#Judges, #barristers and #solicitors continue working hard to ensure justice delivered and safe outcomes for victims. @TheCriminalBar

Judges, barristers and solicitors continue working hard to ensure justice delivered and safe outcomes for victims despite the acute strains on the prison and courts system, after more than 15 years of disjointed central planning and under funding for those tasked with delivering justice in our courts and keeping the public safe within our prison estate. Chair Tana Adkin KC comments on  @TelegraphNews @charleshymas

#prisons and court sentencing article “Crown Court judges have been ordered to delay sentencing hearings and reminded to take account of the overcrowding when deciding whether to jail an offender. Some violent offenders and thieves have already been spared jail and instead handed sentences in the community. The moves are among contingency measures being prepared as the number of spare places in the male prison estate has dropped below 150. Other options include increasing the numbers of prisoners held in police cells, the use of magistrate court cells and expanded early release on electronic tags or under curfew. Yesterday, there were just 124 spare places as the prison population passed 88,100, the highest number since records began more than 120 years ago.”