Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to nominate?
Who is eligible for an award?
What do you mean by a team?
Do I tell the person or team that I am nominating them?
When can I nominate?
How can I nominate?
How much work is involved in nominating someone for an award?
My team works with non-CJS partners, will we be eligible for an Award?
Can I nominate my own team?
Can I nominate more than one person or team?
What are the Award categories and criteria?
How are the nominees assessed?
What is the deadline for nominations?
When will the Awards ceremony be held?
What are the Justice Awards?
Who do I contact for further information?
Any member of staff from a criminal justice agency, or any volunteer from an organisation that works with victims, witnesses, defendants or offenders can make a nomination.
Gloucestershire's Justice Awards are open to any member of staff or team working in a criminal justice agency, which includes the Crown Prosecution Service, Her Majesty's Courts Service (including Magistrates' and Crown Court), Her Majesty's Prison Service, the police, the Probation Service, the Youth Justice System, and the Criminal Defence Service. Also eligible are members of staff from an organisation or public body connected to criminal justice, for example the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. Volunteers or voluntary groups - from organisations working with victims, witnesses, defendants or offenders - qualify for an award.
There are categories recognising both individual and team achievement, and teams can nominate themselves. We welcome nominations from teams who cross agencies, or that are made up of agencies and voluntary organisations in partnership on a particular project.
A team is a group of people working on a particular project or at a place of work such as a police station or court, who are either from the same agency, or from different agencies brought together for a specific task. A team can also be a partnership between criminal justice organisations and other departments and agencies, for example a drug-crime reduction initiative that involves police, probation, the local authority, housing associations and the NHS Trust. The criminal justice agencies will need to be the lead organisation on these partnerships for them to be eligible, however. There needs to be at least two people working together in the team, but there is no limit on the number of people in a team who can be nominated.
Do I tell the person or team that I am nominating them?
You must inform your chosen colleague or team that you are nominating them for a Justice Award, as we will be contacting them at various stages of the process.
Nominations will be open until midday on Friday 12th February 2010.
The easiest way to submit your nomination is online (go to our Nomination Page). However, you can also Download a Nomination Form and email or post to us.
How much work is involved in nominating someone for an award?
The nomination form has been designed so that it is simple and easy to complete. We do need as much information as possible so we can make the right decision. Before you begin your nomination, consider:
What is the person/team's outstanding contribution?;
What evidence is there to support their achievements? It is essential that you provide information to back up your nomination. Evidence can mean personal testimony, statistical evidence, reports or quotes;
Have they helped individuals in their work?;
Has their work impacted on their local community?; and
Has their work benefited the wider Criminal Justice System?
We will ask you to provide any examples you have of their outstanding contribution to support your nominations.
My team works with non-CJS partners, will we be eligible for an Award?
Your team will be eligible for an award for its work in partnership with non-criminal justice agencies, as long as CJS agencies lead on the project. Only CJS staff or volunteers will be able to make the nomination.
Yes.
Can I nominate more than one person or team?
You can nominate as many individuals or teams as you like. We do not advise nominating the same candidates for more than one category.
What are the Award categories and criteria?
Outstanding achievement in caring for victims and/or witnesses
The winner will have shown a strong personal commitment to supporting victims or witnesses emotionally or practically. This should include ways of working that have brought demonstrable improvements to the criminal justice process.
Oustanding contribution to tackling youth crime (young people under the age of 18)
The winner should have contributed to bringing down youth crime, through committed work with young people who were either involved in crime or were at risk of becoming involved in crime
Oustanding contribution to working with offenders
The winner should have shown a strong commitment to reducing re-offending or improving the rehabilitation of adult offenders
Oustanding commitment to diversity
The winner will have shown a commitment to reducing inequalities, bringing about demonstrable improvements to the public's experience of the CJS, or internally within their own organisation. We recognise issues surrounding gender, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or disability in consideration of the award
Oustanding contribution to engaging local communities
The winner should have shown exceptional ability to engage and involve communities in justice with demonstrable results
Oustanding achievement in putting people first and satisfying customer needs
The winner should have shown excellent understanding of customer needs and demonstrated exceptional customer service.
Innovation award for introducing more effective and efficient ways of working
The winner will have suggested a new way of working which has been adopted by their organisation and resulted in improved results or service.
Award for long term commitment and dedication to the criminal justice system
The winner will have shown exceptional long-term commitment and a demonstrable contribution to improving the CJS, working in criminal justice for at least ten years.
Partnership of the year
The winning team will have helped produce demonstrable improvements in the CJS by working in partnership with others. Partnerships can be with other agencies within criminal justice, or voluntary orgainsations working with victims, witnesses, defendents or offenders.
Volunteer of the year
The winner will be a volunteer who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and dedication as a volunteer for an organisation that works with victims, witnesses, defendants or offenders.
General Criteria
What evidence is there to support this nomination - include personal testimony, statistical evidence, reports, quotes, etc.
How has the person/team made an outstanding contribution in their field?
What has been achieved through their work for their organisation, and for the public?
Are they doing something "over and above" their ordinary work?
Does the person/team's work contribute to helping individuals?
Does the person/team's work contribute to the wider community where they work?
Does the person/team's work contribute to improving the wider Criminal Justice System, for example through good practice, or a new way of working?
We need as much evidence as possible on the application, so please include as much as you can. By evidence we mean:
any data from particular events or projects; figures relating to increased confidence of the public, or performance; and any personal testimonies from people the candidate has served in their work.
How are the nominees assessed?
All nominees are judged by the criteria of the chosen category. Once the nomination period has closed, all submissions will be circulated to the members of Gloucestershire Criminal Justice Board (go to our Board Members page for more information on who sits on the Board). The Board will meet together to assess and choose an individua and team winner in each category.
What is the deadline for nominations?
Midday on Friday 12th February 2010.
When will the Awards ceremony be held?
The Justice Awards Celebration Evening will take place on the evening of Thursday 6th May 2010 at The Hatherley Manor Hotel, Down Hatherley, Gloucester. The winners for each category will be invited, along with a guest of their choice and the colleague who nominated them. In the case of team awards, the team may be asked to select representatives to attend on behalf of the whole team. The awards are an opportunity for those responsible for running the criminal justice system within Gloucestershire to say thank you, on behalf of the general public, to all our staff and volunteers and the ceremony reflects this.
National Justice Awards were established in 2004 by the Attorney General, the Rt. Hon Baroness Scotland, then Minister of State for the Home Office, to recognise the outstanding achievements of staff and volunteers working at the front line of criminal Justice. Now in their fifth year, they have to date recognised over one hundred individuals and teams and many of the winners have said that taking part has changed their lives, often increasing the profile of their work and helping them to achieve more in their chosen field.
This is the second year that we have organised local awards for Gloucestershire in order to recognise the dedication and achievements of professionals and volunteers within our own county.
Who do I contact for further information?
Please email Beth Simpson at Gloucestershire Criminal Justice Board.