed by this model has demonstrated how co-created research-based artworks have an ability to impact upon end users when supported by social science.
The key research activities that have underpinned this case study are:
1. Reimagining the veteran [2014-2020]: This collection of projects responded to calls for qualitative research that seeks to understand veterans in the criminal justice system. In order to inform effective criminal justice policies, the work examined the personal, social, and political issues that veterans face. Through this work, the concept Veteranality was developed and the outcome of this programme of research was a) a multi-disciplinary form of engagement with the public and criminal justice professionals and b) the inclusion of veteran’s voices and lived experiences in an otherwise largely quantitative evidence base [UR1 UR2 and UR3]. As indicators of esteem, this work was cited in multiple national policy reviews including the Ministry of Justice’s rapid evidence assessment (2014) and the RAND corporation’s evaluation of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Ex-Service Personnel in the Criminal Justice System Programme (2020).
2. Serious Games [2016-2019]: This was a pilot project to test the method of Criminological Artivism. This project produced Probationary: The Game of Life on Licence [UR4 and UR5], an artwork that takes the form of a board game co-created with men on licence to probation in England. The game explores the lived experience of being on probation, providing a ‘view from below’ and, in doing so, it not only gives voice to those experiencing life on licence, but enables players to follow their journey and share their experiences. Working in collaboration with the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT), a media arts organisation in Liverpool, and the Howard League for Penal Reform, this project engaged policymakers and publics to explore the potential of Criminological Artivism for campaigns for penal reform. By sharing the game in a wide range of settings, Murray and Jackson demonstrated the potential of this method as an innovative means of both exploring the lived experience of the criminal justice system and of bringing research findings to policymakers and the public. Reaching 6700 people, the artwork was played by more than 200 people and shared with over 1500 physically and over 5000 online. Dissemination and interaction included professionals in the policy sector (events were held with the Ministry of Justice Probation Programme Team, Prison and Probation Ombudsman’s Office and Feltham YOI), in the arts sector (London Design Festival, Tate Exchange, Manchester International Festival) and academic audiences (British Society of Criminology, Howard League Conference), as well as events with members of the general public in England, Denmark, Italy and South Korea.
3. Resolution [2018-]: Emerging from previous collaborative work on both Veteranality and Criminological Artivism [UR3], Resolution is a three-year project funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and developed the work of FACT’s Learning Team with ex-service personnel in the criminal justice system. Through deep engagement between artists and participants, Resolution produces artistic commissions that explore identity and the notion of contemporary citizenship. Art is presented as a platform for voices that are rarely heard to explore their status in society. Alongside the artistic programme, Dr Murray leads an aligned model of research practice between the cultural sector, educational sector and the criminal justice sector. The artworks produced through this process are shared with diverse audiences to encourage conversations and understanding of the criminal justice system. The outcome of this project to date has been to improve access and participation with contemporary visual art and develop skills, creative thinking and critical engagement of project participants. Artworks have also engaged policy audiences as a participant group by use of speculative design and this alters the participatory status of the audience.
3. References to the research
UR1: Murray, E. (2014) ‘Veteran Offenders in Cheshire: Making Sense of the ‘Noise” Probation Journal, 61 (3) p.251 – 64, doi: 10.1177/0264550514536756
UR2: Murray, E. (2016a) ‘The “Veteran Offender”: A Governmental Project in England and Wales’ in R. McGarry and S. Walklate [Eds] The Palgrave Handbook of Criminology and War, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 313-330 ISBN 978-1-137-43170-7
UR3: Murray E., Davies K., Gee E. (2019) ‘The Separate System? A Conversation on Collaborative Artistic Practice with Veterans-in-Prison’ in Lippens R., Murray E. [Eds] Representing the Experience of War and Atrocity: Interdisciplinary Explorations in Visual Criminology, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 179-201 ISBN 978-3-030-13924-7
UR4: Hayes A., Jackson W., Murray E., Wakeman S. (2019). Playing for Change - Probationary: A Partnership, London: The Howard League for Penal Reform, https://howardleague.org/publications/playing-for-change-probationary-a-partnership/
UR5: Jackson W., Murray E., Hayes A. (2020) ‘Playing the Game? A criminological account of the making and sharing of Probationary: The Game of Life on Licence’, Probation Journal, 67(1): 375-392, doi: 10.1177/0264550520939151
UR1 and UR5 went through a rigorous peer-review process prior to publication in line with the requirements for this journal. UR2 and UR3 were peer reviewed by the editorial teams which were led, respectively, by Professor Sandra Walklate, University of Liverpool, President of the British Society of Criminology since 2019, and Professor Ronnie Lippens, University of Keele, both leading criminologist in this field. UR4 was reviewed by the Howard League research team.
