Victims Archives | Criminal Justice Alliance https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/resources-areas/victims/ Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:40:12 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 195521869 Submission to House of Commons Public Bill Committee call for evidence on the Victims and Prisoners Bill https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/submission-to-house-of-commons-public-bill-committee-call-for-evidence-on-the-victims-and-prisoners-bill/ Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:32:05 +0000 https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/?post_type=resources&p=9920 The post Submission to House of Commons Public Bill Committee call for evidence on the Victims and Prisoners Bill appeared first on Criminal Justice Alliance.

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]]> 9920 Restorative Justice works – improving victims’ access to justice https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/restorative-justice-works-improving-victims-access-to-justice/ Thu, 27 Apr 2023 15:21:48 +0000 https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/?post_type=resources&p=9746 The Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) is working closely with parliamentarians to advocate for greater access to Restorative Justice services for victims of crime, ahead of the Victims and Prisoners Bill. As part of this, we have produced a briefing for parliamentarians, in partnership with CJA members Why Me? and the Restorative Justice Council, which sets […]

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]]> The Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) is working closely with parliamentarians to advocate for greater access to Restorative Justice services for victims of crime, ahead of the Victims and Prisoners Bill. As part of this, we have produced a briefing for parliamentarians, in partnership with CJA members Why Me? and the Restorative Justice Council, which sets out the value of  Restorative Justice for victims and highlights areas where the Bill could be improved in relation to this issue.

Recently, the government rejected the Justice Committee’s recommendation to include a ‘right to access restorative justice services’, which the CJA had advocated for in evidence to the Committee. We are disappointed with this decision but remain committed to continuing discussions with ministers and officials and will seek to put down amendments to the Bill. The intention of the recommendation is to ensure victims receive information to make an informed choice about restorative justice and to support them in coping and recovering from the harm they have experienced.

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]]> 9746 Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme consultation response https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/criminal-injuries-compensation-scheme-consultation-response/ Mon, 01 Aug 2022 11:55:36 +0000 https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/?post_type=resources&p=8697 The CJA recommends the removal of the exclusionary rule and for the return to a discretionary system which was in place prior to 2012. This would mean decision-makers in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) can exercise discretion in order to compensate those with unspent convictions, where there are exceptional reasons for an award not […]

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]]> The CJA recommends the removal of the exclusionary rule and for the return to a discretionary system which was in place prior to 2012. This would mean decision-makers in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) can exercise discretion in order to compensate those with unspent convictions, where there are exceptional reasons for an award not to be withheld or reduced.

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]]> 8697 Justice Select Committee Victims Bill response https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/justice-select-committee-victims-bill-response/ Thu, 23 Jun 2022 10:53:04 +0000 https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/?post_type=resources&p=8394 In this response to the Justice Select Committee, we recommend that the four overarching principles of the Victims’ Code set out in the Bill be expanded to reflect all 12 entitlements in the current Code. Furthermore, agencies should have a statutory duty to comply with the Code’s entitlements, and the Victims’ Commissioner’s powers should be […]

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]]> In this response to the Justice Select Committee, we recommend that the four overarching principles of the Victims’ Code set out in the Bill be expanded to reflect all 12 entitlements in the current Code. Furthermore, agencies should have a statutory duty to comply with the Code’s entitlements, and the Victims’ Commissioner’s powers should be strengthened to provide national oversight of the operation of the Code.

We emphasise that victims should have a statutory entitlement to be informed about restorative justice (RJ) and how to access RJ, and a statutory right to be automatically referred to an RJ service. We urge the government to reintroduce a national RJ action plan, which sets out how access, awareness and capacity will be improved within the criminal justice system. The government should publish its annual progress against this action plan, and a new plan should be developed and laid before Parliament at least every five years.

