NCJ Number
206430
Date Published
July 2004
Length
61 pages
Annotation
This strategic plan for reforming Great Britain's criminal justice system, developed by the three government agencies responsible for criminal justice, focus on how more criminals can be brought to justice, how to improve the way various agencies work together, and how victims and witnesses can receive better services.
Abstract
The overriding principle of the plan is to deliver criminal justice that puts the needs of the crime victim and the safety of the law-abiding citizen first. One key theme in implementing this principle is the integration of the criminal justice system to make it efficient and effective in protecting the innocent, deterring criminals from crime, and rehabilitating offenders. A second key theme is cooperation between criminal justice professionals and the community so that the concerns of the community are reflected in policy and practice. A particular effort will be made to treat Black and minority ethnic individuals and neighborhoods fairly, so that policing and criminal justice processing will reduce unjustified racial disparities in stop and search and in sentencing. The plan's objectives will be implemented over the next 5 years, so that by 2008 they will be institutionalized as routine policy and practice. Among the milestones for 2004-05 are the establishment of a pilot Community Justice Centre in Liverpool, publishing of a Stop and Search Manual, launching of a new magazine for all criminal justice staff, beginning of the Justice Award, development of plans for how to best coordinate the protection of witnesses, and the implementation of a surcharge on criminal convictions that will go to the Victims Fund. Milestones are also specified for 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08. 24 references