Advancing criminological research through administrative data: Lessons from the ADR UK Data First programme (Panel 1)

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

Administrative Data Research (ADR) UK is a major investment by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) aimed at linking administrative data created by government and public bodies across the UK and making it available to approved researchers in a safe and secure way. Administrative data is largely underutilised in research, as it is not originally created for research but rather as a by-product of government services. However, access to de-identified, linked administrative data is extremely valuable for academic research, facilitating a far more accurate and comprehensive picture of UK society than would otherwise be possible. ADR UK supports linking and making available a wealth of data. Its flagship Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Data First project integrates administrative datasets from across the justice system and beyond, such as the MoJ - Department for Education data shares. This panel brings together four accredited researchers using ADR UK datasets, some of whom are funded ADR UK Fellows, to advance criminological and criminal justice research. Speakers will explain how ADR UK data has enabled access to and analysis of key criminological and criminal justice variables of interest, including ethnic inequalities in the criminal justice system, educational attainment trajectories among female offenders, and longitudinal trajectories of reoffending. Speakers will discuss the key advantages and challenges of working with administrative data for criminological research, as well as present key findings from a set of projects using administrative data to advance our understanding of crime and the criminal justice system.

Subtopic

• Topic 8: Methodologies in Criminology / Advances in Quantitative Methods (Qantitative Methods WG)

Chair

• Andromachi Tseloni, Nottingham Trent University

Individual Presentations

• Chair’s Introduction: ADR UK MoJ Data First and opportunities for administrative data justice research - Andromachi Tseloni, Nottingham Trent University

• Cumulative Disadvantage: An Examination of Ethnic Inequalities in Pre-sentencing and Sentencing Outcomes - Kitty Lymperopoulou, Plymouth University

• Educational predictors of violent recidivism following release from prison: An administrative data study - Hannah Dickson, King’s College London; Roxanna Short, King’s College London; Seena Fazel, King’s College London; Nigel Blackwood, King’s College London

• Educational attainment trajectories among female offenders: An administrative data linkage study - Christabel Coles, King's College London; Hannah Dickson, King’s College London; Nigel Blackwood, King’s College London; Alice Wickersham, King's College London