The Innovation, Justice and Youth programme is developing innovative solutions to the challenges facing Britain's overstretched criminal justice system. The work brings together research and analysis of existing data and knowledge of current practice in the field; identifies examples of good practice and innovations that provide an alternative to prison; and is developing policies, proposals and options for practical action as well as engaging with public opinion. Particular areas of activity are listed below:

• Public Opinion Leadership - a crucial component of the Young Foundation's work is exploring how best to engage with public opinion to ensure that there is support for innovative, progressive approaches to reducing offending. The Young Foundation is seeking to provide Third Sector organisations (both delivery and campaigning) with a platform to improve their efforts to engage with public opinion.Different models for working with public opinion are currently being explored, including setting up an independent Centre for Crime, Media and Public Opinion, with unassailable credibility and a strong connection with channels of communicating ideas.

• UK Centre for Justice Innovation (CJI) - we are developing a new body to incubate and promote justice innovation in the UK in partnership with the New York Center for Court Innovation (NYCCI) which functions as the State court system's independent research and development arm. The UK CJI will have strong links with the criminal justice system, academic institutions and professional organisations giving it political and professional credibility. It will initially work on a number of demonstration projects, designing them in such a way that they could potentially be replicated - piloting them, evaluating them and then ensuring that they can be developed further. More information is contained in this briefing.

• Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) are a financial tool being developed by the Young Foundation, Social Finance and others to provide a new way to invest money in social outcomes. Their key innovation is to link three elements: investments (by commercial investors or foundations); a programme of actions to improve the prospects of a specific group (for example first time entrants into the criminal justice system or children leaving care); and commitments by national government to make payments linked to outcomes achieved in improving the lives of the group. The first pilots are on track for launch during 2010, with strong backing from leading figures in both government and opposition. Read our paper about SIBs.

• Employment 'Deployers' for Former Offenders - despite overwhelming evidence that employment reduces reoffending rates by as much as 50%, three quarters of prisoners leave prison without a job to go to. With the incoming coalition administration, there is an opportunity for a reconsideration of the policy framework surrounding offender employment. Our aim is to identify what works and what doesn't, and use that to highlight a range of potential solutions - from building on existing arrangements to developing new initiatives. Read this briefing for more information.

• Transforming Justice in Greater Manchester - The Young Foundation has been commissioned by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) to provide advisory support in the design and implementation of its new ‘Transforming Justice' pilot programme.

The Innovation, Justice and Youth programme is managed by Anton Shelupanov, Programme Leader and overseen by Rushanara Ali, Associate Director. The team at the Young Foundation is supported by an Advisory Board.

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Key Publications:

• The Future of Offender Employment: An overview of the evidence and the case (March 2011). Sustained employment for former offenders is one of the most effective ways to prevent re-offending and reduce harm. This paper is designed to set out our current thinking around this issue and highlight some of the evidence and research

• 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.