Tag: Crown Court
Court of Appeal judgment on the passage of time between offence and sentence
The Court of Appeal considered the relevance of age and the long delay between the commission of the offences and sentencing.
Court of Appeal judgment on mental health conditions which affect maturity
The Court of Appeal reduced a 13 year old's custodial sentence as not enough weight was attached to the fact that his ADHD and ASD contributed to his functioning at a lower level than an average 13 year old.
New Plea and Trial Preparatory Hearing form includes amendments for child defendants
An updated Plea and Trial Preparatory Hearing (PTPH) form has been issued and some of the most significant changes relate to child defendants.
Youth Justice Summit 2019
The Youth Justice Legal Centre’s annual Youth Justice Summit took place on 17 May 2019. The Summit’s theme was Children and the Criminal Courts and we were delighted to bring together 250 youth justice practitioners including some of the country’s leading experts on children and the criminal law. YJLC are proud to be building a […]
Criminal Practice Directions Amendment no 8
The eighth amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2015 was issued by the Lord Chief Justice on 28th March 2019 and comes into force on 01 April 2019.
Court of Appeal judgment on remittal to the youth court
The Court of Appeal remarks that remitting a case involving conduct which contributed to a serious fraud to the Youth Court was a sensible course.
Court of Appeal judgment on vulnerable child defendants and intermediaries
The Court of Appeal considered an appeal against conviction based on the fact that the appellant had not had an intermediary despite one being required and that an adverse inference had then been drawn from the appellant's failure to give evidence.
Ruling on pre-recorded cross-examination of child witnesses
The Court of Appeal analysed the effect of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 s.28 and pre-recorded cross-examination of child witnesses.
Code for Crown Prosecutors – Eighth Edition
The eight edition of the Code for Crown Prosecutors has been published.
Criminal Practice Directions Amendment no 7
The seventh amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2015 was issued by the Lord Chief Justice on 26 July 2018 and comes into force on 01 October 2018.
Report on how the UK’s cannabis policies are affecting young people
Volteface, a think tank which looks at alternatives to current drug policies in the UK, have published a report on how effectively the UK’s cannabis policies are safeguarding young people from harm including from a criminal justice perspective.
Justice Select Committee report on disclosure in criminal cases
The Justice Select Committee has released a report on disclosure of evidence in criminal cases. Disclosure of unused material in criminal cases is essential to a defendant receiving a fair trial. The urgency to revisit disclosure processes became apparent after a notorious failure in a number of cases between December 2017 and spring 2018. The report examines the failures in disclosure, the role of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the police, and provides a set of recommendations to ensure a more effective disclosure process.