Reimagining Criminal Justice (RCJ) was founded in October 2025, in response to a longstanding failure to address the root causes of crisis in the criminal justice system. Despite years of reform efforts focused on operations, sentencing, and structural adjustments, the system remains outdated and fragile. RCJ is committed to placing systemic change at the forefront—offering bold, practical solutions to what has become a national emergency.
Our mission is to guide the transformation of the current system into one that is modern, effective, and internationally respected. We provide platforms for sharing best practice systems and delivery models transnationally to locally. We work across all levels of influence—from national policy to grassroots action—connecting leaders, communities, and experts. Our collaborative, system-wide approach aims to test, scale, and embed innovations that genuinely improve justice outcomes.
RCJ’s work is driven by principles of inclusion, local leadership, and cross-sector partnership. We support both strategic and practical initiatives that foster long-term improvements while addressing urgent problems. Our unique Systems Local Change Framework helps stakeholders navigate complex reforms while maintaining a strong focus on local contexts and community needs.
By connecting political will with community knowledge and sector expertise, we create conditions for sustainable reform. This means aligning national standards with local flexibility, sharing leadership responsibilities, and enabling real-time learning and adaptation.
Through this method, we aim not only to reform criminal justice, but to build a more connected, compassionate, and effective society.
Reimagining Criminal Justice is committed to putting people at the heart of the system. Our goal is to decentralise power and decision-making—bringing justice closer to those most affected by it. We believe accountability and trust are strengthened when communities have meaningful roles in shaping local justice services.
Our strategy is to develop place-based justice solutions that reflect local priorities while meeting national standards. This includes training and supporting current and future community and criminal justice leaders. These initiatives are designed to blend immediate action with longer-term reforms, ensuring both short-term gains and lasting impact.
Effective implementation requires endorsement from senior figures—ministers, civil servants, and regional leaders alike. Our programmes operate under shared understanding and formal agreements to ensure alignment and impact. Regional metro mayors and local authorities will be key partners in delivering this change.
Once consultation and authorisation are secured, local stakeholders help define priorities and co-create the path forward. These initiatives aim to become transformative forces—not only within criminal justice, but across the interconnected services that affect people’s lives. RCJ experts support cross-system implementation to identify gaps, build capacity, and introduce innovative, evidence-based solutions.
We use our Systems Local Change Framework to embed new ways of working at the local level. This enables ongoing improvement, better collaboration, and culturally responsive leadership. Democratic engagement isn’t an add-on—it’s the foundation of how we reimagine justice.
We believe criminal justice must be designed with—not just for—those it serves. RCJ’s co-creation approach ensures that reforms are informed by the lived experiences, knowledge, and insights of people across the system.
Our focus is on what works, what doesn’t, and where the gaps lie. This begins with honest evaluation of current practices and ends with shared ownership of solutions. We bring together justice professionals, community groups, people with lived experience, policymakers, victims, and funders to build consensus and test new ideas.
Stakeholder hubs are central to our strategy. These are collaborative spaces where diverse actors come together to explore problems and co-create locally relevant solutions. Whether in-person or online, these hubs enable dynamic dialogue and joint decision-making, free from traditional silos.
Co-creation drives a major cultural shift—away from centralised, top-down command and toward local, collaborative reform. We introduce practices such as Human-Centred Design, Idealised Design, and Collective Impact to support this transformation. These disciplines help uncover deeper truths and build smarter, more adaptable systems.
We believe that the best-informed system is one shaped by those who live within it. Our methods ensure that co-created solutions aren’t just innovative—they’re effective, inclusive, and ready to scale.
Effective reform starts with capable, confident leaders. RCJ’s People Investment strategy equips justice leaders with the skills and perspectives needed to deliver whole system impact.
We support a shift from siloed, process-based leadership to joined-up, relational leadership. This means breaking down barriers between agencies and building capacity for systems thinking, boundary-spanning, and real-time problem-solving.
Through structured training, coaching, and mentoring, we support leaders at all levels—especially those working in prisons, probation, and community settings. Our programmes are backed by international qualifications and tailored to the specific demands of the justice environment.
We promote team-based learning in workplaces to build resilience and morale, while addressing the unique pressures staff face. Experiential learning is key—participants engage in role-play, workshops, and reflective practice to apply new skills in live settings.
We also grow internal leadership networks, using a “train the trainers” model to embed ongoing learning. This ensures sustainable, long-term transformation across all system levels.
RCJ is committed to embedding learning, evaluation, and transparency at the core of justice reform. We focus on understanding what works, why it works, and how it can be improved.
The criminal justice system is vast and complex. It requires a culture of continuous improvement—not one-off reforms. Our Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) strategy embraces action research, real-time feedback, and systems-based metrics.
We co-create evaluation frameworks with stakeholders to ensure meaningful accountability and relevance. These include indicators aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and social value such as reduced crime and reoffending, improved victim satisfaction, and stronger communities.
We facilitate collaboration between academics and practitioners to bridge theory and real-world application. This generates rich insights and drives better decision-making across the sector.
With a focus on transparency, we promote public trust and sector-wide learning. Our evaluation efforts aren’t just about measuring progress—they are about driving it. Learning is not a phase—it’s a permanent feature of system change.