CANDIDATE PACK 2020
THEME 2: POLICING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE Opportunities to improve outcomes for victims and test provisions for offenders exist throughout the criminal justice system. The Police and Crime Commissioner is positioned to challenge and influence national portfolios and government policy. Membership of boards include the Local Criminal Justice Board, which is able to test all points of the victim experience in the justice system; the Health and Wellbeing Board, where a current strategic aim is to look at the most effective management approach to substance misuse, and regional meetings with Police and Crime Commissioners. The Police and Crime Commissioner insight to Constabulary pressures, coupled with the regular input from Community Safety Partnerships enables the role holder to shape National Portfolios held by the Association of the Police and Crime Commissioners, work with other Commissioners such as that for Children, Victims and Domestic Abuse and to raise issues and opportunities to the Policing Minister.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM The Crown Prosecution Service The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the main prosecuting authority in England and Wales. The CPS works in partnership with all agencies in the criminal justice system, particularly the police, but makes decisions independently of the police and government. The CPS has 14 Areas across England and Wales - the CPS Wessex Region consists of the counties of Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and Wiltshire. Chief Crown Prosecutor Joanne Jakymec is the head of CPS Wessex, supported by Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Nicola Haywood. Emma Tebbutt, the Area Business Manager has responsibility for Business and Operational Delivery functions across the region. Courts All criminal cases start in a magistrates’ court. There is not a jury in a magistrates’ court. They normally handle cases known as ‘summary offences’, such as motoring offences, minor criminal damage or common assault. Magistrates’ courts always pass the most serious crimes to crown court. A crown court deals with serious criminal cases, for example murder, rape, robbery. A crown court usually has a jury which decides if a person is guilty or not guilty and has a judge who decides what sentence a person gets. It also deals with appeals against a magistrates’ court conviction or sentence and cases passed from a magistrate’s court for trial or sentencing. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is served by the following courts: Basingstoke Law Courts Newport Isle of Wight Combined Court and Magistrates’ Court Portsmouth Combined Court Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court Southampton Combined Court Southampton Magistrates’ Court Winchester Combined Court
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