Apply to conduct research in Prisons, Probation or HMPPS Headquarters

N.B. Due to the potential volumes of applications, the NRC is unable to accept research proposals from undergraduate students.

General

All researchers wanting to conduct research with staff and/or offenders in prison establishments, the Probation Service/Probation Regions or within Her Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Headquarters are required to formally apply for research approval to the HMPPS National Research Committee (NRC) through this online form.

If the research also requires approval from health and social care bodies, you should apply through the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) only.

Researchers are not required to submit an NRC form in addition to the IRAS application form. 

What counts as research?

The NRC process applies to all studies and evaluations that use social research methods to generate quantitative and/or qualitative information (through a range of techniques, e.g. monitoring returns, observations, surveys, interviews, focus groups) to address specific research aims or questions.

Types of research include but are not limited to case studies, action research studies, and evaluations. Consultation exercises involving these techniques would be classified as research. Requests to access MoJ and HMPPS datasets for research purposes should also be made using this form. Further guidance on the application process can be found here.

Amendments to an approved research project (for example, additional sites, change to sample size, additional research instruments, an extension to the data collection period) must not be made without the prior agreement of the NRC.

Details of planned amendments should be sent to the National Research mailbox for approval before they are implemented. Please also inform the NRC if the completion of your research has been delayed and provide a revised end date.

The NRC exists to ensure:

  • the research applicant, Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and HMPPS attain best value from the research conducted
  • the resource implications and impact of the research on operational delivery is considered
  • the robustness and relevance of the research is adequately assessed
  • matters of data protection/security and research ethics are dealt with in a consistent manner