✏️ The ReWrite Program


is a 2040 rehabilitation strategy for young adults in the prison and probation system that proposes a radical shift in the approach from re-offending and re-settlement to re-learning and re-engagement by providing support in the realms of self-discovery, relationship building and education, training and employment (ETE)


PARTNERS : Royal College of Art + Minsitry of Justice UK (2024)
KEYWORDS : Social Innnovation, Strategic Design, Speculative Design
TEAM : Nitya Mathur, Norah Lin, Shuhei Okubo, Tanvi Jain
IMPACT : Influenced the Organisational Vision of the Ministry of Justice UK




High-Level Brief


What could the prison and probation rehabilitation system
look like in 2040 — a world that has been radically transformed
by technological, societal and global changes?

Project Objective


Building a speculative vision for a rehabilitation service
ecosystem that is adaptive, effective, and aligned with
the values and needs of a future society






Scope: Defining the Target Cohort + Crime


This project focuses on Young Adults (18-26 years) within the prison and probation system who have been sentened for committing Petty Crimes such as common assault, drunk and disorderly, possession of drugs, possession of weapons, general theft, shoplifting, etc. 




• Largest Cohort: Young adults make up the highest percentage (8.3%) of the prison and rehabilitation population
• Highest Re-Offending Rate: They account for more than 
1/3rd of the probation service’s total caseload with highest reoffending rates
• Highest Rehabilitation Potential: This is the group that is most likely to grow out of crime given the right services and conditions








2040 Future Trends: Using Futures Thinking + Speculative Design tools





2040 World Scenario & Future Personas






ReWrite Program: Service Proposition + Ecosystem Map + User Stories





Theory of Change: Hypothesis + Strategy + Future Probes












This work has been developed as a collaboration between the Royal College of Art and the Ministry of Justice for foresight research, inspiration and speculative design purposes only. This is not Government Policy.