Implementation Report

This project builds on the 2022 report Ex‑Armed Services Personnel: Journeys to Harmful Behaviour and focuses on translating research into practical change across the criminal justice system.

Led by the Probation Institute, the project worked with partners across probation, courts, prisons, the voluntary sector, and the military community to improve understanding of the experiences and needs of former Service personnel, and how these can influence pathways into harmful behaviour.

The work highlighted the importance of recognising former Service personnel as a distinct group within the justice system, embedding trauma‑informed and culturally aware practice, and ensuring coordinated support at key points such as sentencing, probation, custody, and the community. Strong partnership working between statutory services, charities, and researchers was identified as essential to achieving effective and sustainable change.

The project has laid foundations for further activity, including the development of dedicated training resources for criminal justice professionals and an offshoot project focused on strengthening support for families of former Service personnel involved in the justice system.

While progress has been made, further work is needed to strengthen understanding of sentencing and community‑based responses, address cultural barriers to engagement, and develop more specialised trauma‑informed pathways.

Building on this work, new research funded by the Forces in Mind Trust is exploring the sentencing experiences of former Service personnel, alongside wider research and training activity.