External Funding: Forces in Mind Trust, Ex-military personnel: Journeys to Harmful Behaviour, The Probation Institute, Grant value (£): 80, 404, Duration of research project: 18 months. 2019.
4. Details of the impact
The key pathway to impact of Murray and Jackson’s collaborative research is the development of the concept of Veteranality and the method of Criminological Artivism. These two innovations have had significant impact on knowledge in public and third sector research, on thinking among policy makers, and on the working practices of key stakeholder organisations in the arts and penal reform sectors.
- Influencing knowledge in public and third sector research on military veterans
Murray’s reconceptualisation of the veteran-offender through the concept of Veteranality has been pivotal in shaping research conducted by organisations working in the public and third sectors. UR1 was cited in the Probation Institute’s [PI] pioneering report on the provision for veterans under probation provision in 2016 [section 5, source 1] and Murray’s work has continued to inform the PI’s approach to ex-military personnel in the probation system. The potential of Veteranality to address the complex challenges faced by veterans in the criminal justice system led to the selection of LJMU as academic partner, and Murray as lead researcher, on the current PI research project funded by the Forces in Mind Trust. In her role, Murray shaped the design of this project with particular emphasis on safeguarding veterans as participants, a significant shift in the PI’s approach to research:
LJMU was selected as the academic partner for this research following a submission from yourself in 2018 which clearly demonstrated your commitment to addressing the complex challenges of veterans in the criminal justice system...Your contribution to the application for funding required clear articulation of the design of the research with appropriate safeguards in this sensitive area. Helen Schofield, Acting Chief Executive, Probation Institute [section 5, source 2].
In addition, because of Murray’s work with veterans, she was invited to join The South Yorkshire Armed Forces Covenant Project (2018) as ‘resident advisor’. The Covenant is a national initiative that seeks to ensure that members of the armed forces community have the same access to government and commercial services and products as any other citizen. The South Yorkshire project worked with local government to improve the consistent delivery of Covenant principles across the region and the research team drew directly upon Veteranality in their design of the underpinning research:
Dr Murray was invited to join the project team in response to her work with veterans and in particular how her concept 'veteranality' could be used when structuring and shaping analytical frameworks for research with the Armed Forces Community. Dr Murray joined as 'expert in residence' to act as a consultant at key moments on the research journey. She is a named author on the projects reports to reflect that role. The impact/legacy of the South Yorkshire project was that each region (Doncaster, Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham) now have a co-produced Covenant Action Plan along with a South Yorkshire wide one, that are to be used as a road map for their Covenant groups for the next 5 years. Dr Katherine Albertson, Project Leader, South Yorkshire Armed Forces [section 5, source 3].
- Influencing thinking among policymakers
The piloting of Criminological Artivism through the dissemination of Probationary, had a significant influence on thinking among policymakers including those working in the Ministry of Justice [MoJ] Probation Programme and those in the Prison and Probation Ombudsman’s [PPO] office. Feedback explained that the game provided a useful tool to help policymakers understand probation from the perspective of service users, and thus provided an alternative viewpoint to fill a gap in their understanding. Feedback from staff in the PPO office explained that ‘Investigators thought it was a good game for everyone in the office – as a reminder about just how policies can be perceived by those subject to them’ [PPO staff member, section 5, source 4] and the Assistant Ombudsman explained that ‘trying to put myself in the mind of an offender, it made me appreciate the challenges that one could potentially face and how making poor decisions could have serious implications for my wellbeing & future progression’ [Nick Woodman, Assistant Ombudsman, section 5, source 5]. This was a point supported by staff at the MoJ who explained that one of the strengths of the game is that it details ‘the everyday situations facing the service users (something some of us know very little about)’ [MoJ Probation Programme team member, section 5, source 6]. As a result, the game made a novel and important contribution to thinking among policymakers as it ‘provides very good insight to a world we don't know enough about’ [MoJ Probation Programme team member, section 5, source 7].
