Category: criminal justice

Bar Council launches Judicial Review of Government’s Consultations on Criminal Legal Aid – The Bar Council

Posted February 11th, 2010 in criminal justice, judicial review, legal aid, pre-action conduct, press releases by sally

“In accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review Claims, solicitors acting for the Bar Council have today written to the Legal Aid Minister, Lord Bach and to the Chairman of the Legal Services Commission, Sir Bill Callaghan in order to advance proceedings for judicial review of the Government’s consultations on criminal legal aid.  ”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 10th February 2010

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Council to launch legal action against MoJ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 9th, 2010 in costs, criminal justice, fees, judicial review, news by sally

“The Bar Council and the Criminal Bar Association are set to take the government to court for the first time in 20 years over what they claim are ‘inadequate and unfair’ consultations on new fees for criminal legal aid work.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 8th February 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Attorney General: Keynote Speech – CPS National Schools Project Launch – Attorney General’s Office

Posted February 8th, 2010 in attorney general, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, education, speeches by sally

“Attorney General: Keynote Speech – CPS National Schools Project Launch.”

Full speech

Attorney General’s Office, 4th February 2010

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Junior Criminal Bar under threat from botched Legal Aid Reforms warns Commons Committee – The Bar Council

Posted February 4th, 2010 in criminal justice, legal aid, news by sally

“The influential House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has today (2 February) published a damning report on the Legal Services Commission’s handling of legal aid reform.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 2nd February 2010

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lord Chief Justice Publishes Administration of Justice Review – Judiciary of England & Wales

Posted February 4th, 2010 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, press releases by sally

“The Lord Chief Justice’s ‘Review of the Administration of Justice in the Courts’ was published today. His report covers matters of importance to the judiciary relating to the administration of justice in England and Wales during the 2008-2009 Legal Year (1 October 2008 – 30 September 2009).”

Full story

Judiciary of England & Wales, 3rd February 2010

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Criminal justice measures in force – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 2nd, 2010 in criminal justice, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Changes to the law over evidence and bail are among some of the new measures that will, from today, further rebalance the criminal justice system in favour of victims and the law-abiding majority.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 1st February 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

MPs warn of criminal justice ‘crisis’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 18th, 2010 in criminal justice, legal aid, news, prisons, reports by sally

“A committee of MPs has warned that the criminal justice system is ‘facing a crisis of sustainability’ as government spending on prisons takes resources away from other aspects of criminal justice.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 18th January 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Big Question: Do juryless trials risk obscuring the transparency of justice? – The Independent

Posted January 14th, 2010 in criminal justice, judges, news, trial without jury by sally

“Why are we asking this now?

This week Britain’s first crown court criminal trial to take place without a jury in more than 400 years started at the Royal Courts of Justice. The case, involving four men accused of a £1.75m armed robbery, is being heard by a judge, sitting alone, who will decide upon the men’s guilt or otherwise.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Young black people and the criminal justice system: second annual report – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 11th, 2009 in criminal justice, minorities, special report, young offenders by sally

“Second annual report to the Home Affairs Select Committee on progress made in taking forward the recommendations of its inquiry.”

Full report

Ministry of Justice, 10th December 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Court of Appeal (Criminal) Review of the Legal Year 2008/2009 – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted December 11th, 2009 in courts, criminal justice, special report, statistics by sally

“Court of Appeal (Criminal) Review of the Legal Year 2008/2009.”

Full review

Judiciary of England and Wales, 11th December 2009

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Anger over ‘cost-cutting’ plans for serious criminal cases – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 10th, 2009 in criminal justice, fees, legal profession, news by sally

“Solicitors and barristers have reacted with anger to last-minute ‘cost-cutting’ proposals on pay for the most serious criminal cases, which they say ‘drive a coach and horses through two years of patient and careful negotiation’.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette. 10th December 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Criminal law: youth justice and sentencing – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2009 in criminal justice, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“Major changes are being made to the way that courts may sentence young offenders. On 27 April, provisions were brought into force to increase the use of ­referral orders. These are manda­tory if the offence is imprisonable and a first-time offender admits the offence and all connected offences, and the court does not deal with the matter by way of an absolute ­discharge, hospital order or custodial sentence.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Youth Rehabilitation Order and youth justice provisions – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 1st, 2009 in circulars, criminal justice, rehabilitation, young offenders by sally

“This circular contains information on the Youth Rehabilitation Order as well as other youth justice related changes.”

Full circular

Ministry of Justice, 30th November 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Vulnerable Defendants in the Criminal Courts – Prison Reform Trust

Posted December 1st, 2009 in criminal justice, disabled persons, learning difficulties, special report by sally

” ‘Vulnerable Defendants in the Criminal Courts’ reviews the provision of support in the court system for adults with learning disabilities or learning difficulties. The second half of the report examines the situation for children.”

Full report

Prison Reform Trust, 1st December 2009

Source: www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk

Procurement of criminal legal aid in England and Wales – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 30th, 2009 in criminal justice, legal aid, press releases by sally

“The Ministry of Justice and Legal Services Commission have today responded to the National Audit Office’s report into procurement of criminal legal aid in England and Wales.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 27th November 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Reducing reoffending: supporting families, creating better futures – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 4th, 2009 in criminal justice, recidivists, special report by sally

“The framework, developed with the Department for Children, Schools and Families, sets out key tasks for criminal justice agencies and local services to support the children and families of offenders at each stage of the criminal justice system and beyond.”

Full report

Ministry of Justice, 3rd November 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Issues in Criminal Justice Lecture – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 29th, 2009 in criminal justice, news by sally

“Justice Secretary Jack Straw has given the ‘Issues in Criminal Justice Lecture’ at the University of Birmingham.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 29th October 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Top judge ‘to restore confidence’ – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2009 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions by sally

“The Lord Chief Justice has said public confidence in the justice system will be ‘undermined’ if prosecutions are abandoned because they cost too much.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chaos over statistics means another delay – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 12th, 2009 in criminal justice, news, sentencing, statistics by sally

“A ‘total shambles’ over official figures means the Government cannot say how many offenders are escaping with soft penalties and cautions.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th October 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jack Straw signals rowing back on out of court fines – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 5th, 2009 in criminal justice, fines, news, penalties by sally

“A planned extension of on the spot fines has been scrapped in a Government about turn amid concerns that criminals are escaping with financial penalties instead of being dealth with by the courts.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th October 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk