Damian Green: Reforming the role of magistrates – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 15th, 2013 in courts, criminal procedure, magistrates, news, sentencing, speeches by sally

“More than 4,000 defendants each year are sent to the Crown Court for sentencing when they could be dealt with in the magistrates’ court, costing valuable money and time Justice Minister Damian Green said today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 14th August 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Make better use of magistrates, says justice minister – The Guardian

Posted August 14th, 2013 in consultations, criminal justice, magistrates, news, speeches by sally

“Four in 10 people sent to crown court to be sentenced could have been dealt with by magistrates, saving valuable time and money, the justice minister will say on Wednesday.”

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The Guardian, 14th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Victims of crime to be given a voice and challenge police – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 14th, 2013 in appeals, cautions, domestic violence, magistrates, news, police, sexual offences, victims by sally

“Victims of crime could get the right to challenge police who let criminals off with a ‘slap on the wrist’, under Government proposals being unveiled today.”

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Daily Telegraph, 14th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Driver caught doing 80 mph in a 30 mph zone criticised – Daily Telegraph

“A judge has criticised a man caught driving at more than 80 mph in a 30 mph zone, as she said sentencing guidelines did not cover such a gross breach of the speed limit.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State’s Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted July 23rd, 2013 in judiciary, magistrates, press releases by sally

“The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State’s Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace.”

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Judiciary of England and Wales, 18th July 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Women being imprisoned unnecessarily, reformers say – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 10th, 2013 in imprisonment, magistrates, news, sentencing, women by sally

“Magistrates’ courts are sending fewer women to prison than in previous years but some courts are four times more likely to jail women than others, according to figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Treatment of women in British courts varies widely – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2013 in bills, criminal justice, detention, magistrates, news, sentencing, women by sally

“Some magistrates’ courts are four times more likely to send women to prison than others, according to figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform.”

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The Guardian, 9th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Complaints against judges and magistrates soar – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 28th, 2013 in complaints, judiciary, magistrates, news, reports, statistics by sally

“New figures from the Office for Judicial Complaints (OJC) showed it received 2,154 complaints in 2012-13, up from 1,615 in the previous 12 months. However, after investigation only 55 cases led to disciplinary sanction, the report said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th June 2013

Soruce: www.telegraph.co.uk

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Magistrate suspended after telling court how cannabis killed her brother – Daily Telegraph

“A magistrate has been reprimanded for highlighting the dangers of cannabis after her own brother’s addiction to the drug led to his death.”

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Daily Telegraph, 24th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Guidance for Magistrates involved in scrutiny of out of court disposals – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted June 21st, 2013 in cautions, codes of practice, judges, magistrates, news, penalties by sally

“Guidance issued by the Senior Presiding Judge, Lord Justice Gross.”

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Judiciary of England and Wales, 17th June 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Justice by postcode: variety in magistrates’ sentences revealed – The Independent

Posted April 22nd, 2013 in magistrates, news, recidivists, sentencing, statistics by sally

“The number of criminals sent to prison by magistrates in England and Wales varies dramatically depending on which court does the sentencing, research reveals today.”

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The Independent, 22nd April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Damian Green: Unacceptable delays in criminal justice system – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 20th, 2013 in criminal justice, delay, magistrates, news by sally

“There are unacceptable delays in Magistrates’ Courts which slows down justice for victims, said Justice Minister Damian Green as he announced plans to modernise the system.”

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Ministry of Justice, 19th February 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Scores of violent offenders able to walk out of jail – Daily Telegraph

“Scores of Britain’s most dangerous criminals have walked out of open prisons over the past year, official statistics disclosed yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 28th January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Use of police cautions has ‘got out of hand’, magistrates warn – Daily Telegraph

“One in four violent criminals are avoiding court as magistrates warned the excessive use of cautions by police has ‘got out of hand’.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Keep new police commissioners at arm’s length, magistrates warned – The Guardian

Posted January 7th, 2013 in codes of practice, judges, judiciary, magistrates, news, police by sally

“A senior judge has warned magistrates to maintain their distance from police and crime commissioners (PCCs), in the latest demonstration of unease about the recently elected new posts.”

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The Guardian, 5th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina v Bateman; Regina v Doyle: [2012] EWCA Crim 2158; [2012] WLR (D) 355 – WLR Daily

Posted November 30th, 2012 in committals, Crown Court, law reports, magistrates, sentencing by sally

Regina v Bateman; Regina v Doyle: [2012] EWCA Crim 2158;   [2012] WLR (D)  355

“Where an offender was committed to the Crown Court by the magistrates’ court under paragraph 11(2)(a) of Schedule 12 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to be dealt with in respect of the commission of an offence committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence imposed by the Crown Court, the Crown Court’s sentencing powers in relation to other offences in respect of which the offender was committed under section 6(2) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 were limited by section 7(1) of the 2000 Act to those of the magistrates’ court.”

WLR Daily, 27th November 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

More criminals to escape courts under new police commissioners, magistrates warn – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 19th, 2012 in budgets, cautions, courts, fines, magistrates, news, police by sally

“More offenders will be ‘let off’ with cautions and fines following the introduction of police and crime commissioners, magistrates fear.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police play judge and jury in too many cases, say magistrates – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 7th, 2012 in cautions, courts, fines, magistrates, news, police, victims by sally

“Police have become judge and jury dispensing inappropriate summary justice on the streets, the country’s leading magistrates have warned.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Flexible courts to open in dozens of areas – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 11th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, magistrates, news, pilot schemes by sally

“Thousands more people will benefit from flexible courts, Criminal Justice Minister Damian Green said today as he unveiled a list of dozens of new pilot areas.”

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Ministry of Justice, 11th October 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

‘Swift justice’ pilot schemes unveiled – BBC News

Posted October 11th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, magistrates, news, pilot schemes by sally

“A substantial increase in the number of flexible criminal justice pilot schemes across England and Wales is to be announced by the government.”

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BBC News, 11th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk