As we reach the end of 2025, we’re reflecting on an action-packed year for the CJA. From celebrating excellence at our 2025 CJA Awards ceremony to welcoming new faces to our team, responding to policy developments, and bringing together the sector for meaningful dialogue through our Criminal Justice Research Symposium, 2025 has reinforced our commitment to driving systemic change through collective action. Take a look at some of our 2025 highlights below.
Celebrating excellence: The CJA Awards 2025
On 27 November, we hosted our 2025 CJA Awards ceremony at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. The evening was a celebration of both individual achievements, and the collective belief that our criminal justice system can, and must, be better. This year, we introduced ten redefined categories, including two specific lived experience awards and a brand-new Research Excellence Award.
It was inspiring to see so many exceptional people in one room – people who have experienced the justice system’s failures and triumphs first hand, people dedicating their careers to reform, people telling stories that desperately need to be heard.
– Gemma Birkett, Chair of the CJA’s board of Trustees
Among this year’s winners were the Centre for Justice Innovation (Outstanding Large Organisation), Beating Time (Outstanding Medium Organisation), and The Recruitment Junction (Outstanding Small Organisation). We were particularly moved by the stories behind our Lived Experience Award winners: Offploy and Julia Margo of Fair Hearing, whose work exemplifies how those with direct experience of the system are the best advocates for change.
Welcoming new trustees and team members
In July, we were delighted to welcome six new trustees to our board, each bringing unique expertise from across the criminal justice sector and beyond. Dr Summer Alston-Smith joined as Vice-Chair, bringing her experience as Director of Development and Insights at Advance, alongside fellow trustees Elsa Corry-Roake (Waythrough), Joe Tarbert (StandOut), Kirsten Westlake (Two Magpies Fund), Mignon French (Magistrate and Health and Justice consultant), and Ropinder Gill (Lymphoma Action). They join Chair Gemma Birkett and our existing board to support the CJA in delivering our ambitious strategy to drive systemic change.
In January, we were pleased to welcome Finola Scott to the team to support our communications work. Finola has since expanded her role to Policy and Communications Officer, continuing to support our comms, as well as contributing to our policy work. In September, we welcomed Ollie Glick as our new Policy and Public Affairs Manager. Ollie hit the ground running, building relationships with CJA members, bringing his expertise to our response to the Sentencing Bill, and representing the CJA at the Labour Party Conference – we’re excited to see his continued contributions to our work.
In October, Annette So stepped down as Director, following four and half years of dedication and commitment to the CJA. Annette joined CJA member, The Hardman Trust, as their new CEO, where she continues to strive towards criminal justice reform.
Looking ahead to January 2026, we are pleased that Nicola Dawn will be joining the CJA as our new Director. She brings a wealth of experience in working to achieve long-term systems change for people in contact with the justice system.
Criminal Justice Research Symposium
In May, we hosted our second Criminal Justice Research Symposium – this time in partnership with MetroPolis at Manchester Metropolitan University. The event brought together over 100 practitioners, policymakers, researchers and students for a day of workshops and discussions to explore what constitutes a ‘safer’ criminal justice system, and how we can work towards this vision as a sector.
The symposium featured workshops on prisons and alternative interventions, sentencing, victims of crime and safeguarding, women’s justice, AI in criminal justice, and fostering lived experience in research. A highlight was the reflection panel featuring key policymakers. These discussions reinforced both the depth of challenges facing the current system and the wealth of evidence-based solutions and passionate individuals ready to tackle them. Click here to read the compendium of key insights and findings from the day
Shaping Policy: Our response to the Independent Sentencing Review
One of the most significant policy developments of 2025 was the Independent Sentencing Review – a comprehensive re-evaluation of our sentencing framework that was prompted by the extreme capacity pressures on the prison system, and sought to provide long-term solutions to the prison overpopulation crisis.
In January, we submitted a response to the review’s call for evidence, informed by extensive consultation with our members, civil society organisations, academics, and those with lived experience. Our submission emphasised the need to urgently invest in prison and probation services, expand the use of problem-solving courts, and develop new quasi-custodial sentences. We subsequently responded to welcome the direction and ambition of the Sentencing Bill released in September, and we continue to work with our members to scrutinise the Bill and advocate for changes as it progresses through the Houses of Parliament into the New Year.
Additionally, we are pleased to be partnering with The British Journal of Community Justice on an upcoming special issue with the working title ‘Reactions to the 2025 Independent Sentencing Review’, which will be published very soon – stay tuned!
The power of collaboration
This year’s policy and advocacy work has been brought to life with various partnerships that have reaffirmed the power of collaboration to influence change. In May we co-hosted a powerful All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meeting with the National Black Police Association (NBPA), focused on Black and ethnic minority police officers’ experiences of racism in the Metropolitan Police. This followed research from the CJA and NBPA in our Shifting Culture briefing, which highlighted systemic racial discrimination within the force.
In July, we co-organised a parliamentary meeting with our Women’s Justice Reimagined partners, focusing on what the Women’s Justice Board can do to address racial disproportionality in the justice system. Our joint briefing published in September built on the recommendations made in this meeting, setting out our advice to the Women’s Justice Board, including calling for sustainable funding for Women’s Specialist Services.
Online events fostered insightful discussions amongst CJA members. We hosted an exclusive online preview of the Sentencing Academy’s new Sentencing Hub website and gathered fellow partners and supporters together for our Annual General Meeting (AGM), where we explored how public attitudes to crime are shaped, and how informed, respectful debate can help shift opinions.
Looking forward to 2026
January brings both change and renewed energy. We’re delighted to welcome our new Director, Nicola Dawn, whose fresh perspective arrive at a pivotal moment for the CJA and wider criminal justice sector. We’re also looking forward to two parliamentary events focusing on lived experience and challenging hostile narratives around criminal justice.
Alongside this, we remain committed to listening carefully to our members, ensuring our work reflects the realities you face and the expertise you bring. We welcome your insights on where our collective voice can have the greatest impact and how we can strengthen collaboration across the sector.
As we close 2025, we do so with gratitude for our members and supporters, who make our work possible. The challenges facing our justice system remain significant, but this year has reinforced our belief that change is achievable when we work together.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the CJA’s journey this year. As we look towards 2026, we remain committed to our vision of a fair and effective criminal justice system.
– Holly, Ollie and Finola
