In Search of Trust is a research project funded by the Dutch Science Agenda. An important starting point of the research is the assumption that a lack of trust between young people and professionals in the criminal justice system is both a cause and a consequence of differences in sanctioning, overrepresentation of certain groups in crime figures and  recidivism. The aim of this project is to strengthen mutual trust between actors in the criminal justice system on the one hand and young people with a migration background and/or weaker socio-economic position on the other. The consortium will also look for interventions that can reduce inequality in the sanctioning of crime.

To this end, we combine various methods:

• We conduct quantitative analyses based on register data from Statistics Netherlands to better map inequality in criminal justice outcomes.
• A systematic literature study provides an overview of the approach and effectiveness of existing interventions.
• Using life writing sources and qualitative (life course) interviews with young people and actors in and around the criminal justice system, we search for further starting points for interventions against inequality in the criminal justice system.
  

In Search of Trust has a clear mission:

Reducing inequalities in sanctioning, promoting a fairer and safer climate for young people, improving trust between police and youth, and reducing recidivism, especially among groups with low trust in the criminal justice system.

To achieve this, we collaborate and co-create with project partners and other stakeholders. They continuously advise us on our approach and play an active role in developing and implementing the interventions.