The law is still broken

Question 1

CPS

Answer 1

suffered cuts in staff and 30% reduction in funding

Question 2

problem with lack of staff

Answer 2

decline in quality of info available to barristers when appearing in court

increased use of evidence via smartphone, less staff, more data so more cases take longer to reach court

Question 3

collapsing cases in the nations law firm

Answer 3

drop in staff = collapsed cases as prosecutors fail to disclose evidence to the defence

Question 4

massive failings

Answer 4

report in 2018 - lack of disclosure, lack of adequate disclosure

Question 5

change in crime

Answer 5

trends in crime now more focused on child sex abuse, historic sex abuse, economic crime and terrorism

with less people to collate evidence and work on prosecution, complicated cases far more risky

Question 6

diversity and impact on court

Answer 6

crucial that those judging us represent and understand the people stood in front of them

Question 7

We know that practices of Stop and Search are key examples of disproportionate bias towards BAME individuals within the CJS, but other key points are:

Answer 7

1. being tried at CC
2. custodial remand
3. sentencing to custody
4. prison adjustments

Question 8

what % of court judges are women

Answer 8

29

Question 9

what % of court judges identity as BAME

Answer 9

7

Question 10

what % of magistrates identify as BAME

Answer 10

12

Question 11

what % of magistrates are under 40

Answer 11

4

Question 12

arrests and subsequent court

Answer 12

arrest rates are higher in young black men, mixed ethnic men and black and ethnic mixed women than their white counterparts

Question 13

disparity

Answer 13

those deciding the liberty of those in their court cannot related to the lived of those who are not them

care leavers, those under social care, those in poverty, homeless, BAME and LGBT individuals dominate the courts

Question 14

prison 2010

Answer 14

prisoners have deteriorated with staff cuts leading to overcrowding, rampant drug use, violence, self-harm and = suicides

Question 15

overcrowding and understaffing

Answer 15

14,000 staff lost in 6 years due to redundancy packages, so years of experience lost and lack of understanding on jail craft

Question 16

drugs and violence

Answer 16

lack of staff so cannot control influx of drugs or subsequent violence

attacks on staff and other prisoners has risen

Question 17

mental health and an ageing population

Answer 17

tens of thousands of SH injuries and more MH issues developing from the use of MPS

Question 18

how old is the current oldest prisoner

Answer 18

104

Question 19

worst element of CJSq

Answer 19

prisons are unsafe and ineffective, with reoffending rising and deaths becoming more and more

Question 20

probation

Answer 20

The Probation Service deal with supervision of offenders in the community and those on license

If your sentence is 12 months, you will likely be released after 6 months and serve the rest of restrictions

If your sentence is 12 months +, you’ll serve half your sentence with the rest on ‘tag’ (if less than 4 years)

Question 21

high and low risk individuals

Answer 21

High risk individuals are looked after under the national service and low risk are looked after under privatized services

Privatization massively backfired, with the low risk contracts being unable to do their jobs, leaving more people recalled and therefore left in prison

More people were classified as high risk – leaving underpaid staff with 40 or 50 individuals to supervise and ensure are being rehabilitated

Question 22

CJS currently

Answer 22

understaffed, overworked and ineffective

cases take longer and more likely to harm those that are most vulnerable in society