Communities, Safety and Justice Policy Research

RAND Europe's programme of research on Communities, Safety and Justice Policy helps decisionmakers assess threats and identify and develop policies to improve safety and security, thus reducing harms to communities caused by crime, violence, substance misuse and illicit markets. We do so through a range of approaches, including:

  • identifying, implementing and evaluating interventions to reduce crime, including assessing the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of sentencing and programmes
  • developing and applying methods for measuring crime and illicit markets nationally and internationally
  • mapping incidence of crime across jurisdictions
  • informing strategic policy development through cost analysis and modelling, such as police workforce resilience planning
  • systematically reviewing evidence and the robustness of evidence, such as through rapid evidence assessments

We work closely with and for public and private sector bodies, foundations, non-governmental organisations and specialist agencies in Member States and at the EU level.

Our expertise

Our research teams are valued for their expertise in translating objective, rigorous analysis into accessible findings including practical advice and recommendations for policy. We do so by blending interdisciplinary approaches with quantitative and qualitative methods to understand, assess, evaluate and help address the changing landscape of crime and justice. Much of our work employs international benchmarking and comparative research. Our teams are themselves international and multilingual, and draw upon the long-established expertise and international reach of the wider RAND Corporation.

RAND Europe has a substantial portfolio of work in the field of home affairs, crime and justice. We partner with a wide range of agencies, Universities and other research organisations to conduct collaborative EU-funded research and action grant projects, and deliver research for clients including the European Commission DG HOME, DG JUSTICE, and DG RESEARCH; the UK National Audit Office; the Home Office; and the National Policing Improvement Agency. Our expertise includes:

  • Sentencing and interventions to reduce crime and reoffending
  • Drug classification, supply and substance abuse
  • Illicit markets
  • Violent crime
  • Policing
  • Cost benefit and cost effectiveness in criminal justice
  • Mapping the incidence of crime

Current ProjectsMore »

Evaluating the Implementation of the Europol Council Decision

Europol became an entity of the EU on 1 January 2010 as a result of the Europol Council Decision (ECD). RAND Europe and Bluelight Global Solutions are looking at the implementation of the ECD and its impact on Europol's performance, to inform decisionmaking with regard to a future Europol regulation. The research team's evaluation is wide in scope, covering Europol’s operational activities, administrative and governance issues, as well as stakeholder relationships.

Evaluation of Drug and Alcohol "Payment by Results" Pilots

At a time of reduced public spending there is interest in funding public services on a ‘payment by results’ basis — under which the government pays for services only if and when they achieve defined outcome. The Department of Health has asked a consortium that includes RAND Europe to conduct an independent evaluation of DH's drug and alcohol recovery payment-by-results pilots. The goal is to determine whether market forces can encourage the development of better recovery programmes.

Completed ResearchMore »

Evaluating the Implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy 2005-2012 — 09 Apr 2012

Illicit drug use continues to be an important public health and safety concern in Europe. The 2005-2012 EU Drugs Strategy was developed to complement and add value to national strategies and approaches while respecting the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality set out in the EU Treaties. RAND Europe's independent evaluation assessed the relevance and influence of the Strategy and its implementation in Member States.

Radicalisation of Extremist Prisoners Remains Public Safety Concern — 20 Feb 2012

In 2010, RAND Europe provided a preliminary overview of the challenges posed by radicalised prisoners, and to explore the potential for radicalisation of young European Muslims in the prison environment. The research, which remains relevant today, draws on the body of existing prison theory literature, historical case examples and contemporary sources. It focuses on the potential in prison for extremist activity, including radicalisation, and highlights a number of areas where further research and action may be desirable.

Hunt Briefs Journalists on the Business of Gambling and Addiction — 08 Nov 2011

The Science Media Centre held a press briefing to inform journalists of the EU's Addiction and Lifestyles in Contemporary Europe: Reframing Addictions Project (Alice-Rap) and the latest scientific thinking on addiction. As part of the briefing, RAND Europe senior analyst Priscillia Hunt presented her research on "How big is the big business of addictions?" — and, in particular, whether incentives can be applied to firms involved in the production of substances and services that can lead to addiction, to encourage them to reduce the likelihood and danger of addiction.

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Communities, Safety & Justice

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Jennifer Rubin, Director, Communities, Safety & Justice, RAND Europe

Researcher Spotlight

Jennifer Rubin

Director, Communities, Safety & Justice, RAND Europe

Jennifer Rubin

Jennifer Rubin is director of RAND Europe's Communities, Safety & Justice reseach. Rubin's research and current interests include comparative analysis of levels of intolerance in Western Europe across countries and over time, developing community level metrics for illicit market activity,…

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