To ensure that the justice system increases public safety and is efficient and effective, people with lived experience need to play a central role in achieving this goal.

They are the consumers of the system and therefore their insights are crucial in understanding what works, what doesn’t and how to change the system for the better.

That’s why we have a track record of meaningful engagement with local and regional policy makers, and work in partnership to ensure these insights are heard and acted on.

Here’s some of our recent highlights;

• You can find our submission to the Sentencing Review here. We urged the committee to prioritize tackling the root causes of crime, expand the use of community based interventions, and the use of peer support throughout a person’s justice journey, using mentors with lived experience and a shift from punishment to incentivisation, rewarding progress.
• In their most recent full coalition meeting the National Women’s Justice Coalition partners voted unanimously in favour of publicly recognising User Voice as a ‘Friend of the NWJC.
• Our CEO is on the Steering Group and the Communications Sub Group of the Better Justice Partnership, whose members are working together to champion evidence-based policymaking to reduce crime and make communities safer.
• Our groundbreaking report, ‘Not Naughty, Stupid, or Bad: The Voices of Neurodiverse Service Users in the Criminal Justice System,’ was commissioned by Kate Davies CBE, Director of Health and Justice, NHS England and provided crucial insights to the Health and Justice Neurodiversity Programme Board—a joint effort between NHS England and the Ministry of Justice—about the challenges faced by neurodiverse people within the justice sector.

If you want to work alongside us to create a more effective justice system, get in touch with our Head of Policy, Sean Campbell on: mailto:scampbell@uservoice.org