Long seeks views on out-of-court disposal proposals
Date published:
The Justice Minister is encouraging the public to have their say on proposals to improve efficiency within the criminal justice system.
A Department of Justice public consultation is seeking views on a number of issues, including the types of offences that can be dealt with by way of a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND), penalty amounts and alternative methods of payment.
Setting out the rationale for change, Naomi Long said:
“These proposals are not about taking a softer approach when the law is broken.
“Rather, the consultation aims to add to the tools already available to the PSNI and Public Prosecution Service (PPS) when dealing with criminal behaviour.
“It also seeks to divert more cases away from the very busy court system, where this is deemed by the PSNI or PPS to be an appropriate response.
“By increasing the use of out-of-court disposals, which are designed to offer a timely and proportionate response to offending behaviours, it is hoped resources can be concentrated on bringing the most serious of offences before the courts.”
The Minister continued:
“I am committed to delivering a faster, fair and effective criminal justice system that the public can support and have confidence in.
“Delays in delivering criminal justice through the courts is a longstanding challenge which can be harmful for victims and witnesses, who often feel like their lives have been put on hold whilst court cases remain ongoing.
“Lengthy processing times also impact on those accused of committing crimes, some of whom, due to the nature of the allegations they are facing, may be remanded into custody, or face restrictions on their freedom due to bail conditions imposed on them pending the outcome of the case.
“The presumption of innocence is a fundamental tenet of our criminal justice system. More widely, delay in the delivery of justice can also affect public confidence in the system.
“Looking to the future, it is essential we create a sustainable criminal justice system that delivers for all.”
The consultation, which is open until 28 September, can be accessed at the Publication Section of this website .
Notes to editors:
- Out-of-court disposals are measures used to resolve some criminal offenses without the need for a formal court trial. These disposals aim to provide a more efficient and proportionate response to some offending.
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