DPP invites responses to proposed new Code for Crown Prosecutors – Crown Prosecution Service

“Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, has today launched a consultation on a proposed new edition of the Code for Crown Prosecutors (the Code). The Code is the overarching document that all prosecutors follow in deciding whether or not a suspect should be charged.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 19th July 2012

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Criminals could avoid court in legal shake-up – Daily Telegraph

“Criminals arrested for offences such as minor assaults, theft and fraud could escape prosecution in the biggest shake-up of charging guidelines for 20 years.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th July 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Virtual courts: more speed, less justice? – The Guardian

Posted July 18th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, legal services, news, video recordings by tracey

“No one wants delay or waste in the criminal justice system, but the plans for virtual and flexible courts don’t look fair or efficient.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government outlines plans for better IT use in courts system – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 16th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, guilty pleas, news by sally

“The Government has outlined plans for improving the technology used by police and the courts system to make judicial processes faster and more efficient. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said that past investments cost too much and under-performed.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 16th July 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert says justice ‘must be swift, sure and seen to be done, or it’s not done at all’ – The Independent

Posted July 16th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, delay, news by sally

“The criminal justice system can be opaque, impenetrable, too concerned with defendants and too little concerned about victims, Nick Herbert said today (13 July).”

Full story

The Independent, 13th July 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government outlines plans for fast-track justice – The Guardian

“‘Flash incarceration’ of offenders who breach court orders, widespread naming online of those convicted, more witnesses giving evidence via videolink and Sunday court sittings are among measures outlined in government plans to speed up justice.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Creating a swift and sure criminal justice system – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 13th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, delay, news by sally

“Far-reaching plans to reform the criminal justice system by reducing delays, tackling waste and overhauling unnecessarily bureaucratic systems were launched today by Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 13th July 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Lords “Reform”: The Justice and Security Bill – Angela Patrick – UK Human Rights Blog

“Last night saw the latest round of Lords debate on the Justice and Security Bill. It should be required reading for the Secretary of State. Peers from all benches challenged the Government’s case for the breadth of reform proposed in the Bill. A number of amendments have been tabled jointly in the names of members of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Lords Constitution Committee, both Committees having already castigated the Government’s proposals as potentially harmful to the common law principles of open, adversarial and equal justice.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 12th July 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘Swift justice’ could resolve court cases within hours – The Guardian

Posted July 13th, 2012 in criminal justice, delay, magistrates, news by sally

“Criminal cases could be dealt with in days or even hours under plans to bring in “swift and sure justice”, ministers will say on Friday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers decry government plans for ‘flexible courts’ to speed up justice – The Guardian

“Plans to overhaul the court system to hold evening and weekend hearings, first introduced at the height of last summer’s riots and now being deployed for the Olympics, have met strong opposition from lawyers being forced to work longer hours.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Clive Stafford Smith: ‘The jury system in this country is utter insanity’ – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2012 in criminal justice, death penalty, juries, mental health, news, victims by sally

“The lawyer and founder of Reprieve on defending clients on death row, why the whole justice system is flawed – and his fear of appearing sanctimonious.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Courts unprepared for Olympics, warns top solicitor – The Guardian

Posted July 5th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, news, sport by sally

“A leading solicitor has expressed concern that London courts are ‘creaking’ and may not be able to cope with the additional pressures that arise during the Olympics – when some courts will be holding fewer sittings.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The future place of restorative justice in the criminal justice system – Speech by Lord McNally

The future place of restorative justice in the criminal justice system

Speech by Lord McNally

Ministry of Justice, 3rd July 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Rapid riot prosecutions more important than long sentences, says Keir Starmer – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2012 in criminal justice, news, prosecutions, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“Director of public prosecutions challenges received wisdom that heavy sentences for rioters worked as an effective deterrence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Courtroom profiles: ‘I think the lives of all of us have changed’ – The Guardian

“Reading the Riots spoke to people with various experiences of the justice system, including a judge, lawyers and a looter.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Riot sentencing put ‘nice kids’ behind bars, lawyers say – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2012 in criminal justice, news, sentencing, violent disorder, young offenders by sally

“Sentencing rulebook was ‘torn up and thrown away’, magistrate says, but prosecutors argue harsher punishments were justified.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chaos in the courts as justice system rushed to restore order – The Guardian

“Prosecutors speak of their pride in the way the CPS and the courts rose to the unprecedented challenge of the English riots, but defence lawyers tell a story of panic and paralysis.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Disaster averted but questions remain over courts’ response to riots – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, legal services, news, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“Was the remand system used appropriately, was due process sufficiently observed and were the stiff sentences justified?”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Thank god inquests are still open, but can we have some consistency please? – The Guardian

Posted June 6th, 2012 in coroners, criminal justice, inquests, judiciary, news, public interest by sally

“Thanks either to coalition politics or press pressure, proposals for ‘secret’ inquests were last week ceremoniously ditched from the justice and security bill.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Let victims of crime track case online, says thinktank – The Guardian

Posted June 6th, 2012 in criminal justice, internet, news, victims by sally

“Victims of crime in England and Wales should be able to track their case online from the moment it is reported to the point when justice is served, a thinktank has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk