Promoting current guidance and best evidence in justice and forensic nursing practice.

Developing guidance for nurses and HCAs spanning all areas within justice and forensic nursing.

Carrying out and critiquing research.

Organising conferences and study events to share good practice and network.

Working with other organisations and groups to develop guidance and competencies.

The RCN charter receives royal ascent, and at it’s core seeks to:

• To promote the science and art of nursing and education and training in the profession of nursing.
• To promote the advance of nursing as a profession in all or any of its branches.
• To promote the professional standing and interests of Members.
• To assist Members who by reason of adversity, ill-health or otherwise are in need of assistance of any nature.
• To promote through the medium of international agencies and otherwise the foregoing purposes in other countries as well as in Our United Kingdom.

In order to hold the RCNs charter at the centre of their work, the Nursing in Justice and Forensics forum committee have agreed to uphold the following values, principles and behaviours:

• Trauma informed support
• Safe space & connectedness
• Professional Voice
• Raising issues
• Promoting Evidence Base Practice
• Lobbying government.

Download the PDFs

Annual report

• Nursing in Justice and Forensic Healthcare Forum Annual report 2025

Member representation summary

• Member representation summary -October 2025
• Member representation summary - April 2025

Strategic objectives

• RCN Forums Objectives and Activity Planning Template 2026
• RCN. A new dawn for nursing: 2023-2027. Five-year strategic plan

What to expect from an Inquest or a Fatal Accident Inquiry following a death in state custody

This first presentation (delivered during a webinar on 23 July 2025) focusses on what to expect from an inquest or Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) following a death in state custody. It covers the purpose, process, and roles involved, helping to promote understanding of the nurses’ responsibilities and the importance of investigations. View the presentation.

Investigations and how they feed into the inquest process 

This is the second presentation, in a series of three on behalf of the RCN Nursing in Justice & Forensic Health Care Forum, which focuses on the various investigations that flow from a death in state custody and how these investigations feature in the inquest process. The webinar provides an overview of police investigations, serious incident investigations and a Q&A session regarding the Prison and Probations Ombudsman with Mark Judd, Assistant Ombudsman and Marjorie Goold. View the presentation.

Common themes arising from deaths in state custody

This third webinar addresses common themes arising in inquests following a death in state custody and contains a number of case studies based on real life examples of inquests our members have been involved in. View the presentation.

This webinar launches the new competency framework, providing an overview of its content with the input of both specialists and non-specialists working with women in prison across the UK to explore best practice in this unique clinical setting.

• Growing membership to the forum - to increase voting allocation at congress for 2027
• Nationally raising the professional challenges, responsibilities, and liabilities nurses face across health and justice and addressing the implications of care failures that arise from systemic barriers.
• Setting up health and safety reps within secure settings- police custody SARC etc.