Research Briefing
Prisoners serving a custodial sentence do not have the right to vote under UK law. Prisoners on remand are able to vote under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 2000. This Standard Note provides a narrative of events from the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on 6 October 2005, in the case of Hirst v United Kingdom (No 2), to the May 2015 General Election.
Research Briefing
This Bill would make changes aimed to strengthen the law on the recovery of the proceeds of crime. It would make amendments to the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to update existing offences. It would also provide for a new offence of participating in the activities of an organised crime group and make changes to Serious Crime Prevention Orders and gang injunctions. The Bill would provide for the seizure and forfeiture of substances used as drug-cutting agents. It would also amend the offence of child cruelty, create a new offence relating to the possession of ‘paedophile manuals’ and amend the law on Female Genital Mutilation. The Bill would create a new offence of unauthorised possession of a knife or other offensive weapon in prison and confer extra-territorial jurisdiction on the courts in respect of certain terrorism offences.
Research Briefing
This note looks briefly at the Brighton reform conference in 2012 and reforms implemented before and since. It considers two of the reforms in Protocol 15 that the UK Government particularly wanted, in the light of the European Court of Human Rights judgments in Hirst and Abu Qatada, concerning subsidiarity and the margin of appreciation.
Research Briefing
This paper is designed to provide background information for Consideration of Lords Amendments of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which is due to take place on 1 December 2014
Research Briefing
This article, published in October 2011, provides a summary of the Ministry of Justice statistical updates produced throughout August and September on those brought before the courts, for offences relating to this public disorder. In October 2011 more detailed statistical publications were released relating to the offences committed and offenders prosecuted.
Research Briefing
Probation services are undergoing significant change, with the application of Payment by Resuts to the majority of rehabilitation work, and mandatory supervision of all offenders sentenced to less than 2 years in custody to be contracted out to a mix of providers. The new National Probation Service has managed high risk offenders since June 2014
Research Briefing
Information about the role of the Law Officers in England and Wales (the Attorney General and Solicitor General).
Research Briefing
In November 2013, the National Offender Management Service revised the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme for prisoners. The changes have been controversial, particularly in relation to prisoners’ ability to have steel-stringed guitars or to receive books sent from outside prison. It was reported on 29 July 2014 that, in response to feedback from prison governors, the ban on steel-stringed guitars had been reversed, although the ban on receiving books would remain.
Research Briefing
The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill 2013-14 had its second reading on 24 February 2014 and was carried over to 2014-15 session. Library Research Paper 14/8 The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill provides background on the proposals in the Bill. There are four parts covering criminal justice, including offences relating to extreme pornographic images and release and recall of prisoners, young offenders, secure colleges and youth cautions, changes to courts and tribunals, including strict liability and jury misconduct, and judicial review changes, which attracted much written and oral evidence.
Research Briefing
The Bill proposes a range of measures in line with the Government’s aim to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses and public authorities.
Research Briefing
Since 2010, the police have been given greater responsibility for charging decisions and prosecutions with the aim of cutting bureaucracy. The police are now responsible for nearly 80% of all charging decisions and prosecuting an increased range of offences, including, for example, criminal damage under £5,000 and careless or inconsiderate driving. The Crown Prosecution Service retains responsibility for the most complex and serious cases.
Research Briefing
The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill would make a number of changes to the criminal justice system including sentencing; cautions; prisoners’ release and recall; and the detention of young offenders. It would also reform court proceedings and costs; establish a new system of strict liability in contempt proceedings; create new offences for juror misconduct; make changes to the conduct and funding of judicial review claims; and amend the law on extreme pornography.
Research Briefing
The Service Justice System provides a legal framework that ensures Service personnel are subject to a single disciplinary code that applies wherever they are serving.
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