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Kevin Wong is Reader in Community Justice and Associate Director, Criminal Justice at the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU), Manchester Metropolitan University. He is responsible for leading the unit’s work on criminal and community justice and voluntary sector delivery of justice services. He has over twenty five years experience in criminal justice as a researcher, policy adviser, commissioner and practitioner.
Kevin is Co-Editor of the British Journal of Community Justice a member of the Advisory Panel on Probation Learning, Chair of the Criminal Justice Alliance and a trustee of Manchester based charity Back on Track
Prior to joining PERU, Kevin held senior leading roles as: the Deputy Director then Acting Director of the Hallam Centre for Community Justice Sheffield Hallam University: and in the voluntary sector as Assistant Director for Nacro, one of the largest social justice charities in the UK.
In parallel, since 1991 he has been a commissioned writer of drama for BBC radio, film and theatre including Year of the Artist Writer in Residence at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. He has also been a promoter of Chinese Art and Artists. He is the founder and director of The MANCHESTER Crime and Justice Film Festival. Prior to his career in criminal justice, he worked in the community legal advice sector.
Kevin leads the third year undergraduate module: Working with offenders: Research policy and practice
Along with his PERU teaching team colleagues, he aims for the module to shine a light on how the agencies that make up the criminal justice system work together (and sometimes don’t) to supervise and support the 303,822 people on probation and in prison in England and Wales (Ministry of Justice 2020).
Of course it's not possible to cover everything. So the module focuses on aspects that Kevin and colleagues know about – drawing on the teaching team’s research and practice experience. The core teaching team collectively have been doing this for over forty years so they’ve got a fair bit of experience to go on.
Additionally, they'll be getting insight and contributions from people at the sharp end - practitioners and policy makers who are working with people with convictions.
Kevin has extensive experience of managing complex multi-site research projects commissioned by: the Ministry of Justice, Home Office, Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, police, local authorities, charities, charitable trusts and private sector agencies.
Selected projects include:
• Youth Endowment Fund - Feasibility and pilot study evaluations of four youth diversion/youth justice projects: Lambeth Divert; St Christopher’s Fellowship; Empire Fighting Chance and the Rugby Football League – commissioned by the Youth Endowment Fund
• National Probation Service (NPS) North West and Greater Manchester Minority Ethnic Service Users Survey – commissioned by the NPS North West and Greater Manchester
• Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (London) Advance Minerva WrapAround Service and South London Alliance Services Programme Evaluation – commissioned by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (London)
• Chance to Change Pilot Evaluation – commissioned and overseen by the Barrow Cadbury Trust and Ministry of Justice
• Evaluation of the Greater Manchester Women’s Support Alliance (GMWSA) (GMWSA, 2018)
• Evaluation of the Whole System Approach for Women Offenders (Greater Manchester Combined Authority,
● Evaluation of Local Justice Reinvestment Pilot – A multi-site process evaluation supported by analysis of criminal justice data and costs data to track changes to the criminal justice system for young people (11 to 17) and adults (18 and over) arising from the pilots in five London boroughs and Greater Manchester
● Evaluation of the Transitions to Adulthood (T2A) pilots – Focused on young people aged between 16 and 25, this is a multi-site implementation evaluation and impact evaluation across six sites in England including Advance Minerva in London
● Evaluation of Youth Justice Custody Reinvestment Pathfinder PbR Pilot - A multi-site implementation evaluation supported by analysis of custody bed night and criminal justice system data for young people aged 11 to 17 across 17 local authority areas including 11 London boroughs
● Evaluation of London Reducing Re-offending (ETE) programme (15-19 year old offenders) – An implementation evaluation, economic evaluation, impact evaluation (re-conviction analysis and distance travelled) and assessment of the impact of PbR on the development and delivery of the ETE programme.
● Intensive Alternatives to Custody National Evaluation - A major project involving an Evaluation of Intensive Alternatives to Custody (IAC): An implementation evaluation, break-even analysis and impact evaluation feasibility study of IAC Approaches in Seven Areas - commissioned by the Ministry of Justice
● Integrated Offender Management National Evaluation - A Process Evaluation, break even analysis and impact feasibility study of IOM Approaches in Five Pioneer Areas across England, commissioned by the Ministry of Justice
● Review of Layered Offender Management and Tiering in prisons - This major piece of work was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice to undertake a cost analysis and comparison review the piloting of Layered Offender Management across prisons in Yorkshire & Humberside and Tiering in two prisons in England
● Evaluating the impact of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award delivered to young people in custody
● Implementation of Home Office commissioned training programmes for school children on community cohesion
● Evaluation of the Dawes Unit Gangs Project – an implementation and impact evaluation of a city wide project focussed on: reducing gang related activity and reoffending; and improving outcomes for young people
● An impact, implementation and cost effectiveness evaluation of education based youth offending and youth diversion projects developed and delivered by the three Fire and Rescue Services across Wales, commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government
● Mapping and assessing the evidence base for interventions within the youth justice system to address racially motivated offending, commissioned by the Youth Justice Board
● Evaluation of Sussex Integrated Offender Management (IOM) – An implementation evaluation, economic evaluation and impact evaluation of IOM in Sussex, including the development of PbR models for IOM.
