What the UK Can Learn from International Justice Systems

Across the world, justice systems are experimenting with new ideas - from tech-driven solutions to progressive sentencing models - to improve outcomes for individuals and communities.

Ahead of June's conference, we asked four of our speakers to share one innovation or approach from another country they believe we should adopt here in the UK. Their answers shed light on what's possible when we look beyond borders, and beyond traditional thinking.

"JUSTICE has done a lot of work on the ongoing Independent Review of Sentencing, being led by David Gauke, and so I would like to see the introduction of ‘dynamic sentencing’.

This is a model used in France and allows sentences to be varied according to an individual’s rehabilitative needs or level of cooperation with the sentencing bodies - sentencing is seen more as an on-going process rather than a one-off event.

This concept could be adapted here by, firstly, replacing the Parole Board with a Parole Tribunal, which would be furnished with case management powers, procedural rules and the ability to enforce directions.

Second, the Parole Tribunal should be empowered, for example, to intervene earlier in an individual’s sentence to hold public bodies to account in their efforts at rehabilitating individuals and preparing them for parole.

For such a system to succeed, it is vital that all individuals in custody have the opportunity to achieve – and demonstrate – a reduction in risk and engage in meaningful rehabilitative activity. HMPs should be fully resourced and funded so that opportunities are adequately and equitably provided throughout the prison estate."

"I was impressed by some things the Queensland Corrective Services shared with us about approaches they use to monitor people on Probation. These are things that we are now looking to pilot."

"Most European countries embed the use of electronic monitoring (EM) in their probation services, rather than contracting it out to a private company. I would like to see that here, but only on the back of revitalised and properly resourced probation service – otherwise it would be a waste of time. We have rarely used EM wisely or well in England and Wales, in part because we have conceived of it too much as a standalone technological solution. We could use it less, but in better ways. The last thing we could be doing is using new and emerging technologies to make EM even more punitive, as the current Independent Sentencing Review seems minded to do."

"One innovation I’d love to see adopted here is the use of AI to reduce case backlogs in the justice system, a solution already being employed in countries like Germany. By automating repetitive administrative tasks, AI can free up valuable resources for more complex legal work, improving efficiency and speeding up case resolutions.

However, to make this effective, we must focus on scaling AI solutions into live products in the public domain. This requires specialised expertise and knowledge from tech providers who can demonstrate the ability to integrate platform and full-stack engineering from the start. Many AI projects stall at the PoC and MVP stages because this foundational work isn’t built in. A well-executed approach could lead to faster, more accessible justice, benefiting both the system and the people it serves.

At the same time, it’s crucial to consider AI governance and management. With any AI deployment, responsible use and strong governance are key to ensuring data is handled correctly, securely, and ethically. As we move toward greater AI integration, we should embed these principles from the outset to build trust and safeguard both users and institutions."

These four perspectives highlight a common theme: innovation must be rooted in purpose, evidence, and human impact. Whether it's AI, monitoring tech, or sentencing reform, the UK's justice system has much to gain from looking overseas.

If we can learn from what's working elsewhere, we have a real opportunity to build a justice system that is more responsive, more efficient, and ultimately more just.