Our research stimulates sector-wide debates on the best way to deliver a range of services and our recommendations improve the way services are commissioned.
Research
Current research
The Realties and Emotional Impact of Working in a Women's Independent Approved Premises
This current project explores the occupational and emotional demands for managers and staff working in Independent Approved Premises (IAPs). Using interviews with CEOs, managers, and operational staff, the research explores emotional labour, empathy, trauma-informed practice, and the 'invisible' gendered work often required when supporting justice-involved women in 24-hour environments. The research also considers the role psychological safety plays, recognising that such intense and high-risk environments depend on strong, well-supported teams.
The report is due to be published in late Summer 2026.
Research on Domestic Abuse is crucial to working towards creating safer communities. The first step in that process is identifying and understanding how it occurs — and our research explores both the pathways into domestic abuse and the effectiveness of whole-family responses.
Research projects
Surrey Steps to Change Evaluation (2025)
Commissioned by the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Surrey, this research explored the early impact of a new domestic abuse service — the Surrey Steps to Change Hub. Drawing from interviews with a range of professionals, case-studies with individuals being supported by the hub, and analysis of hub level and programme impact data, the evaluation highlights the uniqueness of the hub in its multi-agency, whole-family approach — with increased numbers of individuals and families in Surrey now benefitting, and multi-agency collaboration enabling better identification and provision of appropriate support to adults and children affected by abuse.
Full Research Report — Ellis Devitt, K. & Lawrence, J. (2024)
The Complex Pathways to Violence in the Home: Better understanding male domestic abuse perpetration (2021)
Funded by the Home Office Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Research Fund 20/21, this project explored men's pathways towards domestic abuse perpetration. Using in-depth, narrative interviews with 10 men on probation, each of whom had perpetrated domestic abuse against their female partners, the research considered both how the men explained their lives and pathways to domestic abuse and why they told the stories they did. The research produced recommendations for policy, programme development, and practitioners.
Summary Report — Ellis Devitt, K. Coley, D., Hockley, M. & Lawrence, J. (2021)
Full Report — Ellis Devitt, K. Coley, D., Hockley, M. & Lawrence, J. (2021)
The Experiences and Inclusion of Trans People in Community Justice Services
This project explored the experiences of trans people attending CFO Activity Hubs, and the Hub staff who worked with them. Using interviews and surveys, the research found that trans participants felt safe, accepted, and supported at the Hubs, helping them engage confidently and build trusting relationships with staff. However, some challenges remained, including inconsistent handling of misgendering, limited trans-specific support, and varying staff confidence in meeting trans-related needs. Crucially, the research recognises the importance of psychological safety in community justice work (with trans clients), and why we all need to be talking about it more.
Summary report: Lawrence, J. (2024) Trans-Experiences-Exec-Summary.pdf
Full report: Lawrence, J. (2024) Trans-Experiences-Full-Report.pdf
Lawrence, J. (2024). Working with transgender people on probation. Probation Quarterly, (34).
The Women's Lead project
Drawing on interviews and survey data with senior probation officers, probation officers and probation service officers, this project explores the realities and complexities of supervising women on probation. The research considers the occupational challenges of being a 'Women's Lead' — the additional time needed, 'invisible' gendered expectations, and working with limited resources and networks. Specific attention is given to the impact on staff wellbeing — empathy and its costs, emotional labour, trauma-informed practice, stress and burnout.
Summary report: Ellis Devitt, K. (2020)
Full report: Ellis Devitt, K. (2020)
Other publications: Emotional labour, psychological safety, identity and mental health
Our research on monitoring and supporting people in the community.
The Experiences and Inclusion of Trans People in Community Justice Services
This project explored the experiences of trans people attending CFO Activity Hubs, and the Hub staff who worked with them. Using interviews and surveys, the research found that trans participants felt safe, accepted, and supported at the Hubs, helping them engage confidently and build trusting relationships with staff. However, some challenges remained, including inconsistent handling of misgendering, limited trans-specific support, and varying staff confidence in meeting trans-related needs. Crucially, the research recognises the importance of psychological safety in community justice work (with trans clients), and why we all need to be talking about it more (see related articles).
Summary report: Lawrence, J. (2024) Trans-Experiences-Exec-Summary.pdf
Full report: Lawrence, J. (2024) Trans-Experiences-Full-Report.pdf
Lawrence, J. (2024). Working with transgender people on probation. Probation Quarterly (34).
Remote supervision: Getting the balance right
In collaboration with the University of Cambridge, this mixed-methods project examined probation practitioners' experiences of remote (telephone) probation supervision practice during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research highlighted themes around the limits of remote working, the sensory dimension of supervision, that relationships remain at the heart of practice, and that good practice requires professional discretion. Winner of Probation Journal Best Paper Prize 2021.
Restorative Justice: Enabling communication, repairing harm
In collaboration with the Wales Probation Services Restorative Justice Team, this project examined the short- and long-term impact of the restorative justice intervention provided by the Welsh Probation Service. The project included interviews and case studies with facilitators, perpetrators and a victim, plus documentary and programme data.
Full report: Coley, D., Lawrence J. & Salami, P. (2021)
The Link Project: Evaluation of supported housing for prison leavers in Kent
The Link Project was a supported accommodation provision for homeless clients with multiple disadvantages or compounding needs in Kent, where a number of beds were funded specifically for people on probation. This project evaluated the role of supported accommodation in reducing reoffending and improving outcomes for people on probation. This longitudinal evaluation comprised surveys and interviews with clients and staff at three time points.
Full Report: Musimbe-Rix, S. & Lawrence, J. (2021)
The Family involvement project
Family involvement is key to successful desistance; however probation practitioners face complexity when involving family members in supervision. This project included interviews, focus groups and written data from over 50 probation employees and 15 family members of people on probation.
Full Report: Coley D & Ellis Devitt, K. (2021)
Ellis Devitt, K. (June 19, 2020). How should probation work with families? Russell Webster Blog.
The provision of safe, trauma-informed accommodation for survivors with multiple compound needs is a critical service and an important area of Interventions Alliance's work. However, information on the wider availability and effectiveness of these provisions in the UK is scarce. This evidence review seeks to bring together information and evidence on the availability, requirements and considerations of providing such support. The Practice Research Unit has identified this as an area for future research, so stay tuned for more.
Our researchers
Dr Kerry Ellis Devitt
(SHE / HER)
Head of Research
Kerry has 24 years’ experience as a researcher, and has worked in the public, private, academic and charity sectors. Having begun her career in 1998 as a psychology-based, quantitative researcher, she moved into social research in 2003, and specialised in criminal justice research in 2008.
Kerry has lectured for many years in various universities, teaching psychology, criminology and social research, and most recently held a post at the University of Portsmouth as a lecturer on the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP) programme. In 2020, she completed her PhD with her research, The life-stories of young adult men in the criminal justice system: A critical narrative analysis.
Kerry’s research interests include, young adults in the CJS, women in the CJS, probation practice, families of people on probation, practitioner wellbeing, mental health in probation, and most recently, the life-stories of domestic abuse perpetrators.
Email Dr Kerry Ellis Devitt:
Practice Researcher – Jess Lawrence
(SHE / THEY)
Practice Researcher
Jess has a background in Social Psychology, and has been working in the justice sector since 2017. She is a qualitative researcher and has worked on several collaborative research projects, including with the University of Cambridge and in the HMPPS Probation Workforce Programme. She has conducted research on supported housing, reviewing the Senior Probation Officer role, and the experiences of transgender people at CFO Activity Hubs.
Jess is passionate about diversity and improving outcomes for both the people accessing services and the staff that deliver them. Her research interests include exploring the experiences of LGBTQ+ people (particularly people with minority gender identities), supporting the workforce and practice.
Email Practice Researcher – Jess Lawrence: