The CJA Awards

Sector Awards

The Sector Awards celebrate the outstanding individuals and organisations working within the criminal justice and social justice sector to make the criminal justice system fairer and more effective. 

Sector Awards criteria 

Overall vision 

• Contributes to a fairer and more effective criminal justice system 

Work 

• Delivers services which improve outcomes for people impacted by the criminal justice system and/or focuses on producing systemic change.
• This may include: training others, working with the media, campaigning, influencing policy or practice. 

 Demonstration of impact  

• Able to refer to examples of the impact of their work on a fairer and more effective criminal justice system. 

 Reach of prize money 

• Describes a valuable and meaningful way in which the prize money would be spent, through improving their own work and/or the criminal justice system. 

Media Awards

The Media Awards celebrate the journalists, broadcasters and digital creators who shine a light on criminal justice issues, challenging misperceptions and improving public understanding.  

Media Awards criteria

 Original content  

• Demonstrates originality and relevance, including ‘hidden’ voices and issues.   
• It must show what works, not just what is broken 

Challenges perceptions 

• Challenges myths and avoids stereotypes, clichés, negative terminology and sensationalism.   
• Encourages dialogue and discussion.   

Well-crafted and responsibly sourced  

• Must be well researched, accurate and based on evidence with credible sources.   
• Engaging, persuasive and appropriate for the audience for which it was intended.  

 Safe and sensitive 

• Portrays individuals’ experiences authentically, humanely and sensitively. 
• Sets individuals’ experiences within a wider social policy context.   

 Reach and impact  

• Influences and inspires people to think differently, care about the issue and take positive action.  
• Consideration will be given to the audience reached in terms of number and / or a demographic likely to be less well informed about criminal justice and/or those who are able to make positive change in the system and/or those who are affected by the criminal justice system.