about this project

by Gemma Morgan

At present criminal justice agencies both in the UK and internationally do not fully realise the opportunities that digital technologies offer to improve service delivery and the lives of service users. As a result, there has been little digital innovation within the realms of offender rehabilitation. The Ministry of Justice (2019) estimate that the economic and social cost of reoffending is £18.1 billion per annum. For these reasons, this project seeks to develop digital technologies to support desistance from crime and improve the lives of people who have offended and their wider communities.

Supporting people to desist from crime is a global issue. On a national level, this is evidenced by high percentages of re-offending rates and high prison populations. Supporting pro-social change in offenders is a challenge for statutory, private and third sector criminal justice organisations.

The development and implementation of digital technologies in the area of offender rehabilitation are cutting edge. Currently, there is little to no innovation in this area. As such, a range of technology can be developed to support organisations and their service users.

About Include

A not for profit enterprise that has been providing free independent community support to offenders across Wales for the last 10 years, supporting over 2,500 people in this time.

The 'include hub' in Swansea is our flagship project, the ‘include community hub’ is run by ex-offenders for ex-offenders, their families and the wider community. The idea is to harness the potential of people who have lived experience of the challenges faced by disadvantaged groups, and for them to help others turn their lives around.

The development of the include hub is an opportunity to create a new model of working that’s genuinely co-produced by the people who benefit from the service, with the flexibility to offer members what they want

About The Legal Innovation Lab Wales

A £5.6M initiative within Swansea University’s Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law at Swansea University. The operation has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and Swansea University.

Working in partnership with organisations across the sector, our vision is to support the growth and sustainability of a vibrant LegalTech economy, improve access to justice, transform the delivery of legal services in Wales and beyond, and help grow an open, inclusive and collaborative LegalTech community.