By Jonathan Ley, Founder & CEO, Make Time Count Today
Read the report here:
https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/25881132-tcjc-full-report/?embed=1
Make Time Count welcomes the vital work and urgent findings of The Times Crime and Justice Commission. The report’s diagnosis of a system in crisis, struggling with public trust and crying out for reform, resonates deeply with my own experiences. My first encounter with the justice system, supporting London Probation, left me shocked by the inefficiencies preventing real rehabilitation. The Commission powerfully echoes this reality and rightly calls for an evidence-based approach and for the system to finally enter the digital age. At Make Time Count, we believe harnessing data and technology is not just an option, but the fundamental key to achieving the transformation the Commission demands.
Whilst we welcome the findings of this report, the reality of trying to implement technological change is not an easy path. Our experience, alike to many social enterprises in the criminal justice space, has been one of continual challenges. As an organisation, we have on numerous occasions received significant levels of funding to address issues such as digitising out of court resolutions, addressing the Court backlog and improving community engagement to develop meaningful solutions – yet getting anyone to implement the changes necessary for a brighter future has been a constant uphill battle – where we often lack the support needed for transformational change.
One factor behind this, I believe, is the lack of cross sector collaboration to deal with these issues. The challenges facing the criminal justice sector are deeply interconnected, yet key decision makers too often act in a silo from one-and-other. Perhaps a first step in navigating the way forward is shifting this culture and requiring collaboration across Policing, Probation, Courts and HMPPS to develop a unified approach.
The Data Disconnect: Agreeing with the Commission’s Diagnosis
The report correctly identifies the need to view the justice system as interconnected. Yet, our practical experience confirms the Commission’s underlying implication: fragmented data makes this impossible. Information crucial for effective rehabilitation and efficient operations remains locked in silos across police, courts, prisons, and probation. This isn’t just a technical problem; it breeds inefficiency, erodes public trust, and hinders our ability to learn what truly works to reduce reoffending – as the report rightly highlights.
The Commission’s picture of a system struggling is, in large part, a picture of a system failing to manage and leverage its own data.
The Commission’s call to follow the evidence and embrace technology points directly to the solution. Data is the evidence. Smart, connected data allows us to move beyond anecdote
and assumption to genuinely understand and address the drivers of crime and the impact of interventions – essential if we’re to tackle persistent high reoffending rates.
Data can help answer two fundamental questions to transform justice
- Who is likely to reoffend
- What is the best intervention to prevent this
Answering these basic questions is the holy grail for justice
Ensuring that the data gathered can genuinely inform more robust decisions and help identify the most effective pathways for rehabilitation will ultimately support the evidence-based system the Commission advocates for. It’s about using technology intelligently to enable better outcomes, not just process cases faster.
Local Leadership is Crucial: Implementing the Vision
While national strategies and reports like the Commission’s are vital, change happens on the ground. We strongly support the Commission’s recommendations, and believe local police and government leaders are key to implementation. To truly harness data requires:
- Bold Leadership: Championing data sharing and connectivity locally.
- Focus on Quality: Ensuring data collected is accurate and useful.
- Prioritising Outcomes: Using data to measure success in reducing reoffending.
- Accelerating Adoption: Embracing proven tech solutions that streamline processes, rather than endlessly reinventing.
- Building Skills: Investing in data literacy across the workforce.
Conclusion: Let’s Build a Smarter, Safer Future
The Times Crime and Justice Commission has laid bare the challenges and underscored the urgent need for change. Make Time Count wholeheartedly agrees. We believe data-driven technology offers a practical, evidence-based path forward. By embracing this approach, we can create a more efficient, effective justice system that genuinely rehabilitates, supports victims, rebuilds public trust, and ultimately makes our communities safer – realising the potential savings and societal benefits highlighted by the Commission and our own work.
Let’s work together to make the Commission’s vision a reality.
Want to continue the discussion? Get in touch: jonathan.m.ley@maketimecount.today