The Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series (KESS) is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, formally partnering a legislative arm of government – the Assembly – with academia. Aiming to encourage debate and improve understanding, KESS provides a forum to present and disseminate research findings in a straightforward format, making those findings easily accessible to decision-makers.

Seminars are free and are held on Wednesdays from 05 November 2014 through 24 June 2015. Each seminar starts at 1.30pm in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, located on Stormont Estate. Most seminars cover a range of themes under one broad heading – see below for relevant dates and timings (also available to download as pdf).

Please email raise@niassembly.gov.uk to reserve your place at any of the seminars listed. Further information on KESS can be found here.

6 MAY 2015 – YOUTH JUSTICE

1.30pm – RaISe – Welcome
1.35pm – Assembly Committee Chair – Opening Remarks

1.45pm – Ms Lesley Emerson, Dr Karen Orr and Prof Paul Connolly (QUB) – Engaging young people with the conflict and its legacy: findings from an evaluation of the ‘Prison to Peace’ educational programme
‘Prison to Peace’ is an educational programme which assists young people in exploring the conflict and its legacy through the narratives of politically motivated former prisoners. A cluster randomised controlled trial evaluation of the initiative, funded by the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister and conducted by QUB School of Education, demonstrates that the programme has the following significant positive effects on young people: reduction in sectarian prejudice; reduction in support for violence; and increase in likeliness to participate positively in school and community, as indicated by measures of information seeking behaviour, interest in talking to others about politics. Further, the programme increases young people’s knowledge and understanding of the conflict, and its complexity, and processes of transition to peace. Moreover, the results demonstrate the programme’s potential to increase young people’s optimism for permanent peace. This presentation draws on the findings from the cluster RCT, interviews with young people, teachers, principals, parents and educational stakeholders to discuss more generally how education can contribute to the ongoing debate regarding dealing with the legacy of the past. It also discusses how best to co-ordinate this and other educational programmes seeking to address issues of conflict and division in Northern Ireland within the current policy context.

2.05pm – Dr Nicola Carr and Dr Siobhán McAlister (QUB) – Experiencing Youth Justice: Process, Meaning and Legitimacy
Reform of the youth justice system, including the wide incorporation of restorative justice approaches, was a central component of the Criminal Justice Review (2000). Following the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly, the Youth Justice Review (2011) made a series of recommendations for further reforms. These included proposals for the introduction of a statutory time limit in youth cases to tackle avoidable delay. Strengthening legitimacy and advancing rights-based approaches are key themes underpinning the recommendations of Youth Justice Review (2011). Young people’s views of justice within the system are critical to our understanding of how such aims can be achieved. This presentation is based on findings from a longitudinal qualitative study exploring young people’s experiences of transitions into and from custody in the Juvenile Justice Centre. Using a life-history approach young people’s experiences of justice at various stages of the criminal justice process and in the wider context of their lives is explored. Key issues such as social contexts, legitimacy and perceptions of fairness are highlighted and the implications of this for system reform are critically examined.

2.25pm – Discussion
2.55pm – RaISe – Closing Remarks
3.00pm – Networking and Refreshments