Synergizing Collaboration for Modernising Criminal Justice Agencies

In the run-up to Modernising Criminal Justice 2024, we’ve asked our expert speakers to share their thoughts on collaboration in the sector. Speakers were asked, "What role can collaboration between the public and private sectors play in overcoming the financial constraints and resource limitations that pose significant challenges to the modernisation of criminal justice systems?"

Simi O’Neil, Head of Probation Inspection Programme, HM Inspectorate of Probation

There is some valuable learning when the CRCs were delivering services, there are too many hoops and constraints to allow probation services to be flexible and autonomous. 

Rob Marsh, Probation Officer at HMPPS

Collaboration will be vital to enable innovation to thrive and to use the expertise in both private and public sectors, effective partnerships can realise long term goals and the involvement of those with lived experience working both in the public sector and for our partners  will be vital to really understand both the challenges and the actions needed to embed the modernisation everyone is seeking. If the CJS has the appetite to really listen to the voice of lived experience it will, in my view, be far more successful in overcoming the challenges we are likely to face in the coming years. For example embedding new technology, such as an app which is most likely to be successful if developed by the people who have experience of the system. 

  Sid Singh, Co-Founder of The Growth App

The role has to be so much more integrated. Presently the relationship is one of supplier or contractor of services and the establishment and the journey or process requires applying via dynamic frameworks or directly for discretionary pilots.

The collaboration by way of joined up systems could save time in referrals, in data sharing and in expanded services. Currently the smaller organisations that have passion and drive are stumped because they need funding and longevity and often get paid months after providing a service which means without the funding to sustain many do not make it through and this leaves the business going to the same monopolies.

The fact that most services are time bound, means that the resources are often commissioned for a short time and this means that there is a constant need to start and stop and so having a way to enable the collaboration is perhaps even more important as both are so desperately needed to ensure a wholesome wrap around service that neither can do alone.

Kam Stevens, Co-Founder of The Growth App

Collaboration between public and private sector organisations is key to the success of a justice system that works. For profit social enterprises prioritising impact for social betterment are vastly becoming attractive to investors across different sectors. Environmental social Governance within  corporations has become the benchmark in balancing profit with impact which means there is  potential for meaningful collaboration. 

John Bishop, Founder of Evolve

The private sector has a key role to play in modernising the criminal justice system. Using levers such as the Social Value Act, companies can introduce innovations and invest in solutions that their justice partners may struggle to do given financial and resource limitations. 

The most successful collaborations will have a shared interest in positive outcomes and how projects will be sustained and, hopefully, embedded. Examples include recruiting former prisoners and training prison staff to lead interventions after pilot programmes come to an end. 

With political change and economic challenge, it is important that these shared endeavours have genuine impact and leave a lasting legacy. Box ticking and lip service should become remnants of a more careless era to help modernise our justice system and the delivery of other public services.

Nathan Marlor, Head of Data and AI at Version 1

Public-private partnerships are vital for overcoming financial and resource limitations in modernising criminal justice systems. These partnerships leverage the strengths of both sectors, combining cutting-edge technology, expertise, and investment from the private sector with the public sector’s knowledge and resources.

The private sector can introduce the latest advancements in AI, blockchain, and data management, providing access to state-of-the-art technology without the public sector bearing the full financial burden. For private companies, these partnerships open up new markets and opportunities to showcase their technologies.

Moreover, PPPs facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building. The private sector can provide training and support to public sector employees, helping them get up to speed with new technologies and ensuring smooth implementation. This significantly reduces resistance to change and builds confidence in new systems.

Financially, these partnerships can make modernisation more manageable. Innovative funding models, such as shared savings agreements or outcome-based contracts, can tie investment to the tangible benefits delivered by new technologies. This ensures that the financial burden is directly linked to the improvements made.

In essence, collaboration between the public and private sectors is crucial for modernising the criminal justice system. By combining resources, expertise, and innovative funding mechanisms, these partnerships can drive the adoption of transformative technologies, leading to a more efficient, transparent, and fair justice system.

Join us for Modernising Criminal Justice 2024 on the 6th of June at the QEII Conference Centre in London, to hear further discussions on the future of probation alongside other key topics and the latest technological advances in the field.