The Magistrates Association (MA) is recruiting a part-time Research Officer to play a leading role in an exciting new project exploring how an offender's level of maturity affects decision-making in magistrates’ courts.

The MA is the independent membership body for magistrates in England and Wales. We work to promote the sound administration of the law, including by supporting our members, informing the public about the courts and the role of magistrates, producing and publishing research on key topics relevant to magistrates, and contributing to the development and delivery of reforms to the magistracy and the broader justice system. With 14,000 members, we are the independent voice of the magistracy.

There is a growing body of work exploring the role that maturity plays in offending, rehabilitation and engagement with the justice system. This new research project will look at magistrates’ understanding of offenders' maturity, what information they receive in relation to whether a lack of maturity is a factor in any case, and how any information provided influences sentencing decisions. It will involve a review of existing evidence, a survey of magistrates, carrying out focus groups, and holding a roundtable event with probation staff.

We are looking for a researcher with excellent qualitative and quantitative research skills, project management experience and the ability to produce a clear research report, as well as the ability to work to tight deadlines and to organise and prioritise your own workload. The role is for five months and part-time, three days per week.