David Hanson: local leadership essential to the future of criminal justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 21st, 2008 in criminal justice, press releases by sally

“Justice Minister David Hanson has called on Local Criminal Justice Boards to take the lead in responding to the needs of their communities and delivering improved services.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 20th February 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Bar Council and Justice Renew Warning to Peers over Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – The Bar Council

Posted February 20th, 2008 in barristers, criminal justice, criminal procedure, press releases by sally

“The Bill reaches a crucial stage of its consideration by the Upper House later today. The barristers’ representative body and Justice each object to Clause 42, which would amend the test applied by the Court of Appeal when considering an appeal against conviction, and to Clause 105, which would see more non-legal prosecution staff (‘Designated Case Workers’ – DCWs) conducting serious trials in magistrates’ courts.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 20th February 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

‘Barely trained’ paralegals will be forced to take CPS cases to trial – The Times

“Plans are due to go ahead for thousands of trials a year to be prosecuted by non-lawyers, even though the paralegals themselves say that they are insufficiently trained, The Times has learnt.”

Full story

The Times, 19th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cutting costs will hit the quality of our legal system – The Times

“This week plans come before the House of Lords to expand the powers of Crown Prosecution Service caseworkers to handle a wide range of magistrates’ courts cases. It may be logical to argue that deploying these so-called designated case workers or DCWs for minor cases will free more experienced and qualified lawyers for more serious work. Yet inherently it means that the quality of representation for the prosecution will decline – because we are prepared to pay only junior staff to handle cases in the lower courts.”

Full story

The Times, 19th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Very High Cost Criminal Cases – the future – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 5th, 2008 in costs, criminal justice, legal profession, press releases by sally

“The Legal Services Commission and Ministry of Justice today announced steps that are being taken in order to proceed with the tender to establish a Panel of solicitors and barristers to represent defendants in major criminal cases.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 5th February 2008

Source: www.wired-gov.net

Latest statistics – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 31st, 2008 in criminal justice, news, statistics by sally

“Details of the latest statistical updates, including statistics on the population in custody, end of custody licence releases, probation, sentencing, and women and the criminal justice system.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 31st Janaury 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Anger at bill for scrapped penal agency – The Observer

Posted January 28th, 2008 in criminal justice, news by sally

“The government was last night accused of squandering more than £1.5bn taxpayers’ money after it emerged that it is to dismantle its flagship body set up to reduce reoffending, as part of a wide-ranging review of the criminal justice system.”

Full story

The Observer, 27th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Peers warned of Crime Bill’s threat to justice system – The Bar Council

Posted January 22nd, 2008 in criminal justice, immigration, news by sally

“The Bar Council and the Criminal Bar Association have set out to the House of Lords their concerns over the controversial Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 21st January 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Gordon Brown ditches Respect agenda on youth crime – The Times

Posted January 11th, 2008 in criminal justice, news, young offenders by sally

“Tony Blair’s drive against antisocial behaviour has been scrapped by the Government.”

Full story

The Times, 11th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bar Council and Criminal Bar Association voice concerns on Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – The Bar Council

Posted January 9th, 2008 in criminal justice, immigration, press releases by sally

“The Bar Council and the Criminal Bar Association have voiced their concerns about key elements of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill in a hard-hitting briefing sent to MPs this week.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 8th January 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Government announces crackdown on crime – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 7th, 2008 in criminal justice, news by sally

“Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, will unveil plans for a new crime crackdown, only hours after the latest stabbing of a teenage boy.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th January 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Community test – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 7th, 2007 in courts, criminal justice, rehabilitation, special report by sally

“England’s first Community Court is now in its third year. Grania Langdon-Down reviews its impact.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 6th December 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Time intervals for criminal proceedings in magistrates’ courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 23rd, 2007 in criminal justice, magistrates, press releases, statistics by sally

“Quarterly National Statistics release presenting results from a 1-week survey of criminal cases completed in the Magistrates’ courts. ”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 23rd November 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Killer should have been in jail when he stabbed bus passenger over chips – The Times

Posted November 23rd, 2007 in criminal justice, mental health, news, young offenders by sally

“An investigation has started into the criminal justice failings that resulted in a bus passenger being killed by a man who should not have been released from prison.”

Full story

The Times, 23rd November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Prison service faces drastic cuts – The Observer

Posted November 19th, 2007 in courts, criminal justice, prisons, special report by sally

“A dramatic plan to slash the number of prison officers and streamline courts in England and Wales is being drawn up by the government in an attempt to deliver £1bn in savings.”

Full story

The Observer, 18th November 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Race and the criminal justice system – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 31st, 2007 in criminal justice, race discrimination, reports by sally

“This publication fulfils a statutory obligation for the Secretary of State to publish, annually, information relating to the criminal justice system (CJS) with reference to avoiding discrimination on the ground of race. This publication reports statistical information on the representation of black and minority ethnic groups as suspects, offenders and victims with in the CJS and on employees within criminal justice agencies.”

Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System 2006 (PDF)

Ministry of Justice, 30th October 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Children’s tsar attacks youth justice policy – The Guardian

Posted October 15th, 2007 in children, criminal justice, news, young offenders by sally

“The children’s tsar today attacked the government’s youth justice policy, which he warned is enraging and alienating young people.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Call centre justice’ criticised – BBC Law in Action

Posted October 10th, 2007 in criminal justice, legal representation, news by sally

“The government has been criticised for cutting the right of arrested suspects to advice from a qualified lawyer.”

Full story

BBC Law in Action, 9th October 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Suspects get drink advice in cell – BBC News

Posted September 26th, 2007 in alcohol abuse, criminal justice, news by sally

“Alcohol support workers have been allowed to interview suspects in police cells in a bid to combat binge drinking and alcohol-related crime.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

John Reid calls for human rights law reform – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 17th, 2007 in criminal justice, human rights, news, terrorism by sally

“A review of human rights laws in Britain and Europe has been demanded by John Reid amid fresh fears that they are hindering the fight against crime and terrorism.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th September 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk