Emma Disley

Is the EU Drugs Strategy Helping to Curb the Harm Caused by Drugs?

The EU Drugs Strategy takes a balanced approach to reduce drug demand, supply, and harm. All EU member states have a national drugs strategy, and most are aligned with the EU's. Having a coordinated voice on drug policy is valuable but is the strategy working?

UK Prisons Are in 'Crisis,' So What Can Be Done to Improve Performance?

Prisons in the UK are experiencing record numbers of suicides and other violent incidents, as well as staff shortages. Policymakers working on prison reform need more effective ways to measure the performance of prison programs.

Drug Dependence: Treatment Over Incarceration

Drug dependence imposes significant costs to society and traditional criminal justice responses like imprisonment do not reduce crime. More quality research on alternative sanctions could help police, prosecutors, and judges expand their options while helping users get treatment.

Does Intervention or Investment Innovate? Social Impact Bonds at the Close of the Peterborough Prison Pilot

There is limited evidence to support the assumption that social impact bonds offer a particularly effective way to spur innovation in service provision and will only have beneficial effects.

A Competitive Landscape for Providing Services Is an Opportunity for Evidence-Building, but Who Will Benefit?

In a tight fiscal climate the UK government has been an innovator in ways to fund and deliver effective public services. New funding arrangements present opportunities for developing the evidence base for policy and practice, since they are associated with different types of service providers.

Advancing Social Outcomes: Private Investors Could Be Part of the Solution

Under a Social Impact Bond, private investors — rather than the government — provide up-front funding for programs that tackle such challenges as recidivism or homelessness. If these programs succeed, the government pays some of the savings back to the investors.

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Evaluation of the IntegratED Programme: Summary report

The Porticus IntegratED Programme aimed to reduce preventable exclusion from school and improve the quality of alternative provision. Evaluations by RAND Europe and NFER identify key Programme achievements and lessons for other philanthropic funders.

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The IntegratED Programme: Key findings and lessons learned from a multi-year evaluation

The Porticus IntegratED Programme aimed to reduce preventable exclusion from school and improve the quality of alternative provision. Evaluations by RAND Europe and NFER identify key Programme achievements and lessons for other philanthropic funders.

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Evaluation of the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforces (APST): Evaluation Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

This report gives a detailed overview of the methods used in the evaluation of the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce (APST).

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Study Strengthening the Fight Against Organised Crime: Assessing the Legislative Framework

This study looks at three 'tools' that Member States can deploy in the fight against serious and organised crime. The report describes the current state of play and outlines possible policy solutions to address challenges identified.

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The Nuffield Early Language Intervention Scale-Up: Evaluation Report Year 1

This study was a mixed methods process evaluation of the implementation of NELI at scale. The objectives were to assess and understand the scaling process and to provide recommendations for supporting future scale-up of educational interventions.

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The Nuffield Early Language Intervention Scale-Up: Evaluation Report Year 2

The Year 2 Report is a mixed methods process evaluation of the implementation of NELI at scale across schools in England, using surveys, interviews and case studies. It focuses on schools who signed up to deliver NELI in the 2021/22 academic year.

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A Quantitative Analysis of the Costs of Corruption in the EU

The aim of this report is to quantify the economic and societal losses due to corruption in the European Union, and to identify potential for action at EU level, to address the challenges identified.

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Strengthening the Fight Against Corruption: Assessing the EU Legislative and Policy Framework

This study aims to provide recommendations for possible EU measures in the area of corruption prevention and repression and to assess and compare the impacts of the identified policy options.

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Lessons Map: An overview of five case studies in the field of early childhood development

This Lessons Map is an aid to navigating five case studies produced by RAND Europe for the Bernard van Leer Foundation on efforts to make changes at scale in the area of early childhood development.

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An Assessment of the Existing Landscape of Longitudinal Data Collection Related to Gambling

This study assesses the landscape of longitudinal data collection on gambling in the UK. This includes identifying data sources, scoping opportunities to add questions on gambling to existing studies and assessing the feasibility and cost of setting up a new longitudinal study on gambling.

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Supporting parental behavioural change: Multichannel and cross-sector campaigns in Israel: A case study

A case study that describes two campaigns in Israel that supported parental behavioural change. The case study highlights factors that contributed to the success of the campaigns and challenges that the organisers faced.