- Shaping the working practices of FACT Liverpool
This work has had a significant impact on long-term changes of partner organisations in the arts and campaigning sectors. Both the concept of Veteranality and the method of Criminological Artivism have had a profound impact on the working practices of FACT Liverpool. In her role as ‘Criminologist in Residence’ at FACT [2019-2022], Murray has developed a research partnership, underpinned by the concept of Veteranality, that has had a considerable effect on their long-term creative programme for military veterans – Veterans in Practice – and the wider work of FACT Learning Programme. Central to this has been Murray’s role in the co-production of FACT’s Duty of Care policy for working with participants in the criminal justice system. This policy has redefined FACT’s understanding of their responsibilities towards partners, collaborators, artists and participants in the context of creating art projects that will be presented to bigger audiences. The Duty of Care defines the agreement between FACT and prisons or other organisations when working together to produce an artwork with participants and members of staff, and ensures the effective delivery of the art projects. FACT have also incorporated the central principles of Criminological Artivism into their programme of work with military veterans in the criminal justice system by changing the participatory status of criminal justice policy partners during artwork production. This is reflected in the current Resolution project [2018-] (funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation):
“Drawing upon [Murray’s] work on veteranality and criminological artivism, together with the team, she redefined the role of an embedded researcher. She was part of the selection of the artists, designing of the workshops, and curatorial conversations. As part of her Criminologist in residence, Dr Murray helped the team to reflect on our practice and also our language and the connections between the arts, sociology and pedagogy. This work was central to FACT’s Learning Duty of Care, a work-in-progress set of guidelines for participatory and collaborative projects that is now part of the everyday work of the organisation” Nicola Triscott, CEO/Director of FACT Liverpool [section 5, source 7].
- Shaping the working practices of The Howard League for Penal Reform
This work has also had a significant impact on the working practices of The Howard League for Penal Reform. The Howard League has been involved as a partner in the piloting of Criminological Artivism [UR4] including the production and dissemination of Probationary. Probationary provided a new means of engagement with policymakers for the Howard League and was significant in changing policymakers’ perceptions of the impact of criminal justice policy (a key aim of the organisation). The subsequent adoption of Murray and Jackson’s method of Criminological Artivism has shaped the core business of The Howard League with the organisation now giving a central role to visual and digital methods in their research and campaigning strategy. In addition, the organisation now has a commitment to collaboration with artists and academics through the model of alignment defined by Criminological Artivism. The commitment to both visual and digital methods of engagement and collaborative working with artists and academics have been pivotal in shaping both the approach of the research team and the planning of future campaigns:
“Working alongside colleagues at Liverpool John Moores on the innovative methodological approach, Criminological Artivism, has provided the Howard League with a strong template from which to create a research-led platform that enables us to utilise visual and digital campaign messages that chime with the needs and expectations of 21st century research consumers…In essence the work of Murray and Jackson has changed the type of research the Howard League seeks to commission and develop. It has also further embedded the charity’s commitment to role of creative methodologies as active strategy in its work to reform the penal system”, Anita Dockley, Research Director, Howard League for Penal Reform [section 5, source 8].
5. Sources to corroborate the impact
a) Influencing knowledge in public and third sector research on veterans
Citations of Murray’s work on the veteran-offender in Profile of provision of armed forces veterans under probation supervision: A Report for The Probation Institute, 2016, pages 23, 24, 31, http://criminaljusticealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Veterans-Probation.pdf
Testimony from Helen Schofield, Acting Chief Executive, Probation Institute [PI] on the impact of Murray’s work on PI research.
Testimony from Dr Katherine Albertson, Project Leader, South Yorkshire Armed Forces on the impact of Veteranality on the project’s analytical framework.
b) Influencing thinking among policymakers
Email feedback on Probationary from Anna Siraut, Complaints Investigator, Prison and Probation Ombudsman.
Email feedback on Probationary from Nick Woodhead, Assistant Ombudsman, Prison and Probation Ombudsman.
Survey feedback on Probationary from the Ministry of Justice Probation Programme team.
c) Shaping the working practices of FACT Liverpool
- Testimony from Nicola Triscott, CEO/Director, FACT Liverpool, detailing the impact of both Veteranality and Criminological Artivism on the work of the organisation.
d) Shaping the working practices of The Howard League for Penal Reform
- Testimony from Anita Dockley, Research Director, Howard League for Penal Reform detailing the impact of Criminological Artivism on the research programme and campaigning strategy at the Howard League.