News
Courts Work to Engage Communities -
The facts and figures tell us that more people are in prison than ever before, they serve longer sentences and in Northamptonshire sentences are some of the harshest in the country.
Despite this there is still a very low level of confidence within our communities around sentencing. The general public perception is that offenders “get away with a slap on the wrist”.
To start to overcome some of the myths and misconceptions around sentencing the Ministry of Justice has funded a national project to appoint local HMCS Community Engagement Coordinators to each Area.
To start to overcome some of the myths and misconceptions around sentencing the Ministry of Justice has funded a national project to appoint local HMCS Community Engagement Coordinators to each Area.
The Northamptonshire lead is Sarah Barfoot, who during the coming months will be finding opportunities for Magistrates to become more linked to the communities which they serve. The intention is that Magistrates will be encouraged to hear more about local problems and issues and talk about the type of sentences available to deal with the problems faced by communities. This work complements the existing Magistrates in the Community programme. For more information please contact Sarah by email : sarah.barfoot@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk
LCJB Chair talks to Law Students-
Before breaking up for the Christmas Law students at Northampton University had the opportunity to meet Grace Ononiwu OBE. Chief Crown Prosecutor and Chair of the LCJB..jpg)
Grace inspired her listeners with her own story of growing up in the East End of London, against a back ground of low expectations and mistrust of the Criminal Justice System, especially the police. Grace explained how she felt that her background of Comprehensive secondary school and polytechnic; gave her the advantage of being able to communicate easily and with evident conviction.
Some students wondered why, given her background Grace chose to become a prosecutor. This lead Grace to explain the role the prosecutor has in ensuring not just that criminals are prosecuted and victims see justice done, but in deciding if the case being brought is fair and proportionate.
Grace inspired her listeners with her own story of growing up in the East End of London, against a back ground of low expectations and mistrust of the Criminal Justice System, especially the police. Grace explained how she felt that her background of Comprehensive secondary school and polytechnic; gave her the advantage of being able to communicate easily and with evident conviction.
Northampton Court Open Day
As part of Inside Justice week 2008 Northampton Combined court opened its doors to the public. 
This was a day where the general pubic could meet not just court staff but numerous agencies who work together to keep the public safe. There were mock trials, mediations and small claims, a quiz, fingerprinting and face painting. The Criminal Justice Board surveyed 120 members of the public about their perceptions of crime and the criminal justice system. To see a summary of the survey click here
If you missed the Court Open Day and would like to know more about how a court works then click this link www.direct.gov.uk/goingtocourtvideo to view or down load a DVD which looks at the experience attending court as a witness.
Visit to Northamptonshire Criminal Justice Board by the Home Secretary
Did you know that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is directly involved with the work of the Justice Agencies in Northamptonshire?
The Home Secretary is the joint chair of the National Criminal Justice Board, a group of top government figures who meet to provide national direction for the 42 Local Criminal Justice Boards.
Each local Board has a sponsor linked to the National Group and Northamptonshire was chosen by the Home Secretary as the Board with which she wished to be linked.
On 20th October 2008 to coincide with Inside Justice Week Jacqui Smith was able to fit in a meeting the Local Board while visiting the county to see a local policing project and open a new facility at the University.
Board Members highlighted the positive relationships which now exited between agencies as a result of the creation of LCJBs and noted that the suspicion which had previously sometimes characterised relationships between agencies have now been removed.
The Home Secretary heard of successes which the Board had contributed to in Northamptonshire particularly the work of preventing young people becoming involved with the justice system and the high priority given to victims and witnesses by all agencies.
The Home Secretary thanked the Board for their ongoing work, which has made a real impact in reducing crime in the county. She supported the victim and witness centred approach taken by the Board and emphasised the need for a Criminal Justice Service rather than a Criminal Justice System.
Across The Board Issue 6
The latest news letter is now available
Rye Hill Prison has a new member of staff with a nose for trouble.
Drugs can find their way into prisons through a number of routes, carried by visitors, thrown over the walls or sent through the post but at Rye Hill Springer Spaniel Maggie has her nose to the ground to sniff out illegal drugs.
Maggie joined the prison in November last year and began an intensive training programme with her handler Rob Dann who has been based at Rye Hill for 3 ½ years.
Read more ...
New Pledge for Domestic Violence Victims
A new approach to dealing with victims of domestic violence has been unveiled for Northamptonshire. Agencies from across the Justice System, making up the Local Criminal Justice Board, have pledged that from now on, a domestic violence case will go from arrest to sentence in just 75 days.
CJSSS. Simple, Speedy, Summary Justice 
A new project to iron out inefficiencies in the Charge and Court processes has been rolled out across Northamptonshire. Criminal Justice: Simple, Speedy, Summary has reduced the time taken from charge to trial and will ensure cases progress as quickly as possible.
The process is now working well in all courts in the County. The Northampton Local Implementation Team headed by Baah Opong (pictured right) has worked hard to devise a scheme based in the best practice available, with co-operation and a commitment from all agencies.
The average number of days to complete a trial previously was 87 this has now fallen to 31.