● Impact evaluation of ETE provision for offenders - an impact evaluation which brought together ETE throughput and outcome data from NOMS Co-financing with PNC data to determine the relationship between ETE outcomes and reconvictions
● Building VCS involvement in Integrated Offender Management - A process evaluation of a capacity building programme to facilitate VCS involvement in strategic engagement with statutory IOM agencies and delivering services for offenders, commissioned by the Home Office
Kevin is the Co-Editor of The British Journal of Community Justice a peer-reviewed open-access online journal which articulates, interrogates and debates research, theory, policy and practice on community justice from the United Kingdom and internationally in other jurisdiction. Established in 2002, the journal has since published ground breaking and lively articles which have stimulated policy and practice debates on community justice covering: policing, prisons, probation, youth justice, community safety, restorative justice, victims, and crime prevention.
Since the open access re-launch in 2019, it has featured special issues on: women in the criminal justice system; the legacy of the MacPherson Report on addressing Hate Crime, bias and prejudice; making a restorative criminal justice system a reality; and open issues on a wide range of community justice research and thought-pieces.
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C. Fox, K. Albertson, K. Wong (2013). Justice Reinvestment. Oxford: Routledge.
K. Wong, R. Horan (2021). Mentoring: Can you get too much of a ‘good thing’? Proposing enhancements to the ‘effectiveness framework’ the England and Wales Prison and Probation Service. European Journal of Probation. 13(3), pp.207-225.
KKS. Wong, Z. Kiss, R. Kinsella, L. Meadows Using offender engagement data to: inform voluntary sector criminal justice service resourcing, design and delivery; and provide a proxy measure of desistance. Criminology and Criminal Justice.
K. Wong, K. Christmann (2016). Justice Reinvestment: "Motherhood and Apple Pie?" Matching Ambition to Capacity and Capability. Federal Sentencing Reporter. 29(1), pp.58-67.
K. Albertson, C. Fox, K. Wong (2013). Justice Reinvestment – thinking outside the cell. Criminal Justice Matters. 94(1), pp.22-23.
C. Fox, K. Albertson, K. Wong (2013). Justice Reinvestment and its Potential Contribution to Criminal Justice Reform. Prison Service Journal. 207, pp.34-46.
C. Fox, K. Albertson, K. Wong (2013). Justice Reinvestment and its Potential Contribution to Criminal Justice Reform. Prison Service Journal. 207, pp.35-46.
H. Smithson, A. Wilcox, L. Monchuk, K. Christmann, K. Wong (2011). The prevalence of youth racially motivated offending: What do we really know?. Probation Journal. 58(3), pp.233-249.
K. Wong (2009). Do the right thing: the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report 10 years on. Safer Communities. 8(3), pp.10-13.
K. Wong, K. Christmann (2008). The role of victim decisionmaking in reporting of hate crimes. Safer Communities. 7(2), pp.19-35.
K. Wong (2017). Community Service. In: The Encyclopedia of Corrections. Wiley,
K. Wong (2017). Community Justice. In: The Encyclopedia of Corrections. Wiley,
KKS. Wong (2017). Hate Crime Victims and Hate Crime Reporting: Some Impertinent Questions. In: Hate Crime: Concepts, policy, future directions. wWllan, pp.194-208.
K. Wong, K. Christmann (2017). Routledge Handbook on Victims’ Issues in Criminal Justice. C. Roberson. In: Routledge Handbook on Victims' Issues in Criminal Justice. Routledge, pp.102-117.
K. Wong (2013). The Emperor’s new clothes: can Big Society deliver criminal justice?. In: Values in criminology and community justice. Policy Press, pp.277-294.
K. Wong, A. Roberts, G. Bailey, R. Kinsella, P. Gray (2022). Youth Endowment Fund St Christopher's Fellowship, Feasibility Study Findings. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Youth Endowment Fund.
C. Fox, D. Adams-Guppy, B. Hall, R. Webster, K. Wong A Realist Review of Effective Management in Probation and Youth Justice. , His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation.
G. Hothershall, G. Bailey, K. Wong Effervescent Crimepaigning: Stakeholders Interview Report. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Effervescent and Youth Endowment Fund.
K. Wong, G. Hothershall, G. Bailey Effervescent Crimepaigning: Needs Analysis Report. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Effervescent and Youth Endowment Fund.
K. Wong, P. Gray, A. Roberts, D. Jump (2021). Youth Endowment Fund Empire Fighting Chance, Feasibility Study Findings. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit Manchester Metropolitan University, Youth Endowment Fund.
K. Wong, P. Gray, A. Roberts, J. Crowther (2021). Youth Endowment Fund Empire Rugby Football League, Feasibility Study Findings. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Youth Endowment Fund.
