Veterans in the Criminal Justice System

Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) has awarded £245,000 to Nacro in partnership with the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice (IPSCJ) and the Institute for Social Innovation and Impact (ISII) at the University of Northampton to conduct research on ex-Service personnel in the criminal justice system in England, Wales and Scotland.
This 18-month project, commencing in August 2021, will examine the current processes and mechanisms in place to identify ex-Service personnel in the criminal justice system, while also examining the barriers to uptake of support for both ex-Service personnel in the system and their families.

Helen Berresford, Director of External Engagement at Nacro, says: “We are delighted to be undertaking this project which we hope will make a real difference for the outcomes of those ex-Service personnel who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

“With so little known about the true numbers of ex-Service personnel in the criminal justice system, it is vital we understand whether the current ways of identifying people with Service history are effective and what more can be done. Ultimately this is about making sure ex-Service personnel and their families can access the support they need for a successful transition to the community.

“We are looking forward to working collaboratively with FiMT, our academic partners – The Institute for Public Safety, Crime & Justice and The Institute for Social Innovation & Impact and most importantly, ex-Service personnel, their families and the organisations that support them.”