Impact case study database

The research has had significant impact on government policymaking in England and Wales prior to 2014 (including statutory provision for restorative justice) which was submitted as an impact case study to REF2014. In the current REF period, the research has impacted on the development of restorative justice policy, statutory guidance and legislation in Scotland, and furthered the implementation in England and Wales.

In October 2014, Shapland was appointed Chair of the Restorative Justice Forum (Scotland) [S1] as a result of the reputation and evidence base established by the research. The Forum brings together senior policy makers from statutory and voluntary sector agencies in Scotland, and relevant Scottish academics, with the Scottish Government and the judiciary as official observers. It is the major body developing restorative justice policy for Scotland, as well as supporting practitioners through a practitioners network and bringing together researchers in a research network.

Statutory guidance and action plan in Scotland

As a result of Shapland’s active involvement in the work of forum members, the Forum was asked by the Scottish Government to help draft statutory guidance on restorative justice envisaged by section 5(2) of the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014. Drawing on the research base developed by Shapland et al, the Forum played a major role in drafting this first overall statutory guidance for Scotland [S1] and bringing together key agencies in a number of iterations between 2015-2017. The Guidance was issued by the Scottish Government in October 2017 [S2]. It sets out key principles for restorative justice and good practice requirements for restorative justice service providers.

In February 2018, Shapland briefed the Scottish Conservative Justice spokesperson, Liam Kerr MSP, because he was intending to use his opportunity to lead a debate to focus on restorative justice, given the work of the Forum [S3]. The debate (May 2018) majored on the necessity for further development of restorative justice provision in Scotland. Kerr commended the Forum and cited Shapland’s work with approval “ Scotland’s reconviction rate has barely changed in 17 years. According to University of Sheffield research, restorative justice processes significantly reduce the frequency of reoffending” [S4]. All the main party spokespeople spoke in favour of the further development of restorative justice advocated by Shapland. The Minister announced a consultation on the making of the section 5(2) duties order, commended the Forum’s assistance with the guidance and gave a number of examples of restorative justice work being undertaken in accordance with the guidance [S4].

In September 2018, the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government was published, making the development of restorative justice services throughout Scotland a priority. An action plan to accomplish this, also developed with the Forum, was published in June 2019 [S5]. Shapland has been involved throughout and is on the stakeholder group implementing the Action Plan [S1], which envisages restorative justice being “ available across Scotland to all those who wish to access it” (p.4) [S5]. The Head of the Victims’ Rights and Vulnerable Witnesses Team of the Scottish Government has said: “ Joanna’s input, and that of the Forum more generally, into the development of the Action Plan was critical” [S6].

As well as meeting with the heads of all the main statutory agencies in Scotland since 2014 to discuss the evidence base for restorative justice, Shapland has enabled Scottish practitioners to learn and discuss more about restorative justice. The Chief Executive of the Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, a Scottish community justice organisation, has said: “ Her research and the evidence it provides have without doubt, been central to the strategic development of Scottish Government policy in adopting the European Directive on availability of access to restorative justice” [S6]. Other examples of the impact of Shapland’s research are the production of practice-based initiatives such as the RJ Toolkit [S7] and being the main first speaker at the 2017 series of seminars for practitioners funded by the Scottish Universities Insight Institute to provide an overview of the evidence regarding restorative justice internationally [S8].

England and Wales

Shapland, with Crawford, received funding from the Police Knowledge Fund to implement restorative policing in England derived from the research [R1-6]. The approaches to ‘making the offer’ of restorative justice and developing good practice were trialled in three police forces, strongly supported by their senior management. After the pilots the Police and Crime Commissioners for West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire invested an additional £900,000 and £377,912 respectively to continue delivering restorative justice since 2018 [S9]. South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner stated: “ We launched the hub back in June 2015 and have seen some excellent results with direct Restorative Justice conferences occurring from crimes such as burglary, death by dangerous driving and shoplifting. Most victims who take up the offer of Restorative Justice do come away with their questions answered and a feeling of closure” [S9].

Shapland’s three reports have been presented to police forces at national conferences. The research is being used to influence service provision in different areas.

The Criminal Justice Alliance, a coalition of charities and service providers aiming to improve the criminal justice system, committed to seeking to secure a legal entitlement to restorative justice – in establishing its case for this, the Alliance published detailed costings of restorative justice which relied on Shapland’s “ widely respected” research [S10]. Practitioners, including probation services in London have relied on the research to develop restorative justice practice, “ your work really helped us to launch RJ in London” [S11]. The College of Policing ‘What works’ website - the major source for police forces and senior police officers in terms of crime reduction in England and Wales - has undertaken systematic reviews of restorative justice conferencing and of mediation, in which the research figured prominently [S12]. The research was also cited as a major study impelling the development of a further Recommendation by the Council of Europe in its commentary in 2018 [S13].