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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 9:24 pm
Time: 9:24 pm
Results for criminal fines (northern ireland)
1 results foundAuthor: Cameron, Ian Title: The enforcement of fines: A follow-up review of inspection recommendations Summary: In March 2010 Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) published a report on the enforcement of fines in Northern Ireland. The report found that fine enforcement was a significant part of the justice system and that public confidence in the system depended on whether people believed justice was being done and that it was fair and effective. Whilst compliance in Northern Ireland was relatively high the report went on to say that the current system was an inappropriate and expensive use of police and prison resources. It also noted that there was a need for substantial change to the enforcement process and a stricter regime for the payment of fines to maximise compliance and minimise recourse to police enforcement and prison. The report made 10 recommendations for improvement, directed across the criminal justice system, aimed at maintaining the current levels of compliance while responding to the need for change. The purpose of this follow-up review was to assess progress in implementing those recommendations. Of the 10 recommendations made in the original report, three have been achieved, five partially achieved and two not achieved. Inspectors accept the complexity of the issues surrounding the enforcement of fines, and acknowledge that much work has been undertaken, in particular the work of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) which has made a significant reduction in the number of warrants issued to the police. In addition, the Fine Enforcement Project Group has also been established to take forward fine enforcement in the criminal justice agencies. The Department of Justice (DoJ) has a strategy with a view to introducing collection powers and a revised enforcement regime in the forthcoming Justice Bill. In addition, the introduction of Supervised Activity Orders (SAOs) have the potential to make a positive impact as they are rolled-out across Northern Ireland. Despite this work, overall progress in reducing the number of people sent to prison solely for fine default has been slow. Indeed since the last inspection the numbers have actually increased from 1,247 in 2009 to 2,179 in 2011. This places tremendous pressures on the prison service at a time when it is undergoing a significant change programme. It places undue pressures on women prisoners and leaves the enforcement system open to abuse as people discharge their fines with minimal effort. As the Justice Minister has stated it is not sustainable to continue to send people to prison for fine default for a short period. This would indicate that there have not been the substantive changes required to the enforcement process nor has there been a stricter regime introduced to maximise compliance and minimise police enforcement and the use of imprisonment. Only when this has been completed – as outlined in the original inspection report - will the social and financial cost of short-term sentences for fine default and the operational impact on the courts, police and prisons be addressed. Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2012. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed Sugust 1, 2012 at http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/4c/4c885d6d-9ffe-4791-83b4-26d374631f45.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/4c/4c885d6d-9ffe-4791-83b4-26d374631f45.pdf Shelf Number: 125832 Keywords: Court Fines (Northern Ireland)Criminal Fines (Northern Ireland)Evaluative Studies |