Mapping lived experience contributions to criminal justice

Abstract

Lived experience-informed justice practices are increasingly recognised as a resource for improving criminal justice policies and practices. However, these practices remain under-researched and under-theorised within criminology. This chapter employs Tomczak and Buck's hybrid model of the penal voluntary sector as a conceptual framework to map a diversity of lived experience contributions to justice. Drawing on methodical searches and deductive analysis, the chapter identifies five types of activity: fixers, who focus on individual rehabilitation; enablers of individuals, who provide person-centred support; thought changers, who challenge dehumanising ideologies; distribution changers, who seek structural reforms; and brokers, who mediate cross-sectoral alliances for systemic change. Examples from UK and international contexts illustrate these categories, highlighting global significance. The chapter also explores hybrid approaches, where multiple aims and activities intersect. By offering a rigorous conceptual mapping of these diverse and hybrid practices, this work contributes original insights to the underexplored domain of lived experience-led justice, advancing theoretical understanding and potentially informing future research and policy.