- All victims to have free access to judges’ sentencing remarks in their case, providing clarity and closure to move forward with their lives.
- Move is the latest measure to improve transparency and victims’ experiences in the courts, consistent with the recommendations of the Leveson Review.
- Next step in Government’s Plan for Change to provide swifter justice while restoring faith in the system.
Announced, Monday 19 January, the change removes barriers to justice and provides transparency for victims to help process what has happened to them and move forward with their lives.
Victims typically have to pay £40 to access sentencing remarks – but it can be hundreds of pounds for some.
The change not only makes justice more accessible, but puts it firmly on the victims’ terms if they are not able to attend the sentencing hearing of their perpetrator, which the Government recognises can be a retraumatising experience.
Accessing sentencing remarks for free is the latest measure to boost transparency and modernise courts, consistent with the recommendations from the Leveson Review, standing up for victims, providing swifter justice and restoring public confidence in the system as part of the Plan for Change.
Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, said
The end of a trial does not mean the end of a victims’ journey – for many, it’s just the beginning.
Free access to sentencing remarks will embolden victims to look back on their bravery and process their experience at their own pace.
This Government will continue to deliver swifter justice for victims, and make sure victims are confident that the justice system works for them.
Facing a perpetrator in court can be extremely distressing for victims, with their emotions often compounded by the finality of sentencing.
Access to sentencing remarks – where judges explain the sentence and the reason behind it – can provide clarity and reassurance, allowing victims to reflect on the outcome when they are ready.
The expansion follows the success of a pilot scheme which found free access helped victims feel a greater sense of justice, supported their wellbeing, and increased their faith in the justice system.
The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE, said
Today’s announcement is a victory for the brave survivors of the Open Justice For All campaign, and a crucial, welcome step towards real transparency in our courts.
For too long, victims have been left in the dark about what happened in their own cases, facing unnecessary hurdles and unfair costs just to understand how the sentence was reached. This barrier has compounded trauma and delayed closure for far too many.
It is now crucial the Ministry of Justice puts in place the right infrastructure, supporting the judiciary by shouldering the administrative burden. We must also go further I want open justice for all victims – including free access to judges’ summing-up in acquittals and an extension to magistrates’ courts – so that every survivor can get the closure they deserve.
This comes on top of the landmark reforms to cut crime through the Sentencing Bill as well as the government’s strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.
In addition, historic court reform combined with huge investment will deliver swift and fair justice for victims. New Swift Courts, millions invested in legal aid, and thousands more sitting days will tackle the backlog and see justice done.
Improving transparency in the courts was also a key theme in the landmark Lammy Review into treatment and outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in the criminal justice system, published in 2017.