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Criminal Justice Posts

All the latest news: Modernisation Austerity Crime Trends Policy Practice Innovation

Here you can find over 500 posts tracking every major development in criminal justice since 2011. You can track crime trends, court modernisation and digitisation programmes and the impact of austerity. If you’re looking for something in particular, try the search box below.

What works with young offenders?

These findings are well known to researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the youth justice field although, as always, there is value in having them re-iterated. My personal view is that any reform of youth justice needs to focus on two key issues…

Secure schools to replace youth custody?

In order that education is truly placed at the heart of youth custody, we must reconceive youth prisons as schools. The review’s ambition is for smaller custodial establishments which are created as secure schools…

Review of racial bias in justice sytem

The review will address issues arising from the point of arrest onwards, including through the court system, in prisons and during rehabilitation in the wider community, in order to identify areas for reform and examples of good practice from the UK and beyond.

Joint enterprise criminalises young BAME people

This important study demands an immediate response in the form of a rigorous review of policing and prosecution practices relating to Joint Enterprise – an issue which the House of Commons Justice Committee has already highlighted.

Ending gang violence and exploitation

Street gangs are becoming less visible in public, and more fluid in the way they organise. A key gang tactic is to exploit vulnerable people, but this problem is often hidden. This change is one of the main drivers behind this Home Office document which prioritises both reducing gang related violence and preventing the exploitation of vulnerable people by gangs by setting six new priorities.

Police Commissioners spotlight earlier intervention & prevention

In an era of falling public spending, prevention and early intervention are a growing focus for policymakers. With significant cuts to policing budgets in recent years, police leaders in particular have needed to think about how they can move ‘upstream’ to reduce demand.

Do we need different courts for young adults?

One of the strongest elements of this report is that it suggests a straightforward approach for piloting a young adults court which would not necessarily require a great need of financial investment.

What happened to the justice system in 2015?

And almost everything that Justice Secretary Chris Grayling did (limit books for prisoners, plan to introduce secure colleges for young offenders, provide consultancy for Saudi Arabia and introduce the criminal courts charge), his successor Michael Gove undid.

Justice Reinvestment

Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary, recently visited a number of justice reinvestment projects in the States and is reported to be considering a similar approach in England and Wales.

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