In June 2018, JUSTICE published its Working Party report, Preventing Digital Exclusion from Online Justice (“PDE”). The background to the Working Party was the ambitious £1.6 billion Reform Programme launched by HMCTS in 2016, aimed at reforming the justice system so that cases are increasingly resolved online. JUSTICE supported the Reform Programme, on the basis […]
JUSTICE submits response to the Sentencing Council consultation
July 18, 2019
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 […]
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 […]
JUSTICE submits consultation response on the Online Harms White Paper
July 3, 2019
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 response to Labour consultation
July 2, 2019
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 […]
Committee Stage briefing on Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill
June 12, 2019
JUSTICE submitted a briefing on the Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill 2017-19 ahead of Committee Stage in the House of Lords. The Bill aims to establish an Online Procedure Rule Committee (“OPRC”), able to make Online Procedure Rules in relation to civil, tribunal and family proceedings. JUSTICE is broadly supportive of the Bill. In […]
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 […]
JUSTICE submits a response to the CPS consultation on Mental Health Conditions and Disorders
June 6, 2019
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 […]
JUSTICE submits evidence to the Justice Committee
May 17, 2019
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, […]
Engagement opportunities for student members
February 14, 2019
In 2019, JUSTICE will be offering an increasing number of engagement opportunities for student members to contribute to the organisation. On a fortnightly basis, we will be inviting student members to draft case notes of interest. We will identify cases in areas of criminal, civil and administrative justice, as well as system wide reform, that […]