HMP Highpoint: Man should have had probation appointment before death – ombudsman – BBC News

Posted April 24th, 2023 in drug abuse, Ministry of Justice, news, ombudsmen, probation, suicide by tracey

‘A man who died two days after being released from prison should have had a scheduled probation appointment, an ombudsman found.’

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BBC News, 24th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

No case for extending bereavement damages, says minister – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 21st, 2023 in bereavement, damages, families, limitations, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has rejected broadening eligibility for bereavement damages despite accusations the current limits are outdated and unfair.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th April 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Dominic Raab faces legal action after refusing inquiry into abuse of thousands of boys in detention centres – The Independent

‘Dominic Raab faces legal action over his refusal to trigger a public inquiry into the abuse of thousands of boys held in youth detention centres from the 1960s to 1980s’

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The Independent, 16th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Pre-recorded evidence improves rape victims’ experience of court – Ministry of Justice

‘Rape victims who pre-record their evidence are more likely to have a better experience of the court process, findings published today (3 April 2023) reveal.’

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Ministry of Justice, 3rd April 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

G4S admits its failures in the running of a prison amounts to breach of the Article 2 systemic duty – Garden Court Chambers

‘G4S’s running of the prison failed to meet the standards of public service required, such that HMP Birmingham was put in special measures, and its running was taken over by the Ministry of Justice. The Chief Inspector of Prisons at the time, Peter Clarke, invoked the Urgent Notification process in respect of the prison.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 23rd March 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Remote hearings have “no impact” on outcomes of Crown Court cases – Legal Futures

‘Judges and lawyers can be reassured that holding Crown Court hearings and trials remotely makes no difference to the outcome, a major analysis has concluded.’

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Legal Futures, 31st March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Call to name courts with biggest backlogs – Legal Futures

Posted March 28th, 2023 in courts, criminal justice, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, reports, statistics by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) must publish data on the backlogs of individual criminal courts, a group that campaigns to improve public data has said.’

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Legal Futures, 28th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Delays to rape trials in England and Wales ‘devastating’ for victims – The Guardian

‘Long delays and a massive increase in the rescheduling of rape trials are having a devastating impact on victims’ mental health and leading some victims to take their own lives, according to a major new report.’

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The Guardian, 27th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Plans to protect children under under new mediation reforms – Ministry of Justice

‘Thousands of children could be protected from witnessing their parents thrash out family disputes through the courts, following plans to mandate mediation for separating families announced today (23 March 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 23rd March 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Separating parents could be forced to go to mediation under Raab plans – The Guardian

‘Thousands of children in England and Wales could be protected from witnessing their parents pitted against each other in the courts under proposals to legally enforce mediation for separating families.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Whole life sentence prisoners face ban from marrying under Government plans – The Independent

‘Prisoners serving whole life sentences would be prevented from marrying under new Government plans.’

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The Independent, 18th March 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Multi-million investment to turbocharge growth of technology in legal services – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 17th, 2023 in computer programs, legal services, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘CodeBase and Legal Geek will receive £3 million of government funding to turbocharge the development and use of technology in the legal sector.’

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Ministry of Justice, 15th March 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Tougher sentences for domestic killers – Ministry of Justice

‘Domestic abusers who kill their partners or ex-partners will receive tougher sentences under government plans published today (17 March 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th March 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Magistrates’ sentencing powers scaled back – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 13th, 2023 in Crown Court, delay, magistrates, Ministry of Justice, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Magistrates have had controversial powers that enabled them to sentence people for up to a year in prison taken away from them – but they could be restored, the government has said.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court ruling expected to widen scope of legal aid for parents – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The High Court’s decision in a challenge brought by a domestic abuse complainant against the Ministry of Justice will widen the scope of legal aid for parents who share caring arrangements, a public law campaign group has said.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK mother unlawfully denied legal aid in case against abusive ex, court rules – The Guardian

‘A decision to deny a single mother legal aid to enforce a child custody agreement against her abusive ex-partner was unlawful, the high court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Edith Thompson: Commission to re-examine hanged woman’s case – BBC News

‘The case of a woman who was hanged 100 years ago for the murder of her husband is to be reviewed as a potential miscarriage of justice.’

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BBC News, 7th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic abuse survivor takes UK justice ministry to court over legal aid – The Guardian

‘A single mother and domestic abuse survivor is taking the Ministry of Justice to court this week after being refused legal aid because she was deemed to have no dependents, even though she had applied for the funding to enforce a child custody arrangement.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judicial review applications in 2022 down more than a quarter on pre-Covid baseline of 2019: Ministry of Justice – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 7th, 2023 in coronavirus, judicial review, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by sally

‘There were 2,400 judicial review applications received in 2022, up 5% on 2021 (2,300) but down 28% on 2019 (from 3,400) as a pre-Covid19 baseline, the Ministry of Justice has revealed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Experts “too quick to dismiss” public concern over use of court data – Legal Futures

Posted February 22nd, 2023 in civil justice, criminal justice, data protection, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘Senior government officials and lawtech specialists accept there is “meaningful” public concern about the use of data from the justice system, but often suggest the public does not “really understand the system”, a report has found.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd February 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk