National Survey on Mate Crime & Disability (LIFT Project)
LIFT Project – Living Independently & Free from Targeted Abuse: Understanding the Experiences of Disabled People. This national study explores how disabled people experience mate crime (a form of targeted abuse or exploitation by people assumed to be friends) and examines how community safety, legal, and policing respond. This research is being carried out by the University of Galway in partnership with the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland, Blue Teapot Theatre Company, and is funded by Research Ireland in partnership with the Policing and Community Safety Authority. The survey takes about 15–20 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous. Deadline: Friday, 26 September 2025. Click here for further information and to complete the survey on the University of Galway website.
IPS Commissioning Rapid Evidence Review
The Irish Prison Service are commissioning a Rapid Evidence Review on Best Policy and Practice in the Strategic Management of Addiction in Prisons. The overarching aim of this project is to synthesise best available evidence, policy and practice in relation to addiction management and strategy within prison contexts, which will inform the development of a holistic Addiction Framework within the IPS. Click here for more information.
Call for Proposals: New Advances in Crime and Social Harm
This series encourages submissions that seek to probe the boundaries of the discipline through the lens of both crime and social harm. Up-and-coming scholars seeking to extend the criminological gaze through a harms-based perspective are particularly welcome. Please click here to view further information.
The 18th Annual Martin Tansey Memorial Lecture paper
The paper for the 18th Annual Martin Tansey Memorial Lecture, at which Dr. Stephanie O'Keeffe, CEO of Cuan, spoke on 'Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence in Ireland', is now available to download here.
Call for Papers: Criminology & Criminal Justice Journal
Criminology & Criminal Justice Journal are looking for original research that pushes boundaries, challenges assumptions, and contributes to key debates in criminology and criminal justice. Criminology and Criminal Justice is a peer-reviewed journal that focuses on the broad field of criminology and criminal justice policy and practice. The journal publishes scholarly articles on all areas of criminology, crime and criminal justice. Submit your work: journals.sagepub.com/home/CRJ.
From streets to screens: fighting crime in the digital domain
Europol’s Innovation Lab and the European Clearing Board’s Strategic Group on Online Policing have authored a concept paper on ‘policing in an online world’. Based on practical experience collected from partners across the EU, paired with academic insight and the discussion of wider societal trends, this concept paper delivers not only a situational snapshot but a set of guiding principles. The paper offers inspiration in how police can be present wherever citizens are online, delivering safety and protection much like in the physical world. It guides law enforcement in how to be visible and transparent, and how to create trust with hard-to-reach and at-risk target groups. Some recently established examples in various countries showcase that many citizens are more comfortable contacting the police online rather than calling over the phone. These findings emphasise the importance of lowering the threshold for citizens to contact the police. Click here for access to the paper on Europol’s website.
AI bias in law enforcement - a practical guide
This new report from Europol's Innovation Lab tackles the critical issue of AI bias in law enforcement, highlighting its potential harms and providing strategies to detect and mitigate bias. Click here to access AI bias in law enforcement report.
Understanding and mitigating bias to harness AI responsibly
This Europol report provides a deeper understanding of the issue and explores methods to prevent, identify, and mitigate risks at various stages of AI deployment. The report aims to provide law enforcement with clear guidelines on how to deploy AI technologies while safeguarding fundamental rights. Click here to access Understanding and mitigating bias to harness AI responsibly.
Women’s Aid Impact Report launched
The Women’s Aid Women’s Aid Annual Impact Report 2024 revealed that it has recorded the highest level of both contacts by victim-survivors and disclosures of domestic abuse in its 50-years history. Click here for the press release and to view the impact report.
New report recommends specialist legal service for children
The Irish Times, 17 June 2025. A new report by Caoilfhoinn Gallagher, Ireland’s child protection rapporteur, has made a key recommendation for the establishment of a specialist children’s legal service with a particular focus on the practice and promotion of child-friendly justice. It recommends that priorities should be reviewed to ensure commitments in relation to children’s rights include an access to justice component. Click here to view the article in The Irish Times.
2024 ACJRD Annual Conference Report available to download
The report from the 27th ACJRD Annual Conference: Continuing the Conversation – The Future of Drug Policy in Ireland, is now available to download. Please click here to download.
ACJRD Newsletter and notice submissions
If you have submissions relevant for distribution to personnel working in or associated professionally with the criminal justice system, please send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will consider them for our next newsletter and notices.
Also, we sometimes receive submissions at short notice for events, vacancies and opportunities, so be sure to keep an eye on our News section so you don’t miss these.