ABOUT US
A NEW WAY FORWARD
The criminal justice system isn't working — and a noisy, polarised debate is making things worse.
We’re cutting through with a fresh approach: listening to voters and victims across divides, uncovering shared values and using those insights to spark real change.
Find out more below.
THE PROBLEM
a system in crisis
The scale of the problem is stark. Reoffending costs the country billions. Public confidence has collapsed. Victims feel let down and voters feel powerless to change anything. This is the context we work in — and why finding common ground matters more than ever.
7 in 10
voters think the police have ‘given up’ solving certain crimes
£23bn
annual cost of reoffending to the taxpayer
9 in 10
victims don’t trust the justice system
2 in 3
voters want major change in criminal justice
38,000
prisoners released early due to the prisons crisis in 2024-25
1 in 3
prison leavers reoffend within a year of release
WHAT WE DO
OUR APPROACH
Tough vs soft, punishment vs rehabilitation – these tug-of-wars lead nowhere.
Most people are somewhere in between, but they’re being drowned out by the noisy extremes.
We cut through the noise by listening across divides, uncovering common ground for new way forward on criminal justice.
01
LISTEN ACROSS DIVIDES
We conduct creative research and deep local listening across the UK, engaging voters, victims and communities who don’t feel heard.
→ National polling
→ Focus groups
→ Creative listening exercises
02
FIND COMMON GROUND
We uncover shared values and ideas on crime that cut across divides – uncovering a new way forward with broad public support
→ Expert analysis
→ Segmentation models
→ Cross-party events
03
SPARK BOLD ACTION
We influence the debate and policymaking towards common ground solutions that cut crime and rebuild trust
→ Media and digital content
→ Political engagement
→ Partnership building
OUR GOAL
MISSION 2029
By 2029, we’ll develop a Common Ground Justice Blueprint for Change:
Clear principles for popular and effective justice reform
Flagship policies bringing them to life
Cross-party support for implementation
Backed by robust evidence and research
PROGRESS
IMPACT
In our first year since launching, we’ve published groundbreaking research, hosted events across the political spectrum, and shifted the debate in national media and politics.
FEATURED REPORT
COURSE CORRECTION
Our landmark national study with More In Common — 5,010 adults surveyed across the UK — revealed what Britons really want from criminal justice reform, and where common ground exists across divides.
FEATURED CAMPAIGN
RIGHT TO BE HEARD
Our first Common Ground campaign – for victims’ Right To Be Heard – sparked national coverage, cross-party support and government action.
PARTNERS
The Common Ground Justice Project is a non-profit initiative hosted by UK charity, the Centre for Justice Innovation. We are independent of any political party or vested interest — our only agenda is finding common ground.
HOST PARTNER
RESEARCH PARTNERS
