Introducing Jailbrake

Each year around a hundred thousand 15-17 year olds get caught up in the criminal justice system. Once they come into contact with this system, many are likely to re-offend; to remain part of it and to go on to become part of the adult criminal justice system.

Jailbrake is a competition to find and support great ideas that could break this cycle of youth offending and re-offending using simple web and mobile tools.

We want to bring together those who have an idea about how to slow down and stop the cycle of youth offending – whether they’re part of a youth offending team, a service user, police officer or a member of a local community – with people who can make their ideas idea a reality.

We want to find the best ideas and turn them into real projects with a helping hand from software developers, designers and funders.

You can read more about how the competition works here.

Why use web and mobile?

Simple web and mobile tools are great at connecting people in new ways and on their own terms. They can engage and empower people to take more control of their lives; providing new ways of organising, mobilising and communicating. We believe these tools could help local communities, those working with offenders and young people to help themselves.

This potential is currently not being realised in the area of youth offending, and we want to find new approaches to making the most of what it can offer.

Why should you get involved with Jailbrake?

We’re looking for anyone who has a real motivation to reduce youth offending. Whether you’re part of a youth offending team, involved with healthcare or schooling, a community police officer or a member of a local community, or none of the above, we want you to participate.

Our call for ideas is now open and you can enter your idea online here. The call closes on Friday 5th March.

We’ll be running a series of workshops and events to help people come up with and submit ideas. If you’d like us to come and visit your organisation to talk about how you can get involved with Jailbrake or you’d simply like to find out more, get in touch.

What does a great Jailbrake idea look like?

We’re looking for ideas that could make a positive impact on the pattern of youth offending and re-offending using simple web and mobile tools. It could be an idea that relies on text messaging, a map, a social network – or something else entirely! Here are a few suggestions to get you thinking:

1. How can we use mapping to match young people to the services they need to prevent reoffending, such as access to accommodation, mentoring, training, substance misuse services or employment opportunities?
2. How can peer support be delivered using online and mobile technology?
3. How can the anonymity offered by the web be used to support those who may not wish to discuss personal or sensitive information face-to-face?
4. Can simple web and mobile tools help get more people involved in deciding how community service should be carried out? The Making Good project is one offline example.

Posted on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 11:25 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.