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Criminal
Justice Review Group launches its report, 30 March 2000 |
The
Criminal Justice Review Group was set up under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement to "address the structure, management and resourcing of publicly
funded elements of the criminal justice system", including, prosecution
arrangements and lay participation in the system. The government-led review
began its deliberations on 27 June 1998. The Group consisted of five independent
assessors representing the legal profession, academia and the voluntary
sector and four senior civil servants who represented the Northern Ireland
Office, the Attorney General's Office and the Lord Chancellor's Department.
In a foreword to a 48-page discussion document that formed the basis of
the review, the Secretary of State, Dr Mowlam said the criminal justice
system had served Northern Ireland well over the previous 30 years. Policing,
emergency legislation, non-jury courts and paramilitary crime were excluded
from the review.
The
signatories to the Agreement accepted that the criminal justice system
should:
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deliver
a fair and impartial system of justice to the community |
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be
responsive to the community's concerns, and encouraging community
involvement where appropriate |
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have
the confidence of all parts of the community |
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deliver
justice efficiently and effectively |
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Under
the chairmanship of Jim Daniell, Director of Criminal Justice at the Northern
Ireland Office, the group was required to engage in wide consultation.
The team visited the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands,
Scotland, South Africa, New Zealand and the US to examine how other jurisdictions
deliver criminal justice. It received 90 submissions, held over 70 meetings
with interested groups including a series of nine seminars throughout
Northern Ireland designed to hear professional and public opinion on how
the system might be improved. The group's remit was to cover such issues
as:
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arrangements
for judicial appointments |
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the
possibility of devolving criminal justice functions to a local Assembly |
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the
symbols displayed and dress worn in court |
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the
mechanisms for addressing law reform |
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the
scope for cross-border co-operation between criminal justice agencies
north and south |
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