- Clear guidance will make the court process
understandable for defendants
- Government delivers on a key pledge to support
court users
- Guide cuts through legal jargon and simplifies
the court process
The four-part
guide is designed to be understood by all
defendants, including those with low literacy levels,
and will be available online and in courts. These
unpick complicated legal-talk; flag available legal
advice; explain Crown and magistrates’ court processes;
and give advice on practicalities such as childcare.
The move comes as reports¹ found that lay users often
go to court without a sufficient understanding of what
to expect from the process, which can cause delays and
restrict access to justice. We therefore hope that this
work will also make the courts more efficient for
victims and witnesses.
Justice Minister, , said:
Going to court can be a confusing and daunting
experience for defendants.
This guidance gives practical, understandable advice
for defendants throughout their journey, ensuring
that people are given the help they need to
understand criminal justice processes and the
consequences of their own decisions, as well as those
made by the court.
This work complements that of our wider Legal Support
Action Plan, which is boosting legal support for
those going through the court system and improving
access to justice.
JUSTICE, said:
Going to court can be an unnerving and stressful
experience. We are delighted that the Ministry of
Justice has accepted the recommendations in our
report, Understanding Courts, and produced these
leaflets clearly explaining what defendants can
expect during the process.
Helping people to understand court proceedings will
address some of that anxiety and we hope similar
information will be available for different types of
court users in the future.
Notes to editors:
- In JUSTICE’s Report ‘Understanding Courts’, it was
noted that lay users often go to court without a
sufficient understanding of what to expect from the
process. It recommended that the Ministry of Justice
should produce practical information about what to
expect from the process.
- The guidance has
been published on GOV.UK.
- Our full Legal
Support Action Plan, which focuses on Civil and
Family proceedings.
