Justice 2.0 is a campaign that calls for an upgrade to the justice system, globally. At the forefront of this campaign is culture change, acknowledging the harms associated with unhealthy and toxic cultures, and proposing that communities (including practitioners and those in contact with the system) deserve better.
Justice 2.0 is co-owned by any individual or organisation that wants cultural change. It encourages people to explore what they would like as an upgrade within the justice system. Grow Transform Belong CIC (GTB) is leading the way through its core strategy, which has three key elements:
- Firstly, GTB provides resources and online learning opportunities and courses to support practitioners, managers, and leaders to learn how to change culture (gtbacademy.talentlms.com).
- Secondly, GTB aims to provide practical blueprints to capture quality practice and guide organisations through the process of culture change and raise awareness of how culture change can take place meaningfully and sustainably.
- Finally, GTB aims to promote a sense of community through collective impact, encouraging organisations to co-define their own upgrades and visions and co-own Justice 2.0, focusing on their strengths and ambitions.
Magnifying the Power of Lived Experience
Committed to compassion, courage, knowledge, trust, and recognition, Justice 2.0 challenges the current state of play that invariably excludes and marginalises those with lived experience of the criminal Justice System. To launch this campaign, GTB co-created a set of Growth Standards to support organisations seeking to embrace people with lived experience of the Justice System and enhance the possibilities of changing culture in a meaningful and sustainable way.
For too long, the justice system has failed to recognise the real value and potential of those who have lived through it. The Growth Standards were created to address this. They are a mechanism that can guide organisations to change culture, not only within their organisation but more broadly. They assist organisations to assess their current state of play and how they may grow to create a more inclusive work environment, where lived experience is embraced and people remain the heart of the organisation.
Our vision is a future where people with lived experience are not only welcomed into the workforce but are actively shaping services, policy, and practice.
How we co-created the Growth Standards
A series of conversations, surveys, and roundtables were organised over the course of four months. They were designed, led, and run by those with lived experience and aimed to:
- gather a rich understanding of the experiences of working in the justice sector
- learn the impact that the justice system had on those with lived experience
- hear recommendations they would propose to make their work (and practice) more meaningful
These discussions were focused on co-creating a set of practical guidance that would support cultural change (see here for a short video on this process).
The Growth Standards were a direct response to the findings from the survey (N=75), which highlighted how justice work can re-traumatise, exclude, and block individuals from opportunities at work that are open to those without such histories of offending. To make inclusion the norm, these standards focused on working alongside organisations, rather than pointing blame and holding judgement. They focus on progression rather than perfection and are written with care and understanding, acknowledging how challenging culture change can be.
The Growth Standards
The Standards were structured based on the four key themes that emerged from the surveys:
- Wellbeing
- Meaning
- Growth
- Belonging
Each theme was broken down into three recommendations, which focused on individuals, culture, and policy.
One of the most striking findings was the emotional toll placed on those with lived experience in professional roles. Many reported feeling triggered, unsupported, and re-traumatised. Formal disclosure and vetting processes often evoked shame rather than trust, and it was rare for organisations to offer supervision and reflective spaces. The Standards urge organisations to move beyond tokenism and instead invest in trauma-informed, reflective infrastructures that allow for sense making and psychological safety.
There was also a strong desire from the lived-experience community to not just contribute towards support services but to grow into professionals and leaders. The Standards highlighted ways in which organisations can address this and signposted resources, which could support the journey to professionalism.
There was also a strong desire from the lived-experience community to not just contribute towards support services but to grow into professionals and leaders. The Standards highlighted ways in which organisations can address this and signposted resources, which could support the journey to professionalism.
The findings also highlighted how a strong sense of purpose provided resilience against the emotional tolls that people experienced within the justice system. Some reported the healing nature of this work and how it provided them a sense of self-worth. The Standards provide practical ways in which organisations can harness these positive outcomes and address times at which people with lived experience felt disempowered and isolated.
Growth in Action
These Standards are not created in isolation. They are deeply embedded in the wider Growth Philosophy, which centres on creating relational environments, founded on trust, belonging, and hope. The Growth Standards translate these principles into tangible practice. They value human potential over past mistakes and they place relationships at the heart of cultural change.
Following the recommendations, the Standards provide guidance to help organisations assess their current culture and provide case studies and resources that aim to inspire those with an appetite for cultural development. The self-assessment tool evaluates whether an organisation is aware of the importance of the Standards, is acting on them or has fully embedded the Standards in practice to the point at which they are leading within this approach.
An online questionnaire has been integrated into the Growth Standards to help organisations understand where they are and how they might grow into an organisation with a more inclusive culture. The assessment is not a tick-box exercise. It helps engage in reflection, honesty, and growth, focusing on the “how” as well as the “what.” The tool guides organisations through questions of leadership, inclusion, trauma-awareness, and meaningful participation, and provides an action plan template with examples to help organisations grow.
Beyond the Standards
The ultimate vision is that one day, these Standards will no longer be necessary — that lived experience will be fully embedded in the justice system and new cultural norms emerge as part of the Justice 2.0 upgrade. The Standards focus on collective responsibility and ownership, building opportunities for organisations to develop but also seek advice from those that designed the Standards. To date, 13 global organisations have endorsed the Standards and promoted their commitment to the journey ahead.
If you would like to endorse these Standards, please contact Sarah at Sarah@growtransformbelong.com.
For a copy of the full Standards, please visit: https://www.growtransformbelong.com/justice2-0/
