Press

The criminal justice system should take into account the developmental maturity of young adults with the creation of specialist courts, a thinktank has said.

A domestic abuse survivor who was nearly killed by her violent ex-boyfriend has called for a shake up of the court system.

An experimental problem-solving programme (the choices and consequences programme) has been running for some eight years in Hertfordshire, and a similar programme has been used in Bedfordshire for a shorter period. They have been consistently supported by the senior judiciary — not least by the current Lord Chief Justice — since their inception.

A report by the Centre for Justice Innovation published on Monday, which the MoJ is considering, calls for greater use of specialist courts, including those focusing on domestic abuse.

The Centre for Justice Innovation, in its Better Courts: A blueprint for innovation report, says crimes such as domestic and sexual abuse are ‘often complex and require a more sophisticated approach in order to secure prosecutions, protect victims and ensure that justice is done’.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove wants judges and magistrates to help offenders beat drug or alcohol addictions by introducing American-style ‘problem-solving’ courts.

Judges and magistrates will take on the role of helping offenders beat their drug or alcohol addictions in American-style courts, the justice secretary proposes.

The controversial courts charge levied on criminals, which was introduced this year, is to be scrapped within weeks.

The criminal courts charge, a mandatory payment of up to £1,200 imposed on all convicted defendants, must be abolished “as soon as possible”, the Conservative-dominated justice select committee has urged.

The controversial criminal courts charge has been slammed by MPs as ‘grossly disproportionate’ and should be abolished as soon as possible.