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Advocacy efforts in Brazil to extend the recognition of children's rights in early childhood: A case study

Case study on the advocacy efforts of the National Network of Early Childhood (RNPI) in collaboration with governmental institutions to introduce a Legal Framework for Early Childhood Development in Brazil.

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Study to Identify an Approach to Measure the Illicit Market for Tobacco Products: Final Report

This study is intended to support efforts to better understand the scope and scale of the illicit tobacco market.

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Findings from the national evaluation of Liaison and Diversion services in England

An outcome evaluation of the National Model for Liaison and Diversion scheme in England, which identifies and supports people in the criminal justice system with health issues and vulnerabilities, using a novel, large-scale linked data set.

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Outcome Evaluation of the National Model for Liaison and Diversion

An outcome evaluation of the National Model for Liaison and Diversion scheme in England, which identifies and supports people in the criminal justice system with health issues and vulnerabilities, using a novel, large-scale linked data set.

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Mapping the Risk of Serious and Organised Crime Infiltrating Legitimate Businesses: Final Report

This report examines the infiltration of organized crime into legitimate European businesses, and its involvement in various illegal markets, including drugs and human trafficking.

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Mapping the Risk of Serious and Organised Crime Infiltrating Legitimate Businesses: Technical Annexes

This annex provides a description of the cross-cutting data-collection activities that were undertaken to address the research questions and the major outputs of the study.

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Study to Support an Evaluation of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL): Final Report

This is the final report of the study to support the European Commission's evaluation of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL).

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Study to Support the Preparation of an Impact Assessment on EU Policy Initiatives Facilitating Cross-Border Law Enforcement Cooperation

This study aims to provide non-binding, factual and not pre-emptive recommendations for possible additional EU measures in the area of intra-EU law enforcement cooperation and to assess and compare the impacts of identified policy options.

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Efforts to support the extension of birth leave in the Netherlands: Case study summary

This case study describes the efforts of a partnership that supported the introduction of a legislative change in 2018 which extended leave entitlement for partners of mothers in the Netherlands.

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Working to support policy change through an advocacy coalition in Israel: A case study

Case study on the work of the Coalition for Education from Birth in Israel and its activities to bring about a change in childcare regulation and provision in Israel. Early childhood development, coalition building, advocacy coalition, Israel.

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Comparison of Criminal-History Information Systems in the United States and Other Countries

This addresses the uses and sources of criminal-history records, procedures for assessing accuracy and completeness, efforts to improve the systems, and availability of records for operational and research purposes.

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Designing a Capability Development Framework for Home Affairs

Australia's Department of Home Affairs is seeking to establish an auditable, transparent and evidence-based approach to capability lifecycle management. The authors of this report describe a principles-based model to meet the department's needs.

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Developing a Toolkit to Measure Intermediate Outcomes to Reduce Reoffending from Arts and Mentoring Interventions

Researchers developed a framework for outcome measurement, focused on 'intermediate' measures associated with reductions in reoffending, to be adopted by organisations delivering mentoring and arts interventions to adult offenders.

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Alcohol and international football tournaments

This case study reviews the available evidence on the connection between alcohol and international football.

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Early reflections on the approach to preventing and responding to violent and antisocial behavior at the 2018 World Cup in Russia

This case study examines the available evidence on violent and antisocial behaviour during the 2018 World Cup; policing tactics and intelligence-sharing; sale and consumption of alcohol; and the event organisation.

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How can crowd behaviour modelling be used to prevent and respond to violence and antisocial behaviour at Qatar 2022?

This case study explores the potential for crowd behaviour modelling to inform crowd management strategies to minimise the risk of violent or antisocial behaviour taking place during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and to reduce harm if it does take place.

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Violent and antisocial behaviour at football events and strategies to prevent and respond to these behaviours: Final synthesis report

This study gathers and critically assesses the available evidence into the prevalence, nature and causes of violence and disorder at other major sporting events, and to draw on promising practices to prevent and respond to these harms.

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Violent and antisocial behaviour at football matches in the Middle East and North Africa: Scoping the evidence

This case study gathers and critically assesses the available evidence on violent and antisocial behaviour at football events in the MENA region, as well as strategies to prevent and reduce the occurrence of these behaviours.

