Knowledge partnerships in youth justice: Building learning and evaluative cultures

Abstract

HM Inspectorate of Probation is committed to reviewing, developing and promoting the evidence base for high-quality probation and youth justice services. Academic Insights are aimed at all those with an interest in the evidence base. We commission leading academics to present their views on specific topics, assisting with informed debate and aiding understanding of what helps and what hinders probation and youth justice services. This report was kindly produced by Dr Sean Creaney and Dr Jayne Price, highlighting the purpose, value and functioning of knowledge partnerships in youth justice. These partnerships involve the sharing of ideas, insights and experiences between members of the research/academic community and youth justice professionals. Through aligning the worlds of academia/ research and practice, the partnerships can be mutually beneficial, bridging gaps between evidence and action while also facilitating the further development of the evidence base. Furthermore, the partnerships can help to build evaluation/research cultures across the youth justice sector, with research and evidence moving from a marginal to more central role within organisations and services. For the partnerships to function effectively, meaningful participation and reciprocal collaboration are essential components, enabled through trusting and respectful professional relationships, with everyone recognising each other’s areas of expertise, experiences, interests and priorities. Within the inspectorate, we collaborate with academics and external researchers in numerous ways, looking to utilise and maximise the knowledge, experience and skills across the research community, helping to produce a rounded and balanced view of the evidence base, while also recognising that the evidence base never stands still. Critically, knowledge partnerships and research collaborations can help drive the continuing development of rights-respecting, child-centred practice.