Research Partner: RAND Europe
The Justice for All Series is supported by RAND Europe as the programme’s research partner. An independent, not-for-profit research organisation, RAND Europe is internationally recognised for its work in public policy, justice, security, and institutional reform.
Ahead of each event in the series, RAND Europe produces evidence-based briefing papers designed to frame discussion and encourage practical, informed debate. These papers examine some of the most pressing challenges facing modern justice systems, including court inefficiencies, rehabilitation and reoffending, support for survivors of exploitation, and the long-term sustainability of justice funding.
The partnership helps ensure that the conversations taking place at the Old Bailey are grounded not only in lived experience and professional insight, but also in rigorous research and analysis. This reflects the wider ambition of the series: to move beyond rhetoric and contribute to serious, evidence-led thinking around the future of justice.
RAND Europe’s first paper, The Economic Legacy of Magna Carta, explored the relationship between justice, institutional trust, and economic prosperity, linking the themes of the series to UN Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
Insights from across the five events and accompanying research papers will contribute towards a final capstone report bringing together recommendations and reflections from leaders across law, business, academia, government, and civil society.
The Economic Legacy of Magna Carta
As the research partner for the Justice for All Series, RAND Europe has produced the first paper accompanying the programme. The study explores how the principles established at Runnymede over 800 years ago continue to shape modern governance, law, and economic growth.
Connecting the Magna Carta to the United Nations’ goal of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, the paper demonstrates how access to justice and fair governance remain vital to both social stability and economic prosperity. It makes a powerful case that justice is not only a moral imperative but also an economic one, showing that investment in justice today can deliver returns comparable to major infrastructure projects.
Justice for the Accused
This briefing paper was prepared to support the second event of the Justice for All conference series, ‘Justice for the Accused.’ RAND Europe is a research partner for this series, which is a year-long programme of events that examines the challenges facing modern justice systems. This paper reflects on the drivers and costs of inefficiencies in the criminal court system in England and Wales.
The effective functioning of the criminal justice system is essential for maintaining public confidence, ensuring fair outcomes and the rule of law. However, recent evidence suggests that the system in England and Wales is struggling to fulfil its key functions due to persistent, interacting inefficiencies. These inefficiencies not only increase operational costs but also risk undermining the delivery of justice.
The RAND paper focuses on modern slavery as a form of exploitation affecting vulnerable individuals across sectors such as agriculture, construction and domestic work. It outlines how exploitation is driven by a mix of personal vulnerability and systemic factors, and emphasises that modern slavery carries significant social and economic costs. The paper also sets out key frameworks for understanding the issue and highlights the need for stronger protection mechanisms, particularly through coordinated action between government, businesses and civil society.
It argues that both public and private sector organisations, especially those operating in major financial centres like the City of London, have a responsibility to prevent exploitation and support