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Evaluation of the Social Impact Bond Trailblazers in Health and Social Care: Final Report

The Department of Health commissioned an independent evaluation of Social Impact Bond Trailblazers from PIRU, in partnership with RAND Europe, to explore their potential benefits and costs.

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Research Paper on the Costs of Non-Europe in the Area of Procedural Rights and Detention Conditions

This report looks at the cost of non-Europe in relation to procedural rights and detention conditions.

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An Analysis of Trends in First Time Entrants to the Youth Justice System

A study to investigate the possible factors related to the rapid changes in the number of first time entrants to the youth justice system in England and Wales.

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Evaluation of The Atlantic Philanthropies Migration Programme

This report presents findings from an evaluation of The Atlantic Philanthropies Migration Programme, which provided grants to organisations supporting migrants. It looks at the impacts achieved in law, policy and practice in Ireland.

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Mid-Term Assessment of the EU Drugs Strategy 2013–2020 and Final Evaluation of the Action Plan on Drugs 2013–2016: Final report

The report sets out the findings of an evaluation that assesses the degree of implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020 and the Action Plan 2013-2016 in all 28 EU Member States in terms of outputs and, where possible, impacts.

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Evaluation of the Drugs and Alcohol Recovery Payment by Results Pilot Programme: Final Report

An evaluation of how the PbR approach can help to provide different schemes that support the recovery of individuals from drug and alcohol dependence and their successful re-integration into their communities.

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Study on Alternatives to Coercive Sanctions as Response to Drug Law Offences and Drug-Related Crimes: Final Report

This study aims to map alternatives to coercive sanctions (ACS) for drug law offences and drug-related crimes that are available under the law in each EU member state and describe the use of these sanctions in practice.

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Evaluation of the Offender Liaison and Diversion Trial Schemes

In 2014 a new model for liaison and diversion schemes, which identify people with vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system, was implemented in ten areas of England. This evaluation looks at the implementation of the new model in these sites.

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Modeling the Structure and Operation of Drug Supply Chains: The Case of Cocaine and Heroin in Italy and Slovenia

This study of cocaine and heroin distribution networks in Italy and Slovenia explores a new approach to modeling such networks and identifying different market levels, defined by the quantity and frequency of sales and ranging from international brokers to wholesale distributors to retail dealers.

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Strategies for a Risky Business: How Drug Dealers Manage Customers, Suppliers and Competitors in Italy, Slovenia and Germany

A growing body of literature aims to improve understanding of the operations of drug trafficking markets through conducting interviews with dealers and traffickers.

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Evaluation of EPIM III: 2012-2015

The European Programme for Integration and Migration provides funding to strengthen civil society organisations to advocate for constructive approaches to migration. In 2012 EPIM asked RAND to undertake an evaluation of their third funding round.

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The Cost of Non-Europe in the area of Organised Crime and Corruption: Annex II - Corruption

This study looks at the cost of non-Europe in relation to corruption, examining potential added value or benefits of EU-wide implementation of anti-corruption policies.

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Using Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements to manage and supervise terrorist offenders: Findings from an exploratory study

The research aimed to identify priorities for further attention by policymakers and researchers looking at the effectiveness of post-release supervision of terrorist offenders under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

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Local perspectives in Ending Gang and Youth Violence areas: Perceptions of the nature of urban street gangs

The aim of this study was to understand perceptions of the nature of urban street gangs and whether these gangs have changed in recent years in the 33 areas that make up the UK Government's Ending Gang and Youth Violence (EGYV) programme.

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The payment by results Social Impact Bond pilot at HMP Peterborough: Final process evaluation report

RAND Europe was commissioned to evaluate the development, implementation and operation of the 'Social Impact Bond' implemented at HMP Peterborough. This report provides evidence and key lessons on the operation of this funding model.

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An Evaluation of Social Impact Bonds in Health and Social Care: Interim Report

This interim report describes the progress of the nine 'Trailblazer' projects that investigate the feasibility of setting up Social Impact Bond (SIB) projects in health and social care in England.

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Evaluation of EPIM III: Emerging insights from the evaluation so far

This report sets out some emerging insights from the ongoing evaluation of the European Programme for Integration and Migration (EPIM) 2012-2015 programme.

