Latest news with #justiceSystem
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform UK mayor says Bob Vylan's chants show ‘two-tier justice'
Reform UK mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, Andrea Jenkyns, said that if Bob Vylan aren't arrested over their chants at Glastonbury, it is evidence of a 'two-tiered justice system.' Rapper Bobby Vylan led a crowd in chants of: 'Death, death to the IDF,' during the group's performance on Saturday (28 June). 'If the police don't arrest and treat them the same way as Lucy Connolly and all the other political prisoners, then they should let Lucy Connolly and the other political prisoners out and give them compensation,' Jenkyns told GB News on Monday (30 June). Lucy Connolly, the wife of a former Conservative councillor, was jailed for 31 months for inciting racial hatred online following the Southport attacks. 'Because this is evidence that we've got a two-tiered justice system,' Ms Jenkyns claimed. Police are assessing videos of comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury to decide whether any offences may have been committed.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Reform UK mayor says Bob Vylan's chants show ‘two-tier justice'
Reform UK mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, Andrea Jenkyns, said that if Bob Vylan aren't arrested over their chants at Glastonbury, it is evidence of a 'two-tiered justice system.' Rapper Bobby Vylan led a crowd in chants of: 'Death, death to the IDF,' during the group's performance on Saturday (28 June). 'If the police don't arrest and treat them the same way as Lucy Connolly and all the other political prisoners, then they should let Lucy Connolly and the other political prisoners out and give them compensation,' Jenkyns told GB News on Monday (30 June). Lucy Connolly, the wife of a former Conservative councillor, was jailed for 31 months for inciting racial hatred online following the Southport attacks. 'Because this is evidence that we've got a two-tiered justice system,' Ms Jenkyns claimed. Police are assessing videos of comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury to decide whether any offences may have been committed.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Al Jazeera
South Carolina's Child Execution
What does George's story tell us about the US justice system and the ways it continues to fail African-Americans? In 1944, amid the harsh glare of Jim Crow, 14-year-old George Stinney Jr. was strapped into South Carolina's electric chair after a trial that lasted just a single day. With no physical evidence, no defense witnesses, and an all-white jury that deliberated for ten minutes, he was convicted of murdering two white girls. Nearly seven decades later, a judge threw out the verdict. In this episode: – Matthew Burgess, Criminal Defence Attorney – Dr Melanie Holmes, Assistant Professor of African American Studies
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Sentencing reforms introduced cap potential discounts and bring new aggravating factors
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the sentencing reforms were about restoring real consequences for crime. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Sentencing reforms which will cap discounts judges can give to an offender and introduce aggravating factors at sentencing, have come into effect as the government targets tougher crime consequences. The Labour Party says the move will only exacerbate an already clogged court system, add huge costs to the taxpayer by increasing the prison population, and will not reduce crime or the number of victims. But Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the sentencing reforms, which came into effect on Sunday, were about restoring real consequences for crime. Communities and hardworking New Zealanders should not be made to live and work in fear of criminals who had a "flagrant disregard for the law, corrections officers and the general public", he said. "We know that undue leniency has resulted in a loss of public confidence in sentencing, and our justice system as a whole. We had developed a culture of excuses." The tougher stance was part of the government's plan to "restore law and order, which we know is working", he said. "It signals to victims that they deserve justice, and that they are our priority." The changes include: ACT MP Nicole McKee welcomed the new rules saying there had been a steady erosion of public confidence in the justice system. "Offenders faced fewer and shorter prison sentences, while communities paid the price." ACT MP Nicole McKee welcomed the new rules. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone She said police data showed a 134 percent increase in serious assault leading to injury from 2017 to 2023 under "Labour's failed experiment of being kind to criminals". "We've restored Three Strikes , and from today additional measures are coming into force to make the message even clearer." She said the vulnerability of people who worked alone or in a business attached to their home would be "recognised in law" thanks to ACT's coalition agreement to crack down on retail crime with the introduction of the aggravating factors. Labour's spokesperson for Justice Duncan Webb, however, said tough on crime sounded good but did not actually have the effect of reducing crime. "We've got to be smart on crime as well. We've got to address the causes of crime which we know are poverty, family violence, mental illness and addiction, and until we address those, there'll continue to be crime and there'll continue to be victims." Tougher sentences were just one option, he said. "If we're gonna be serious about reducing crime and reducing harm, we've got to address those causes of crime." Labour spokesperson for Justice Duncan Webb said tougher sentences were just one option. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Evidence showed tough on crime initiatives such as the Three Strikes law, which the government had reinstated, did not reduce victims, Webb said. "Victims are absolutely central to the approach and the best thing we could ever have is avoiding someone becoming a victim and that means addressing the causes of crime before crime occurs. "And absolutely I understand that when people are victims of crime they want to see the perpetrator punished and that's the right thing to happen, but I'd rather see the appropriate amount of resources put into mental health, reducing poverty, [and] eliminating homelessness, because those are things that create crime and we've seen them all increase under this government." The fact white collar crime such as fraud - which was one of the few crimes that responded to deterrents - was not captured by Three Strikes was inconsistent, Webb said. Webb said he had sought feedback from those in the social services, intervention, and criminal justice sectors. "They're all frustrated with the fact the direction that's being taken is going to clog up the courts, it's going to create more offenders, it's going to create more victims and it's not actually going to address what we really want to address which is the things that cause crime." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Aftermath of legal aid cyber attack becoming problematic in courts
The aftermath of the legal aid cyber attack is becoming 'particularly problematic' in the magistrates' courts amid calls to get the system back online, a solicitors' body has warned. The Law Society of England and Wales said while legal aid cases continue to be heard, some dozens of complex, means-tested cases are being adjourned where funding remains uncertain. The concerns come as the representative body outlined 10 key steps needed 'to keep the wheels of justice turning' two months after officials became aware of the hack. The Law Society said legal aid providers cannot afford to give advice or representation for free, and risk being 'caught out' when cases move from the magistrates' courts to crown courts, where solicitors have to instruct counsel without guarantee of payment. Legal aid professionals previously told the PA news agency that lawyers are facing 'administrative chaos' since the system went offline, prompting fears more providers will leave the sector. The Law Society welcomed new guidance to magistrates' courts over adjourning cases at a solicitor's request over legal aid application issues. The Law Society said: 'We recognise adjourning these cases will create additional delay within our justice system, but it is imperative that defendants and claimants are able to access legal advice and representation. 'We believe the courts and the Government should continue to monitor the impact that the breach is having on the effectiveness of court hearings.' It comes as the Ministry of Justice introduced further contingency measures that came into force on Friday, that temporarily gives more powers to providers to streamline legal aid applications. Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: 'It has been two months since the cyber attack and it is time to get our justice system back online and ensure legal aid – a crucial public service – is available to all who may need it. 'Civil legal aid providers, who can make the difference between a home and homelessness or give stability for children navigating family separation, are particularly hard hit. 'They have been unable to apply for new grants of legal aid which has left people most in need unable to secure legal advice and risks the closure of legal aid firms across the country.' Those eligible to apply for legal aid include domestic violence and modern slavery victims, people involved in care proceedings or at risk of homelessness, as well as people accused of criminal offences. According to the Ministry of Justice, a 'significant amount of personal data' of people who applied to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) since 2010, including criminal records, was accessed and downloaded in the cyber attack. The Government became aware of the hack on April 23, but realised on May 16 that it was more extensive than originally thought, and took the system offline. The Law Society is urging for full transparency on what data has been accessed, and for the Ministry of Justice to conduct a full review of the LAA's response to the breach. Contingency measures have been put in place including setting up an average payment scheme for civil legal aid cases, resuming payments on criminal legal aid cases, and confirming criminal applications will be backdated at this time. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'We have introduced enhanced contingency measures today to streamline legal aid applications, ensure people are represented and to keep the system running. 'This is on top of the actions we've taken since the attack to give providers greater security – including an average payment scheme for civil legal aid cases and resuming payments for criminal legal aid cases – and continue to work as quickly as possible to restore our online system.'
