On 9 July 2019, JUSTICE responded to the Sentencing Council consultation on its Sentencing Offenders with Mental Health Conditions or Disorders Guideline. Our 2017 Mental Health and Fair Trial report recommended that a sentencing guideline on mental health and vulnerability should be created. JUSTICE welcomes the Sentencing Council Guideline, which is a direct response to […]

JUSTICE has provided a response to the Government’s Online Harms White Paper. Drawing on its Prosecuting Sexual Offences Working Party, chaired by HH Peter Rook QC. The Working Party concluded that preventing online offending from taking place must be a key part of the strategy in reducing the burden sexual offences are placing on the […]

JUSTICE has provided a response to Labour’s Building an effective criminal justice system consultation. Drawing on its previous reports, the response highlighted JUSTICE’s belief that the criminal justice system must refocus its efforts to reduce offending, by placing a special emphasis on: (a) diversion from the criminal justice system; (b) effective participation; and (c) effective […]

On 4 June 2019, JUSTICE responded to the CPS consultation on Mental Health Conditions and Disorders: Draft Legal Guidance. JUSTICE is pleased to respond to this consultation. In 2017, JUSTICE published its Mental Health and Fair Trial report, chaired by Sir David Latham. The report expressed concern about lack of appropriate guidance for prosecutors on when to […]

In March 2019, JUSTICE submitted evidence to the Justice Committee’s inquiry into the access to justice implications of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals (HMCTS) Reform Programme. Our Legal Director, Jodie Blackstock, will be speaking to JUSTICE’s evidence before the Justice Committee on the 25th of June. HMCTS embarked on a £1bn transformation programme in 2016, […]

JUSTICE submitted a response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Call for Evidence for a Housing Court. The consultation sought input from respondents on the experience of people using court and tribunal services in property cases, whether there was a case for a sole housing court and how the system could best […]

JUSTICE recently submitted a response to the Law Commission’s consultation paper on Employment Law Hearing Structures. The consultation sought views on how to resolve the problems caused by the current allocation of jurisdiction between the employment tribunals and civil courts in the fields of discrimination and employment law, as well as investigating the current time […]

JUSTICE this week submitted a response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation Paper on Establishing an Independent Public Advocate. The proposed Independent Public Advocate would act for bereaved families after a public disaster and support them at inquests and inquiries. JUSTICE is heartened that Government is considering reform in this area. We acknowledge that victims […]

JUSTICE this week submitted a response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation Paper for amendments to Part 39 of the Civil Procedure Rules (‘CPR’). Part 39 of the CPR governs the principle of ‘open justice’ and the circumstances where it is possible to hold hearings otherwise than in public. JUSTICE welcomes the MOJ’s intention to […]

The Commission on Justice in Wales is currently reviewing the Welsh justice system under wide ranging terms of reference. JUSTICE submitted its evidence to the Commission last week. Our submission focused on court closures, digital exclusion, legal advice shortages and criminal law advice and representation.  In particular, we advocated for a flexible deployment of the court […]