What's New
Solicitor General launches scheme to keep women out of prison
27 August 2008
The Solicitor General Vera Baird QC MP has launched a pilot scheme that will give women offenders a unique opportunity to address their offending.
Quarterly performance figures for Local Criminal Justice Boards published
31 July 2008
Latest figures for the quarter to March 2008 and cover England and Wales Local Criminal Justice Boards areas.
CJS performance system launched nationally
17 July 2008
A new secure web-based performance management system has been launched to support the Criminal Justice System in delivering an improved service to the public in England and Wales.
Witness and Victim Experience Survey (WAVES) – first results published
3 July 2008
Three quarters of victims and witnesses said they were satisfied with their overall contact with the Criminal Justice System (CJS), according to early findings from the WAVES survey published today.
Improving the compensation service for victims of violent crime
18 June 2008
The Government today announced changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to complement efficiency improvements being made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Bail and murder consultation
17 June 2008
This consultation asks whether the rules governing the enforcement of bail conditions and the grant of bail to suspects charged with murder should be revised in the light of recent cases of murder and manslaughter committed by persons on bail.
EU trials in absence – UK consultation responses published
4 June 2008
The Government today published responses to its consultation on proposed new rules for cross-border cases in the European Union where judgments are made in the accused's absence. Responses were generally supportive of the proposals which aimed to improve mutual recognition of judgements and to set clearer rules about the procedural safeguards that member states need to meet in order to enforce a decision in the accused's absence.
Revised Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines (MCSG) – Published 12th May 2008
12 May 2008
The Sentencing Guidelines Council has published the definitive guidelines. The guidelines will be implemented on 4th August 2008.
An electronic version of the guidelines is being circulated to key stakeholders and interested parties, and is available on our website.
Hard copies will be ready for distribution from the last week in May. Every District Judge, magistrate and legal adviser will receive an individual copy in readiness for implementation of the guidelines. For the purposes of the distribution, priority is being given to those courts and areas that are commencing their training programmes imminently.
Copies of the guidelines will also be sent to every Crown Court centre.
Quarterly performance figures for Local Criminal Justice Boards published
2 May 2008
The latest quarterly regional performance figures for the Criminal Justice System are published today.
Peart Report published
28 April 2008
A joint inspectorate report has been published on the circumstances which led to the murder of Richard Whelan by Anthony Peart in London in 2005.
Crime and Communities Review – Have your say
04 April 2008
The government is looking at how local communities, the police, local criminal justice agencies and other local partners can best work together to reduce crime, raise community confidence, improve information to local people and lower the fear of crime. It is also is looking at what makes people get involved in tackling problems in their community.
Council Consults on Sentencing Guideline for Theft and Burglary (Non-Dwelling) Offences
10 Mar 2008
Offenders who target elderly victims and steal from them on the street or in their homes should face custodial sentences – the Sentencing Guidelines Council recommends today in a consultation guideline on theft offences.
New Business Plan published for Criminal Justice System
28 Feb 2008
Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) will take a leading role in reforming criminal justice services, according to the new Criminal Justice System Business Plan published today.
EU Trial in absence - Attorney General launches UK consultation for clearer standards
28 Feb 2008
Moves to strengthen legal safeguards across the EU for people tried abroad in their absence are set out in a consultation paper issued by Baroness Scotland, the Attorney General, today.
Government response to Sentencing Guidelines Council's draft guidelines on assault published
27 Feb 2008
The Government has published its response to the Sentencing Guidelines Council's (SGC) draft guidelines on "Assault and other offences against the person" and "Overarching Principles: Assaults on children and cruelty to a child", which was sent to the SGC on 21 November 2007.
Council Publishes Guidelines for Sentencers dealing with Assaults and Child Cruelty Offences
20 Feb 2008
Violent offenders who carry weapons to the scene of a crime and use them on victims should face severe sentences – says a definitive guideline published today by the Sentencing Guidelines Council.
Quarterly performance figures for Local Criminal Justice Boards published
04 Feb 2008
The latest quarterly regional performance figures for the Criminal Justice System are published today.
New draft sentencing guideline for causing death by driving
09 Jan 2008
Drivers who kill after flagrantly ignoring the rules of the road and disregard the danger they pose to others should be given jail terms of at least seven years, recommends a draft guideline published today for consultation.