Knowledge Exchange
Regular readers will probably remember that three years ago the Butler Trust launched a new resource aimed at everyone who works in a criminal justice setting. The Knowledge Exchange is an online library of guidance and examples of best practice. The resource encourages users to suggest examples of best practice and guidance and allows users to search content by both source and sector. There are now over 600 resources instantly available for download. The resource is continuously curated and updated with any items which have now been superseded removed. I work in partnership with the Butler Trust to manage and update the site.
How to use the site
The site has been designed to be simple to use. The front page includes both featured entries and recent additions but the two most useful ways of finding what you are looking for are the search box at the top of the page or the ability to browse by source, sector (custodial, probation or youth justice) or theme.
Recent additions
To give you a flavour of the resources are on offer, I am including links to some of the more recent additions on a wide range of topics.
Prisons
If you’re interested in restorative justice in a custodial setting, a recent Prison Service Journal article shares a helpful evaluation of an Irish restorative justice training programme for prison officers.
For those involved in working with foreign offenders, the Knowledge Exchange has just added the Bell Foundation’s helpful ESOL screening tool for speaking and listening.
Probation and Youth Justice
A recent briefing from HM Inspectorate of Probation in its Academic Interest series, shares a multi-agency approach to child criminal exploitation and partnership working in safeguarding.
The Knowledge Exchange has also included an extremely useful briefing for those involved in running programmes for perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence. This European study provides evidence-based checklists for this sorts of programmes.
Of interest to all justice practitioners
People involved in the wide range of arts interventions within different parts of the CJS often face questions about their validity. Clinks’ recent evaluation of the meaning and impact of arts programmes demonstrates both how and why these interventions can promote desistance.
Send in your suggestions
Finally, there is also an option for practitioners to suggest their own additions to the resource. Next time you are looking for the latest information on a work topic, don’t forget to check the Knowledge Exchange.
Hidden Heroes Day
Launched in 2020 by HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne), HiddenHeroesDay is a national day – held at the end of September each year – paying tribute to the #HiddenHeroes working in UK prisons, IRCs, probation and youth justice services.
HiddenHeroes Day is an opportunity to show everyone working in custodial and community justice settings that they are not forgotten, even if they are largely hidden from view, and to thank them for the critical, and often challenging, work they do on behalf of the people in the care and the public they serve.
This year’s HiddenHeroes Day is on Wednesday 25 September.
Thanks to Seven Shooter for kind permission to use the header image in this post which was previously published on Unsplash.