G. Hothershall, G. Bailey, K. Wong Effervescent Crimepaigning: Literature review report: Youth, trauma, crime, and better lives: a literature review for Effervescent. , Effervescent & Youth Endowment Fund.
G. Bailey, K. Wong, S. Morris, A. Kumar Kikit Pathwayz Prevent Local Delivery Impact Evaluation Scoping Report. Manchester Metropolitan University and Ipsos Mori, Home Office.
P. Edwards, K. Wong, S. Morris, A. Kumar Reveal Theatre Prevent Local Delivery Impact Evaluation Scoping Report. Manchester Metropolitan University and Ipsos Mori, Home Office.
K. Szifris, K. Wong, P. Traynor Duke of Edinburgh Final Evaluation Report. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
R. Kinsella, K. Wong, S. Maruna Sycamore Tree Programme Evaluation Report. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Prison Fellowship.
D. Stellmacher, G. Bailey, K. Wong, S. Morris, A. Kumar Empowering Minds Mothers Against Radicalisation Prevent Local Delivery Impact Evaluation Scoping Report. Ipsos MORI and Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Home Office.
K. Wong, A. Roberts, R. Kinsella, G. Bailey, P. Gray (2021). Youth Endowment Fund Lambeth Divert Feasibility Study Findings. Manchester Metropolitan University
K. Wong, G. Bailey (2018). Evaluation of Web Guardians. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU), Manchester Metropolitan University, Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism.
C. O' Keeffe, D. Ellingworth, J. Lowthian, R. Clarke, K. Wong Evaluation of the Whole System Approach for Women Offenders: Progress Report. Sheffield Hallam University, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Greater Manchester.
R. Kinsella, R. Clarke, J. Lowthian, M. Ellison, Z. Kiss Whole system approach to women offenders final evaluation report. , Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
K. Wong, R. Kinsella, Z. Kiss, L. Meadows, C. O' Keeffe DAWES UNIT BRISTOL FINAL EVALUATION REPORT.
KKS. Wong, D. Ellingworth, A. Ames Out of court disposal evaluation: Reoffending analysis report. Hallam Centre for Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam University, Ministry of Justice.
L. Meadows, R. Kinsella, D. Ellingworth, K. Wong, P. Senior (2014). Mapping Restorative Provision in England & Wales: Merseyside. Hallam Centre for Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam University, Restorative Justice Council and Ministry of Justice, Restorative Justice Council and Ministry of Justice.
L. Meadows, R. Kinsella, D. Ellingworth, K. Wong, P. Senior, et al. K. Wong. (2014). Mapping Restorative Provision in England & Wales: Gloucestershire. Hallam Centre for Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam University, Restorative Justice Council and Ministry of Justice
C. Fox, R. Moorhead, M. Sefton, K. Wong Community Legal Advice Centres and Networks: A Process Evaluation. Legal Services Commission, Legal Services Research Centre.
K. Wong, R. Armitage (2006). Anti-social behaviour and housing bodies: Sharing effective practice in preventing anti-social behaviour. Nacro
K. Wong (2003). Summer Learning: evaluating youth diversion schemes. Nacro
K. Wong (2003). Re-thinking prevention: A child focussed approach to using protective and risk factors in youth crime prevention. Nacro
R. Armitage, R. Campbell, K. Wong (2002). A review of Pre and Post Release Support for Drug Users in Dudley. Report prepared for Dudley CDRP and DAT. Nacro, Dudley CDRP and DAT.
K. Wong (1998). Money Advice Provision in the County of Hereford and Worcestershire. Redditch Citizens Advice Bureau
Kevin is the Director and Founder of The MANCHESTER Crime and Justice Film Festival with a mission to screen great films to engage the public, provoke debate and provide an alternative take on crime, justice and punishment in the 21st century. Recent events have included: Crime and the Camera with acclaimed documentary film maker Rex Bloomstein; and Gun fingers: "It's not a game" with Simon Melbourne, who wrote and directed the short film and talked as someone with lived experience of the criminal justice system – about the power of telling stories through film.
Kevin is a member of the Advisory Panel on Probation Learning (APPL) convened by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and chaired by the Chief Probation Officer.
In 2021 Kevin was appointed by the Lord Chancellor to the Expert and Advisory Panel for the Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid led and chaired by Sir Christopher Bellamy QC.
Kevin is the Chairperson of the Criminal Justice Alliance a network of 160 organisations working towards a fair and effective criminal justice system. Members include charities, social enterprises, think tanks, research institutions and staff associations. They work across the criminal justice system, in areas such as crime prevention, sentencing, policing, prisons, probation, victim services, mental health, drug policy and treatment, and more.
He is also a trustee at Manchester based charity Back on Track that works with disadvantaged adults to make lasting, positive changes in their lives. The charity engages with people who are going through recovery or rehabilitation, having been through problems with homelessness, mental health, drugs and alcohol or offending.