CJJI response to the Victim’s Commissioner recommendations

Departments and agencies under the Commissioner’s remit and named in the Commissioner’s reports must publish their response to any recommendations directed at them. They must do so within 56 days of publication of the Commissioner’s report. They must explain the action they have taken or propose to take in response to each recommendation, or why they haven’t taken action or don’t plan to do so. This makes sure actions in response to the Commissioner’s recommendations to improve victims’ experiences are examined more closely.

The criminal justice inspectorates are under the Commissioner’s remit. They are required to respond to any recommendations directed at them in the Commissioner’s reports.
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 sets the inspectorates’ duty to respond to relevant recommendations from the Victims’ Commissioner. This makes sure actions taken to improve victims’ experiences are examined more closely.

In the report Justice delayed: The impact of the Crown Court backlog on victims, victim services and the criminal justice system, the Victims’ Commissioner made the following recommendation:

“HMCPSI [His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate] and HMICFRS [His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services] jointly carry out a review of victim-facing communications, from the time the case enters the court system up to, and including, sentencing. This review should consider the quality and consistency of communications.”

We have published a joint response to this recommendation.