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Phase 2 report from the payment by results Social Impact Bond pilot at HMP Peterborough

This report is the second from the evaluation of the Social Impact Bond pilot at Peterborough prison. Based on stakeholder interviews it looks at the operation of the pilot over the last four years.

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Dealing with Cocaine and Heroin in Italy: Business Strategies and Operations

This study provides useful insights into understanding how the cocaine and heroin market works in Italy, and the role that some dealers play within it.

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Development of a framework to estimate the cost of opioid dependence

This report sets out the findings of a targeted review of the harms of opioid dependence, and an assessment of existing estimates of the its costs. A proposed framework for developing estimates of the costs of opioid dependence is outlined.

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Intermediate Outcomes of Arts Projects: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

A summary of the findings from a rapid evidence assessment which sought to identify 'intermediate' outcomes from arts projects with adult offenders.

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Intermediate Outcomes of Mentoring Interventions: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

A summary of the findings from a rapid evidence assessment which sought to identify 'intermediate' outcomes from mentoring projects with adult offenders.

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Drugs and Alcohol PBR Pilot Evaluation: Scoping and Feasibility Report

The purpose of the PbR Pilots is to develop and test out new approaches to the commissioning and delivery of drugs and alcohol recovery systems that reward achievement of this outcome.

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Evaluation of the implementation of the Europol Council Decision and of Europol’s activities

This report sets out findings from a wide-ranging evaluation of Europol -- the European Police Office. It examines Europol's capabilities, legal basis and activities, highlighting potential areas for reform in the forthcoming Europol Regulation.

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Assessment of the implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy 2005—2012 and its Action Plans

This report sets out findings from an independent evaluation of the EU Drugs Strategy 2005-12 and Action Plans. The research examined the implementation, relevance and influence of the Strategy and its added value for Member States and at EU level.

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Feasibility Study for a European Cybercrime Centre

RAND Europe conducted a feasibility study on a European Cybercrime Centre by reviewing literature, conducting extensive consultations with law enforcement and a scenario based workshop. The study evaluated different options for the set up of the ECC.

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Individual disengagement from Al Qa'ida-influenced terrorist groups: A Rapid Evidence Assessment to inform policy and practice in preventing terrorism

This project reviewed available evidence on factors associated with exit from violent extremist groups and the effectiveness of interventions to encourage individuals to leave such groups, to inform the UK counterterrorism strategy.

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Incentives and Challenges for Information Sharing in the Context of Network and Information Security

This report sets out findings from a research project into the barriers to and incentives for information sharing in the field of network and information security, in the context of peer-to-peer groups such as Information Exchanges (IE) and Information Sharing Analysis Centres (ISACs).

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Evaluation of the Social Impact Bond: Lessons from planning and early implementation at HMP Peterborough

RAND Europe has evaluated the world's first Social Impact Bond (SIB), an innovative payment-by-results mechanism to fund public services which aims to reduce reoffending by prisoners. This report presents the initial findings of the evaluation.

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Lessons learned from the planning and early implementation of the Social Impact Bond at HMP Peterborough

This report identifies early lessons from the development and implementation of the world's first Social Impact Bond, which is being piloted by the UK Ministry of Justice and aims to provide interventions to reduce reoffending.

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Map the Gap: a critical review of the literature on gambling-related harm

This report 'maps the gaps' in the current evidence base relating to harmful gambling. It describes the quantity and quality of existing research in this field, and highlights areas in which evidence and knowledge are sparse or lacking.

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Toward a Comparison of DNA Profiling and Databases in the United States and England

RAND researchers explored the U.S. and English forensic DNA analysis systems to find out whether England has capitalized more fully on their crime-fighting potential than the U.S. system.

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Local Authority Commissioning: Understanding the use of information and evidence by commissioners of services

This exploratory research examines the types of data and information Local Authorities draw upon to make commissioning decisions.

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Health and wellbeing at work in the United Kingdom

The report presents the findings of a study undertaken for the English Department of Health in 2009 on whether health workplace interventions could improve the levels of health and wellbeing in British workplaces and the NHS in England.

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Tackling Violent Crime: Findings from regional workshops with 12 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships

This report examines the work of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in tackling violence. It highlights promising practices and discusses some of the barriers faced by local practitioners working to reduce violent crime.