AC 1.2 Describe the Organisation of the CJS in Eng+Wal

Question 1

Who do the Police work with?

Answer 1

• Courts = give evidence in court as prosecution, protect vulnerable witnesses, hold D’s in police cells and transport to and from court
• CPS = provide evidence on a suspect, charging offenders based on their instructions
• Prison + Probation = arrest criminals who have been recalled to prison
• Voluntary Organisations = refer victims and witnesses of crimes to Victim Support, Witness Service etc

Question 2

Who does the HM Courts and Tribunal Service work with?

Answer 2

• Courts and Judges = supervise the court system to ensure its running efficiently, provide funding to individual courts
• HM Prison Service = hold prisoners who are attending court, arrange video calls for those not attending, carry out the sentence the court gives
• Contributes to law making through judicial precedent and statutory interpretation
• Liase with police/security firms/prisons to ensure offenders are delivered to court + prison safely

Question 3

Who do the CPS work with?

Answer 3

• Police = advise them on lines of enquiry to follow and what evidence is required to bolster the case, advise when enough to charge suspect
• Courts = prepare and present the case as the prosecution, prepare appeals against Unduly Lenient sentences

Question 4

Who does Prison Service work with?

Answer 4

• Courts = carry out the custodial sentences the court has imposed (liase with them about length + type), supervise D’s on remand when denied bail by courts, facilitate visits from defence lawyers to their clients in prison
• Police = facilitate interviews with prisons involved in ongoing investigations
• Probation Service = liase with them when prisoner is going to be released on licence

Question 5

Who does National Probation Service work with?

Answer 5

• Prison Service and Parole Board = supervise prisoners released on licence
• Courts = prepare pre-sentence reports on offenders, supervise them when given community sentence by courts, supervise drug testing when ordered by court
• Tell the police when an offender needs to be arrested to recall them to prison for breach of conditions
• Liase with many agencies and external service providers to ensure smooth transition back into society from prison

Question 6

Who does the Sentencing Council work with?

Answer 6

• Work with judiciary and other legal professionals to produce sentencing guidelines

Question 7

What agencies do Gov Departments work with?

Answer 7

• Courts, Prison, Probation - Ministry of Justice
• Police = Home Office is responsible for setting national policing priorities
• Also provide funding for the CJS from national tax

Question 8

Who do Campaigns for Change work with? + examples

Answer 8

• Liase with various agencies linked to that area to create effective change
• Sarah’s Law = worked with police to create Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme
• Prison Reform Trust = works with prison service + other independent bodies to improve the prison system

Question 9

Summarise the Criminal Justice System Procedure

Answer 9

1. Laws are made in Parliament
2. Police enforce the law by investigating crimes, detain/arrest suspects and interview
3. CPS advise the police for the appropriate charge
4. Suspect brought to court (start Mags then Crown)
5. Defendant then released on bail or remanded in custody
6. G = sentence, NG = trial with witnesses, magistrates/jury
7. Punishments given in line with the Sentencing Council’s advice, if custodial then sent to prison
8. Prison Service oversee prisoners welfare, HM Inspectorate of Prisons reports on the conditions and treatments of prisons/prisoners
9. When released, usually on license and supervised by Probation Service, if breach conditions then returned to prison