11

Amend Victims’ Code to provide victims with free access to sentencing remarks.

Recommendation
The current situation where victims have to pay significant sums to receive a transcript of sentencing remarks from the Crown Court is unsustainable. We reiterate our call for all sentencing remarks to be published (subject to the relevant legal restrictions). As a minimum, victims of crime and bereaved families should have ready and free access to sentencing remarks. It should be possible to use voice recording technology to ensure that remarks are recorded at minimal cost. The Victims’ Code should include a right for victims of crime to be provided with the sentencing remarks of the judge without charge.
Paragraph Reference
58
Government Response

A response document is linked to this report, dated 18 January 2024. Response attribution to this recommendation has not been verified. Read the response document.

Addressee Bodies
Ministry of Justice
Timeline
Recommendation age 2.9 yrs
Report published 25 Oct 2023