19th
October
2004
Justice Minister set for Cross Examination
on Law Reforms
Scotland’s
Justice Minister, Cathy Jamieson, will be questioned by local Labour Party
members and supporters on her key reforms of the criminal justice system this
Thursday (21st October 2004).
MSP
for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, who is also attending the event,
said this was a great opportunity for Inverclyde members to underline to the
Minister the importance of an effective justice system.
“At
last year’s election I promised to campaign to get the criminal justice system
back on the side of decent, hardworking people in communities like ours,” he
said.
“A
system which makes victims and witnesses feel at best ignored and at worst
accused; a system which releases convicts onto the streets just to commit more
crimes is not balanced in our favour – it’s balanced in the criminals’.
“Although
last year’s Criminal Justice Act struck a heavy blow for victims’ rights, we
need to press on. I’m sure our members and supporters will be keen to quiz
the Minister on what she is going to do about re-offending, sentencing and the
most dangerous offenders.”
Last
February, the Scottish Parliament passed the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act
2003, a major piece of legislation which contains a number of measures to
improve victims’ rights. It
introduced, for example, victim statements, allowing, for the first time,
victims and their families to tell the court what effect the crime has had –
and continues to have – on their lives. It
also gives victims the right to information about their assailant’s
proposed release and to make representations to the Parole Board before a
release decision is made.
The
May 2003 Partnership Agreement commits the Labour-led Executive to dealing
“swiftly and effectively with those who commit crime” and creating “a
criminal justice system that fully supports victims and witnesses.”
Announcing
the Executive’s legislative programme for the coming parliamentary session to
the Chamber in September, the First Minister said:
“We
have led from the front with radical legislation to reform our High Court, to
tackle the culture of delay and to increase the focus of justice for the victim
as well as the accused. We are
encouraging co-operation across borders, speeding up the process of prosecution
and trial, and supporting witnesses.”
He
continued:
“We
will reform sentencing, reform our prisons and reform the organisations
responsible. We need tougher action
against the most dangerous offenders and more serious rehabilitation for the
vast majority of other offenders.”
ENDS
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