The practice lead for this area of work is Anton Shelupanov.

Innovation is needed in the criminal justice system: to counter the waste of human potential and of resources, curtail the excessive use of imprisonment and to address persistently high reoffending rates. The Young Foundation is working across a number of research, policy and practical dimensions to this end under the Innovation, Justice and Youth programme.

There are three key elements to this programme:

• Enabling innovation - identifying, empowering and promoting innovative approaches to reducing offending and the use of custody, and to maximise human potential among vulnerable populations.

• Influencing policy – producing policy reports focusing on key priority areas, including, for example, mental health and substance misuse and skills and learning.

• Shifting public opinion – exploring how public opinion can support innovative approaches to reducing offending.
  

The first strand of the work is linked closely with the 2009 Innovation Catalyst project, working in partnership with four Local Authorities. Policy work incorporates delivery of part of the policy dimension of the Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A), in partnership with the Barrow Cadbury Trust.

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Key publications:

• Social Impact Investment: The opportunity and challenge of Social Impact Bonds (November 2010). The current spending squeeze in the UK means that there is more interest than ever, both in tools to achieve greater value, and ones that can tap new sources of finance for social goals. Different approaches to investment for social impact are likely to be tested out over the next few years.

• The Case for Justice Innovation (September 2010). Keynote speech given by Anton Shelupanov to APDC conference.

• Turning the Corner: Beyond incarceration and re-offending (August 2010). Recent political and economic upheavals have opened up opportunities for more radical reform of the justice system. But reformers have struggled to come up with proven alternatives to incarceration which are cost effective, progressive and able to secure public confidence. Turning the Corner provides an overview of both the challenges and the potential solutions.

• Escape from the Titanic: Why Britain's criminal justice needs systematic innovation and how innovation can help secure a justice dividend for local communities. This paper looks at the critical role innovation can play in dramatically reducing offending among young people in Britain.