Abstract
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) implemented a pilot scheme to fund DNA, drug and alcohol tests in private law children cases where a test was deemed necessary to resolve proceedings justly. This report summarises the findings of the evaluation of this pilot.
The process evaluation was designed to deliver primarily qualitative evidence relating to how the pilot was implemented and worked in practice, including any perceived benefits and challenges. The evaluation provided costs of the pilot. The study also aimed to identify lessons and areas of good practice that could be used to inform the model and delivery of potential national funding arrangements.
The process evaluation was designed to deliver primarily qualitative evidence relating to how the pilot was implemented and worked in practice, including any perceived benefits and challenges. The evaluation provided costs of the pilot. The study also aimed to identify lessons and areas of good practice that could be used to inform the model and delivery of potential national funding arrangements.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ministry of Justice |
| Commissioning body | Ministry of Justice |
| Number of pages | 48 |
| Publication status | Published - 16 Feb 2015 |
Acknowledgements
To maintain anonymity of the parties involved in the private family law cases in this evaluation we have not identified the pilot or comparator areas within this report. Due to this, we cannot name the individuals who have provided invaluable assistance throughout this evaluation. Nonetheless, we wish to thank the members of Cafcass and HMCTS who helped collect data, arrange workshops, and organise interviews on our behalf. We thank the Cafcass and HMCTS staff, solicitors and members of the judiciary who have given up their valuable time to answer our questions in workshops and interviews, as well as the representatives from Oxfordshire Family Mediation and DNA Legal. We have also had the support of the wider Ministry of Justice Analytical Services, particularly Aldo Schmitt who was a vital contributor to this research and saw the project through its early stages. Finally, wewould like to thank Mike Coote for providing support throughout the design and delivery of the evaluation.