LAW WEEK: The Impact of the Criminal Justice System on Children and Families: A Personal Reflection

As the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, I’ve witnessed first-hand how the criminal justice system shapes the lives of children and families. For many, their experience with this system can be confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes traumatic. In my role, I have always been deeply committed to ensuring that justice is not only served but understood and felt within the community.

Law Week at Winchester Cathedral which is running between October 5 and October 13, offers an incredible opportunity to examine these issues through new perspectives. It is not just about exploring the law as an abstract concept but about understanding how it intersects with everyday lives.

Throughout my career, from my early days as the youngest magistrate in England and Wales to my current role as Police and Crime Commissioner, I have seen how criminal justice touches every part of our lives—especially in the lives of our families. The ripple effects of crime often start with the individual but quickly spread to affect children, parents, siblings, and the wider community. It is my belief that we must take a holistic approach, one that does not just focus on punishment but on prevention, education, and rehabilitation.

This philosophy has driven much of my work, including my leadership on the national Victims, Serious Organised Crime and Criminal Justice portfolios for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. It also informs the way we handle victims’ services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, ensuring that families affected by crime receive the support and guidance they need to heal and rebuild.

Law Week will offer crucial moments for thoughtful discussion. It’s essential to remember that criminal justice is not just about laws and regulations—it’s about people. Our children, our families, and our communities are at the heart of everything we do. When we talk about justice, we are talking about the kind of future we want for our children. Are we equipping them with the tools they need to succeed, or are we leaving them to navigate a system they don’t understand?

One of my current initiatives is funding the Choices programme. This violence prevention programme, made for children between the ages of 10 and 12, is designed to empower young people to make positive choices in challenging situations. By addressing issues like knife crime and serious violence, we can give young people the tools they need to navigate their world safely and wisely. So far, Choices has reached over 2,200 children and trained 225 teaching staff to deliver its vital message across our region.

This kind of early intervention is crucial. We cannot simply wait for children to fall into the criminal justice system and deal with the consequences afterward. We must be proactive in addressing the root causes of criminal behaviour, equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to avoid the dangerous paths that lead to criminality.

During Law Week, the Making Choices performance will shine a light on these critical issues. Through an innovative collaboration between BearFace Theatre, Artswork, and The Point Ensemble Youth Theatre, we will see young people express the pressures and influences that sometimes unknowingly push them towards crime. This evening of theatre and discussion will challenge us to ask: How can we as a community respond to youth crime and address its causes in meaningful ways?

The criminal justice system often feels complex, and intimidating, especially for families. Many don’t know where to turn or how to navigate the system when they or someone they love is affected by crime. Magistrate and former High Sheriff, Amelia Riviere, understands this all too well, and she will be hosting a panel discussion to address this very issue.

Amelia has long been a champion for opening the doors of the justice system to the public, making it more accessible and understandable. Her work reminds us that policing is at the gift of the public and that justice is something we must all participate in — not just the professionals in robes or uniforms. But we cannot expect people to trust in a system they don’t understand, and this is where education becomes so important.

The panel event will feature voices from across the justice spectrum — the police, solicitors, and the judiciary—shedding light on what really happens behind closed doors. As Amelia often says, the public has a right to know how justice is delivered in their name. We need to demystify these processes so that families can feel supported rather than alienated by the system.

Leaders like Amelia Riviere and I share a common goal: to ensure that our criminal justice system works for everyone, especially those who feel most left behind. Whether through educational programmes like Choices, open discussions, or artistic presentations that make the complexities of modern life real and relatable, we can help build a future where children and families are supported, not failed, by the system.

The Very Revd Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester Cathedral has overall responsibility for co-ordinating and developing the life of the Cathedral in order to further its mission and ministry. Head of the Cathedral Foundation and chair of Chapter, she hopes that through Law Week, Winchester Cathedral can contribute to building a better future for all; helping to bring people together, offering solidarity, and supporting communities. As a member of the Bishop of Winchester’s staff, she represents the Cathedral in the Diocese and the county of Hampshire. Like me, we are proud to be part of Law Week 2024, an event that actively invites different voices and perspectives, shining a spotlight on the criminal justice system and how it affects large parts of our society.

I encourage everyone to take part, to open their minds, and to engage in these vital conversations. Together, we can make a real difference—not just in understanding the law but in creating a safer, more just society for the next generation.

Donna Jones

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

To find out more about these and other Law Week events and to book a place visit Winchester Cathedral | Law Week Festival (winchester-cathedral.org.uk) or call 01962 857 275.

PROGRAMME

Starting on Saturday 5th of October with the University of Winchester’s Death at the Cathedral – an interactive murder mystery puzzle for all ages, it concludes the following weekend with Winchester Cathedral’s Law Sunday service – an annual service of celebration for all those who work in Law and Order.

• Death at the Cathedral – Can you solve the mystery? – SOLD OUT
  Saturday 5th October, Winchester Cathedral
• Panel Discussion: Behind Closed Doors – the journey from arrest to sentence
  Wednesday 9th October, 7.30pm, University of Winchester Stripe building
• Making Choices – an interactive performance exploring youth criminal justice
  Thursday 10th October, 7.30pm, Winchester Cathedral
• Author Talk: Resilience and Reflection – Navigating Trauma and Incarceration through Words
  Friday 11th October, 7.30pm, Winchester Cathedral

SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

Throughout Law Week 2024 schools from across Hampshire will be taking part in law related activities. PCC Donna Jones’ Youth Commission and Youth Engagement team will deliver their crime safety workshops to secondary schools while the National Justice Museum takes over part of Winchester Crown Court as it re-enacts historical trials with nearly 200 primary school children.