Research at Youth Justice NSW
Find information about key research priority areas for Youth Justice, the procedure for applying to conduct research in Youth Justice, as well as the publications arising from approved research projects.
Conducting research within Youth Justice NSW
Youth Justice views research as a significant contributor to the development and maintenance of evidence-based interventions for young people involved in the criminal justice system.
Youth Justice has a responsibility to ensure that research does not:
- infringe upon the rights, or jeopardise the welfare of, young people involved in the Youth Justice System or personnel employed by Youth Justice, or
- impede rehabilitation programs, or the provision of a safe and secure environment.
All proposals and applications to conduct research in Youth Justice are processed through the Research and Information Unit and require the approval of the Youth Justice Executive Director.
The Research and Information Unit will assess and review all proposals for research in a rigorous manner to determine if the research is feasible, and appropriate for Youth Justice, particularly regarding our duty of care for young people in our supervision and for our staff. The Unit will provide a brief to the Research and Evaluation Steering Committee, who will endorse or refuse the proposal prior to submission to the Executive Director.
Proposals and applications will be assessed with the intention of ensuring:
- the rights of young people in Youth Justice care, and personnel employed by Youth Justice, are protected
- the welfare of young people in Youth Justice's care, and personnel employed by Youth Justice, is ensured
- the integrity of research undertaken within Youth Justice Centres or offices or both
- any requested data or information adheres to the requirements set out in the Children (Detention Centres) Act and Children (Detention Centres) Regulation
- the research question is of sufficient value, purpose, or significance for Youth Justice to justify the expenditure of any necessary time and effort required of Youth Justice's young people or staff or both
- the research methodology is appropriate and aligns with research questions and intended outcomes
- the research findings will have practical application and results will be disseminated to key stakeholders.
Youth Justice is also responsible for the provision of advice to the Minister on a full range of information to assist them to make informed decisions or respond where necessary. Accordingly, it is a condition of approval that, upon completion of a project, the researcher provides the Research and Information Unit with a report of the findings of the study so that relevant personnel, including the Minister, can be advised of outcomes prior to these being made public.
Researchers are required to sign a written contract agreeing to abide by the conditions of approval, with Youth Justice reserving the right to terminate research at any time, especially if the researcher acts unethically or compromises the security of the agency or confidentiality of the participants.
All researchers are strongly advised to read the Youth Justice NSW Research Agenda 2017-2020 and the Policy and Procedures for Applying to Conduct Research within Youth Justice prior to applying to conduct research in Youth Justice.
The impact of COVID-19 on Youth Justice NSW-approved research projects
With the ever-changing landscape resulting from COVID-19, research proposing face-to-face contact with staff and young people will be considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure adherence to current policies and recommendations.
If you have any queries in relation to your research project, please contact the Youth Justice Research and Information Unit at Research.JJ@justice.nsw.gov.au.
Youth Justice research agenda
The Youth Justice NSW Research Agenda 2017-2020 outlines the priority areas guiding Youth Justice research activities. This document is currently under review.
It is intended to be a guide to assist researchers to identify areas of research that will contribute to the existing body of knowledge that can be used to inform and shape policies and practice and enhance evidence-based decision-making within the Youth Justice system.
Youth Justice research information
There are guidelines and priority areas that applicants must know before conducting research with Youth Justice NSW.
Learn about Youth Justice's research priorities, application procedures, approved research projects and helpful resources.
Youth Justice NSW considers the following as priority areas for establishing a research base for evidence-based decision-making:
- Research Priority Area 1 – Building an evidence base about what works (how, when, where, and why) with young offenders in NSW.
- Research Priority Area 2 – Evidence-based post-release support with specific focus on reintegration and the continuity of service delivery to young people in the community.
- Research Priority Area 3 – Early intervention and diversionary programs with specific focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in early contact with the criminal justice system.
- Research Priority Area 4 – Effective engagement and practice for working with young people with a specific focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and young people with mental health issues or cognitive impairment or both.
- Research Priority Area 5 – Provision of appropriate training, resources, and supervision to staff to ensure continuous improvement.
- Research Priority Area 6 – Innovative practice to improve outcomes for staff and young people.
These research priority areas should not be regarded as an exhaustive list. Rather, they reflect Youth Justice's current priorities and should be used as a guide or prompt for researchers.
All researchers are strongly advised to read the Policy and Procedures for Applying to Conduct Research within Youth Justice prior to applying to conduct research in Youth Justice.
Researchers are also encouraged to read documentation provided on this site regarding current projects and publications arising from past research when considering an application to conduct research. This is to ensure that possible project areas will not overlap with existing, or completed projects.
Interested persons should also contact the Youth Justice Research and Information Unit (RIU) in the first instance to speak with the Manager or Senior Research and Information Officer to seek initial support for their proposal.
All researchers are advised to read the following documents prior to applying to conduct research within Youth Justice:
- Outline of the Youth Justice Research Approval Process
- Flowchart for the Youth Justice Research Approval Process
- Conditions of Approval to Conduct Research within Youth Justice
- Document Checklist for Applying to Conduct Research within Youth Justice.
Interested researchers should contact the Youth Justice Research and Information Unit first, to seek initial support for their proposal. To contact the Unit, email research.JJ@justice.nsw.gov.au.
Access information on current research projects, publications arising from approved research projects, and reports from the Young People in Custody Surveys using the links below.
Please note that the views expressed in the publications do not represent any official views of Youth Justice NSW.
External links to published reports and statistics on youth offending
- The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR): The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research publishes research and evaluation in relation to young people involved with the criminal justice system. This site also provides statistics in relation to youth crime, Children’s Criminal Courts, and young people in custody.
- The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC): The Australian Institute of Criminology publishes a range of research papers detailing crime figures and trends, along with technical and background reports on specific areas, such as youth detention.
- The Australian Bureau of Statistics - National Centre for Crime and Justice Statistics: The National Centre for Crime and Justice Statistics of the Australian Bureau of Statistics provide annual Crime and Justice publications that include information about crime rates among youth. The ABS also provides population information through the Census.
- Report on Government Services (ROGS): The Report on Government Services is an annual report providing information on the equity, effectiveness and efficiency of government services in Australia.
- Audit Office of NSW: The Auditor-General's Reports to Parliament are published as performance audit reports, financial audit reports and special reports.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW): The AIHW produces reports and other information products on key health and welfare issues in Australia. These include annual reports and fact sheets on Youth Justice in Australia, youth detention population in Australia, and young people returning to sentenced youth justice supervision.
Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People: The Advocate for Children and Young People is an independent statutory office reporting to the NSW Parliament through the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Children and Young People. The Advocate’s role includes conducting research into children’s issues, monitoring children’s well-being, and holding inquiries into important issues relating to children and young people.
Youth Justice NSW statistics: Youth Justice NSW publishes and shares statistics with the public about young people in their care and supervision. Use this site to inform your research in relation to statistics and trends about those in custody, under community supervision, and participating in Youth Justice Conferencing.
How to apply
Interested persons should contact the Youth Justice Research and Information Unit to speak with the Manager or Senior Research and Information Officer, to seek initial support for their proposal before applying to conduct research.