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]]> 8394 Delivering Justice for Victims consultation response https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/response-to-consultation-on-improving-victims-experiences-of-the-justice-system/ Fri, 04 Feb 2022 12:21:08 +0000 https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/?post_type=resources&p=7681 In this response to the government’s consultation on a new Victims’ Bill, we set out measures to increase access to restorative justice; improve support for people in prison who have been victims of crime; improve specialist services for children, young adults and Black, Asian and minority ethnic people who have been victims of crime; and […]

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]]> In this response to the government’s consultation on a new Victims’ Bill, we set out measures to increase access to restorative justice; improve support for people in prison who have been victims of crime; improve specialist services for children, young adults and Black, Asian and minority ethnic people who have been victims of crime; and to enhance complaints processes.

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]]> 7681 Briefing for peers on amendment to PCSC Bill to increase use of Restorative Justice https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/briefing-for-peers-on-amendment-to-pcsc-bill-to-increase-use-of-restorative-justice/ Wed, 15 Sep 2021 10:34:32 +0000 https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/?post_type=resources&p=7361 The CJA and Why me? have worked with Baroness Molly Meacher on an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which will increase the use of Restorative Justice, with the aim of better supporting victims and reducing reoffending. The amendment will require the home secretary and the justice secretary to prepare a Restorative […]

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]]> The CJA and Why me? have worked with Baroness Molly Meacher on an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which will increase the use of Restorative Justice, with the aim of better supporting victims and reducing reoffending. The amendment will require the home secretary and the justice secretary to prepare a Restorative Justice Action Plan every three years to improve access, awareness, capacity and evidence of the use of Restorative Justice and practices. The home secretary and justice secretary will also be required to report on progress to parliament. This is a briefing for peers on the amendment.

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]]> 7361 Routes to Recovery https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/routes-to-recovery/ Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:52:13 +0000 https://www.highscoredev.co.uk/cja/?post_type=resources&p=3223 Routes to Recovery draws on discussions with CJA members in virtual meetings in June and July. The report highlights challenges and good practice during COVID-19 across policing, courts, prisons, probation and resettlement, victims’ services, mental health and drug and alcohol services. The report also provides recommendations for policy makers, highlighting how they can build a […]

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]]> Routes to Recovery draws on discussions with CJA members in virtual meetings in June and July. The report highlights challenges and good practice during COVID-19 across policing, courts, prisons, probation and resettlement, victims’ services, mental health and drug and alcohol services. The report also provides recommendations for policy makers, highlighting how they can build a better criminal justice system following the pandemic.

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]]> 3223 Improving the Victims’ Code consultation response https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/improving-the-victims-code-consultation-response/ Fri, 01 May 2020 13:56:47 +0000 https://www.highscoredev.co.uk/cja/?post_type=resources&p=4069 The CJA has responded to the Consultation on Improving the Victims’ Code. In our response, we call for a right for victims to be referred to a Restorative Justice service.

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]]> The CJA has responded to the Consultation on Improving the Victims’ Code. In our response, we call for a right for victims to be referred to a Restorative Justice service.

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]]> 4069 COVID-19 briefing for Home Affairs Select Committee https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/covid-19-briefing-for-home-affairs-select-committee/ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 14:39:33 +0000 https://www.highscoredev.co.uk/cja/?post_type=resources&p=4086 In this briefing, which is a response to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry on the Home Office’s preparedness for COVID-19, the CJA gives recommendations on policing and supporting victims.

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]]> In this briefing, which is a response to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry on the Home Office’s preparedness for COVID-19, the CJA gives recommendations on policing and supporting victims.

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]]> 4086 Unequal Impact: COVID-19 and the impact on people with protected https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-resources/unequal-impact-covid-19-and-the-impact-on-people-with-protected/ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 14:32:50 +0000 https://www.highscoredev.co.uk/cja/?post_type=resources&p=4082 In this briefing for the Women and Equalities Select Committee, the CJA discusses the impact of COVID-19 on those with protected characteristics within the criminal justice system.

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]]> In this briefing for the Women and Equalities Select Committee, the CJA discusses the impact of COVID-19 on those with protected characteristics within the criminal justice system.

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