Criminal justice Open Research Dialogue (CORD) Partnership
On 2 October 2023, a new project commenced at Maynooth University, with funding from the National Open Research Forum (NORF) Open Research Fund. Led by Dr. Ian Marder (Assistant Professor in Criminology and Co-Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Criminology at the School of Law and Criminology), the aim of the project is to embed a culture of interdisciplinary open research in criminal justice in Ireland.
The Garda Inspectorate was delighted to be invited as a participant and along with partners representing nearly 40 organisations formed a ‘Researcher-Policymaker-Practitioner Partnership’. Partners include universities and technological universities, criminal justice policymakers, agencies and oversight bodies, third sector justice services, civil society and minority advocacy bodies, and research infrastructure.
Relevance for the Garda Inspectorate
The objective of the Inspectorate is ‘to ensure that the resources available to the Garda Síochána are used to achieve and maintain the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in its operation and administration, as measured by reference to the best standards of comparable police services.’ As such, the Inspectorate seeks to identify effective policing practices in other jurisdictions, and examine if they can be transferred to Ireland and implemented in an Irish context. In support of this approach, the Inspectorate also looks to identify evidenced based policing practices which refers to using evidence based research to inform and challenge policing policies, practices and decisions. This type of evidence is used by the Inspectorate to explain and support inspection report recommendations.
Policing Research Partnerships
Collaborations between universities and police services are well established in other jurisdictions. This includes the N8 Policing Research Partnership which is a collaboration between eight research-intensive universities and 12 police services in the North of England who work together to champion, enable, and support policing research and its impact. In addition, the Scottish Institute for Policing Research established in 2007, provides a strategic collaboration between 14 Scottish universities and the Police Service of Scotland. This offers a range of opportunities for conducting relevant, applicable research to help the police meet the challenges of the 21st century and for achieving international excellence for policing research in Scotland.
In Ireland, researchers and criminal justice stakeholders have fewer opportunities to co-create open research and exchange and apply research knowledge openly across the sector. However, there is great potential for interdisciplinary open research to inform criminal justice policy and practice, advancing such outcomes as public safety, health, inclusion, equality, trust and confidence in the criminal justice system.
Purpose and Guiding Principles of the CORD Partnership
The CORD Partnership is seeking to determine collectively how to coordinate and embed a culture of open research among criminal justice researchers and in the criminal justice sector in a locally appropriate way. This recognises the potential for interdisciplinary open research to inform criminal justice policy and practice in Ireland, advancing public safety, health and equality. Partners met three times in 2024 to decide collectively how to stimulate and advance the uptake of open research.
During the first event, partners confirmed their commitment and agreed the following statements which set out the purpose of the partnership:
In addition, guiding principles, such as building a culture of trust and openness and creating a safe, inclusive space to share and learn were agreed.
The partnership also discussed the open research needs of the criminal justice sector and developed seven themes that partners expressed an interest in considering, discussing and exploring. These include collecting and using data, privacy rights and understanding criminal justice practices. These sorts of themes demonstrate a strong, shared commitment to better understand and inform criminal justice processes and practices for the benefit of society.
Next steps
As CORD’s initial funding does not extend past 2024, the goal in 2024 was to explore whether partners can align around an exciting direction and to agree how best to sustain collaboration in the future.
The three CORD events were excellent. They were well structured, inclusive and achieved considerable buy in from those in attendance. The Inspectorate gained a lot through the opportunity to network with other project partners who were open to considering, discussing and exploring a greater use of evidence based research to evolve criminal justice practices. This fits well with the current approach of the Inspectorate and the potential for joint inspection work in the future, which could include joint research opportunities. It would be disappointing if the interest and ideas generated through this project is not taken to the next level.
The CORD Partnership is an invitation to invest a relatively small amount of time, with the potential to reap a high level of social reward. While challenges exist in this type of partnership, there is an early energy and enthusiasm that can provide the necessary foundations on which a strong, collaborative, open future can be built.
In November 2024 an article will be published in the Irish Probation Journal setting out the project, the activity to date and plans for the future. The Inspectorate has contributed to the article and has enjoyed being an active member of CORD.