This Working Party of JUSTICE, which publishes its report Tackling Racial Injustice: Children and the Youth Justice System on 25 February 2021, seeks to examine the causes of BAME disproportionality in the Youth Justice System (YJS) of England and Wales. At most stages – from arrest to custody – the proportion of Black, Asian and […]
JUSTICE press release on extending custody time limits
September 7, 2020
Today, the Government will lay temporary legislation extending custody time limits by 56 days for all new Crown Court cases from 28th September. These measures will remain in place for nine months. Custody Time Limits safeguard unconvicted defendants by preventing them from being held in pre-trial custody for an excessive period of time. Custody Time […]
JUSTICE launches timely report on urgent reform for major inquests and inquiries
August 24, 2020
When a catastrophic event or systemic failure results in death or injury, the justice system must provide a framework to understand what happened and to prevent recurrence. This Working Party of JUSTICE, which publishes its report When Things Go Wrong: the response of the justice system, on 24th August 2020, seeks to address the erosion […]
JUSTICE pilots first ever worldwide virtual mock jury trial
April 29, 2020
On 23 March all new trials were suspended, due to fears that they may contribute to the spread of COVID-19. JUSTICE has a number of concerns about this. For those remanded in prison, it means an indefinite period in which their liberty is being restricted without a determination of guilt. For those remanded on bail, […]
JUSTICE launches “Solving Housing Disputes” report
March 5, 2020
On 5th March 2020, JUSTICE launches its latest working party report, Solving Housing Disputes, chaired by Andrew Arden QC. Too many people in England and Wales find it difficult to enforce access to housing or other housing rights. Over the past decade, homelessness has more than doubled and early legal advice and intervention to address […]
JUSTICE launches report “Increasing Judicial Diversity: An Update”
January 29, 2020
On 29 January 2020, JUSTICE launches its latest working party report, Increasing Judicial Diversity: An Update. This Update builds on JUSTICE’s 2017 Increasing Judicial Diversity report, which explored the structural barriers faced by women, BAME communities, solicitors and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds in reaching the bench. It assesses the progress that has been made […]
JUSTICE launches report “A new model for challenging school exclusions”
November 11, 2019
On 11th November 2019, JUSTICE launches its latest working party report, Challenging School Exclusions. The report calls for significant change to the current system, including better training for schools on excluding pupils, a new Independent Reviewer of individual exclusion decisions and the possibility of appealing to a judge-led tribunal. This report examines the processes used […]
Victor Nealon and Sam Hallam file application with European Court of Human Rights
July 9, 2019
On 30 January 2019, the UK Supreme Court handed down its judgment in the case of Hallam and Nealon v Secretary of State for Justice [2019] UKSC 1. It ruled that the statutory provisions governing eligibility for compensation of persons whose conviction for a criminal offence is reversed are compatible with the presumption of innocence […]
New JUSTICE Working Party Report – Prosecuting Sexual Offences
June 10, 2019
On 10th June 2019, JUSTICE launches its latest working party report, Prosecuting Sexual Offences, chaired by HH Peter Rook QC. Recent years have seen a surge in sexual offence allegations. The uncovering of non-recent crimes, a rise in reporting, shifting cultural attitudes and the internet have all contributed to a large increase of cases entering […]
Supreme Court rejects Strasbourg Court reasoning on the presumption of innocence
January 30, 2019
Today the Supreme Court gave judgment in two appeals, in which JUSTICE intervened, on whether the presumption of innocence is violated by the compensation scheme for people who have been wrongfully convicted of criminal offences. By a 5-2 majority the Justices concluded that the presumption of innocence is not affected by the test that the Secretary […]