2018 Unlocking the Power of Data for Criminal Justice Research, Policy-Making and Practice
The ACJRD 21st Annual Conference Report ‘Unlocking the Power of Data for Criminal Justice Research, Policy-Making and Practice’ was launched on Tuesday 10th September, 2019.
ACJRD Council Members Pauline Shields, Tony O'Donovan and Maura Butler at the Conference Report launch event.
How potentially powerful are traditional, digital and automated data in Criminal Justice Policy, Practice and Research when collated, analysed, compared, legislated for, accessed and disseminated within appropriate ethical parameters?
How has all such data been unlocked or how might it be utilised in the future to:
• develop policy in a national and international context on an evidence-based foundation, where its methodological validity is accepted?
• motivate positive outcomes for prosecutors, juveniles, victims of crime, probation supervision, reintegration of offenders and a safer society?
• impact crime prevention, human rights, fair trial procedures, access for researchers and appropriate data protection?
The above issues were addressed by a programme of plenary speakers and workshop presenters from within our jurisdiction and at European level on Friday, 5th October, 2018, at the 21st Annual Conference of the Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development, “Unlocking the Power of Data for Criminal Justice Research, Policy-Making and Practice”.
The report includes the following plenary papers:
Launch of Conference
Aidan O’Driscoll, Secretary General, Department of Justice and Equality
Developing an Evidenced Based Approach using Research and Analysis: The Department of Justice’s Strategy
Presenter: Gurchand Singh, Chief Information Officer, Department of Justice and Equality
Keywords: Criminal Justice; Research; Justice and Equality Hub; Data Collection; Thor Browser; JARC; Data protection.
The Use of Digital Evidence in Prosecuting Crime
Presenter: Claire Loftus, Director of Public Prosecutions
Keywords: Electronic Data; Criminal Investigations; Technology; Crime; CCTV; Criminal Court; Evidence.
Getting Traction: Driving Better Criminal Justice Policy and Practice through Analytics
Presenters: Professor Betsy Stanko OBE, Visiting Professor UCL, City University of London and Sheffield & Hallam University; Emeritus Professor of Criminology, Royal Holloway University of London
Keywords: Statistics; Criminal Justice; Policy; Analytics; Data; Analysis; Policing.
Balancing Precision with Momentum: Scientific Evidence and Youth Justice Reform in Ireland
Presenter: Professor Seán Redmond, REPPP Project, School of Law, University of Limerick
Keywords: Youth; Evidence; Youth justice; Ireland; Offender; Prison; Youth crime; Youth programmes
Data in the Criminal Justice System: Human Rights Perspectives
Presenter: Michael O’Neill, Head of Legal, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
Keywords: Human Rights; Data; Criminal Justice; Data collection; GDPR; ECHR; Law Enforcement; Privacy.
The report includes the following workshop summaries:
The Power and Influence of SAVI 1, and the Potential Impact of SAVI
Presenter: Angela McCarthy, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
Research and Evaluation in the Department of Justice and Equality
Presenter: Eoin Kelly and Natasha Browne, Department of Justice and Equality
Utilising Road Collision Data to Save Lives
Presenter: Assistant Commissioner David Sheahan, An Garda Síochána
Automated Law Enforcement: Challenges and Opportunities
Presenter: Dr. John Danaher, NUI Galway
The Value of Data in Offender Management
Presenter: Gerry McNally, Asst. Director, The Probation Service and President of the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) and Supritha Subramanian, The Probation Service.
The Impact of Updated EU Data Protection Law on Criminal Justice Research
Presenter: Séamus Carroll, Department of Justice and Equality
Brave New World: Challenging Technical Evidence in the 21st Century
Presenter: Rory Staines, Michael J. Staines & Company Solicitors
Data Access: Contexts, Challenges and Ways Forward
Presenter: Dr. Deirdre Healy, University College Dublin