Socio-emotional characteristics in early childhood and offending behaviour

The Office for National Statistics

This talk explores how early socio-emotional and cognitive issues raise youth offending risk.

Research Excellence Series Talks 2026

<h4>About the talk</h4>Early cognitive and socio-emotional development plays a critical role in shaping later life outcomes, including involvement in crime.This talk will examine how socio-emotional and cognitive difficulties identified in early childhood are associated with adolescent offending, drawing on de-identified, linked administrative data from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Department for Education (DfE).This presentation will examine how difficulties identified at age five—using Early Years Foundation Stage assessments—relate to adolescent offending, drawing on linked MoJ–DfE data. It will explore how school experiences such as absenteeism, exclusions, and attainment mediate these relationships, and what this means for tailored interventions.Join Dr Paul Garcia Hinojosa to uncover his findings and what they could mean for future policy.<a href="https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/news-blogs/how-does-early-socio-emotional-development-in-childhood-relate-to-later-offending/" title="https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/news-blogs/how-does-early-socio-emotional-development-in-childhood-relate-to-later-offending/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">How does early socio-emotional development in childhood relate to later offending?</a><h4>Meet the presenter</h4>Dr Paul Garcia Hinojosa, Economist, Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of EssexPaul’s research focuses on education, early skill development, and labour markets, with particular interest in how childhood and adolescent experiences shape later life outcomes.Paul recently received an Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK) <a href="https://www.adruk.org/our-work/browse-all-projects/adr-uk-research-fellows-ministry-of-justice-department-for-education-linked-dataset/" title="https://www.adruk.org/our-work/browse-all-projects/adr-uk-research-fellows-ministry-of-justice-department-for-education-linked-dataset/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">fellowship</a> to identify early socio-emotional traits that may increase children's risk of offending as they transition into adolescence. Paul also secured Nuffield Foundation funding (starting April 2026) for a project on the impacts of Relational and Restorative Practice in Schools and to study Restorative Relationship Practices in English schools. His project will evaluate their impact on exclusions, criminal justice outcomes, and teacher retention.In addition to Paul’s research, he has designed and delivers quantitative data analysis training to external users of Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS).<h4>Learn more about the Research Excellence Series</h4>Each year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) hosts a collection of online events showcasing outstanding work from across the research community. The series celebrates projects that use secure data to generate new insights and drive impact, as well as innovative organisational initiatives that strengthen research capability and collaboration.The 2026 series will take audiences on the full journey of these projects—from inception and methodology through to dissemination and impact. Sessions will feature a diverse range of speakers and include winners of the <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/statistics/requestingstatistics/onsresearchexcellenceaward" title="https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/statistics/requestingstatistics/onsresearchexcellenceaward" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">ONS Research Excellence Awards 2025</a>, which recognise excellence in analysis, collaboration, secure data creation, and impactful outcomes.The events will take place through Microsoft Teams. They will also be recorded and available to watch later, on our ONS YouTube channel.<h4>Getting in touch</h4>For more information about this event, please visit <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/statistics/requestingstatistics/secureresearchservice/researchexcellenceandpartnerships/theofficefornationalstatisticsonsresearchevents" title="https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/statistics/requestingstatistics/secureresearchservice/researchexcellenceandpartnerships/theofficefornationalstatisticsonsresearchevents" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">the ONS SRS events webpage,</a> or email <a href="mailto:srs.engagement.team@ons.gov.uk" title="mailto:srs.engagement.team@ons.gov.uk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">srs.engagement.team@ons.gov.uk</a>.All information submitted via Eventbrite will be held in line with the Office for National Statistics’ <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/dataprotection/privacyinformationforourstakeholders" title="https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/dataprotection/privacyinformationforourstakeholders" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">privacy policy</a>.

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