Criminal Justice Innovation: Reducing Violence Through Communication

Client: UK Ministry of Justice

Violence in correctional settings represents one of the most challenging aspects of criminal justice administration. Dr. Bear's work with the UK Ministry of Justice introduced an innovative approach to reducing use-of-force incidents through structured communication techniques, demonstrating how evidence-based interventions can transform institutional culture.

Working across multiple adult and youth prison sites, our team designed and implemented a comprehensive evaluation of structured communication programs aimed at de-escalating conflicts before they required physical intervention. The project required exceptional sensitivity, working within highly controlled environments while gathering data on potentially volatile situations.

Our multi-methodological approach combined quantitative analysis of incident reports with ethnographic and qualitative insights from both staff and prisoners about the effectiveness of new communication protocols. The work demanded cultural competence within correctional settings and the ability to build trust with stakeholders who had experienced previous failed reform efforts. The resulting recommendations influenced national policy on prison management, proving that thoughtful intervention design can create safer environments for both staff and prisoners while reducing the psychological and physical costs of institutional violence.