Criminal justice
Professor Ian Lambie, Chief Science Advisor for the Justice sector, has produced a series of reports related to criminal justice.
Read more about Professor Ian Lambie and the Chief Science Advisor Forum
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How we fail children who offend and what to do about it: ‘A Breakdown across the whole system’
April 2022
A research team led by Professor Ian Lambie has released a report entitled ‘How we fail children who offend and what to do about it: ‘A breakdown across the whole system.’ This report was co-funded by the Law Foundation and the Michael & Suzanne Borrin Foundation
“This report is about children. More specifically, it is about children, aged 10 to 13 years, who have offended, as well as those at risk of offending. Often labelled ‘child offenders,’ many of these children go on to become ‘youth offenders’ when they turn 14 (through to age 17) and some eventually enter the adult criminal justice system at age 18 and beyond.”
What were they thinking? A discussion paper on brain and behaviour in relation to the justice system in New Zealand
29 January 2020
What were they thinking? A discussion paper on brain and behaviour in relation to the justice system in New Zealand is the fourth in a series of reports. It presents strong evidence of the over-representation of people in the criminal justice system who have had brain injuries, shedding new light on the impact of such injuries and developmental differences on both victims and offenders.
Evidence-based psychological treatments to reduce suicide in New Zealand
29 Jan 2020
A short report focused on evidence based treatments to reduce suicide in New Zealand.
Every four minutes: A discussion paper on preventing family violence in New Zealand
6 November 2018
‘Every four minutes’ is the third in a series of reports related to the criminal justice system. The cumulative effects of family violence and child maltreatment are associated with later criminal justice involvement, as well as negative physical and mental health effects.
It’s never too early, never too late: A discussion paper on preventing youth offending in New Zealand
12 June 2018
This report is the second in a series of discussion papers exploring factors that have led New Zealand to have a high incarceration rate.
This second report explores factors that are particularly relevant to youth offenders (up to age 25 years).
Data for the report were sourced from the Ministry of Justice and the Integrated Data Initiative. The first drafts were prepared by the Science Advisor to the Justice Sector, Associate Professor Ian Lambie, who has been working with youth offenders and their families for 30 years, assisted by the Chief Science Advisor, Sir Peter Gluckman. Subsequent drafts have incorporated comments and inputs from other departmental science advisors.
Using evidence to build a better justice system: The challenge of rising prison costs
29 March 2018
The first in a series of reports on the criminal justice system. This report was written by Associate Professor Ian Lambie under the tenure of the previous PMCSA, Sir Peter Gluckman.
In the media
Last updated 24 April 2023.
A punitive nation: NZ contemplates radical overhaul of its justice system
Professor Ian Lambie, chief science advisor for the justice sector, is interviewed for this deep-dive into criminal justice reform in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Traumatic brain injuries and imprisonment linked, study suggests
People with brain injuries are over-represented in the justice system, and Dr Ian Lambie says more could be done to deal with the problem.
People with brain injuries, developmental issues ‘over-represented’ in justice system
A discussion paper released on Wednesday by Chief Science Advisor for the Justice Sector, Dr Ian Lambie, found brain and behaviour differences were “over-represented” in the justice system, among both victims and offenders.