CJI News

CJI Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin has welcomed progress made by the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS), South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) and Belfast Metropolitan College (Belfast Met) to implement recommendations for improvement made following an in-depth review of the operation of prison Care and Supervision Units (CSUs).

A new report by CJI has examined the way criminal justice organisations support vulnerable older people who had a fear of crime or who were victims of crime.

CJI has released the terms of reference for a new Review looking at the effectiveness of the implementation of Part 1 of the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (the Act).

CJI plans to integrate IRPs into Northern Ireland's prison inspection process to offer swifter assurance of progress against inspection concerns and a more adaptable approach to prison assessment.
 

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) has today (25 July 2023) published its Business Plan 2023-24 and Corporate Plan 2023-26. 

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) has today (7 July 2023) published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2022-23. 
 
The report, which was approved by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the Northern Ireland Audit Office, shows the work undertaken by the Inspectorate during the last financial year.

A joint pilot inspection of Child Protection Arrangements in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (the Southern Trust) area has looked at how justice, health and social care and education organisations work together to protect children where there are concerns about risk of harm.
 

Inspectors have called for urgent action to be taken by the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) to address issued affecting outcomes for prisoners at Maghaberry Prison.

CJI Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin has called for a ‘fundamental reset’ within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Police Service) and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS) to improve their file quality and speed of case progression.

An independent review of the operation and management of Community Restorative Justice Ireland (CRJI) has made recommendations to improve oversight, corporate governance, record keeping and communication with partner organisations from the criminal justice system.
 

Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI) has today published the Terms of Reference for its Inspection for the Youth Justice Agency’s (YJA’s) community-based interventions with children in Northern Ireland. 
 

A Review looking at how Probation Board approved premises contribute to resettlement, rehabilitation and public protection in Northern Ireland has highlighted the vital role they play in supporting men and women who need additional supervision to manage their risk of reoffending after release from prison.
 

CJI Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin has highlighted the importance of criminal justice organisations having effective leadership development and wellbeing strategies in its latest inspection report.
 

CJI has published terms of reference for a new inspection looking at Forensic Services in the Northern Ireland criminal justice system.
 

CJI is seeking to recruit a talented and highly motivated individual with experience in digital communication and business to join our professional and successful team.

CJI Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin has called for called for consultation to be undertaken on legislative reform to improve the bail and remand system in Northern Ireland.
 

The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice Jacqui Durkin has today published terms of reference for a review of Community Restorative Justice Ireland and its accredited schemes.
 

CJI has today welcomed Dr Claire Feehan to its Inspection Team.  
 

CJI has published terms of reference for a new inspection looking at the criminal justice system's appraoch to vulnerable older people.
 

A new inspection by CJI of Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre (Woodlands JJC) has praised the high standards of care and child-centred focus staff provided to children.
 

CJI working in partnership with Inspectors from the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) have today published terms of reference for a pilot joint inspection of child protection arrangements in Northern Ireland.
 

CJI wishes to acknowledge the sad loss and express our condolences to the Royal Family on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
 

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) has today (8 July 2022) published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2021-22.

An inspection on how the Legal Services Agency in Northern Ireland (LSANI) is using its IT system to process legal aid payments to solicitors and barristers has identified improvements in its efficiency and effectiveness.
 

The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, Jacqui Durkin’s current term of office has been extended for a further two years.  The announcement was made by the Minister of Justice Naomi Long MLA earlier today.
 

Inspectors are to undertake a thematic review of how effectively approved premises contribute to resettlement, rehabilitation and public protection outcomes in Northern Ireland.
 

CJI’s Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin and Chief Executive James Corrigan have published the Inspectorate’s annual Business Plan and Inspection Programme for 2022-23 – the last in the current three-year Corporate Planning period.
 

A new report looking at the detention of persons in the custody of the court in Northern Ireland has found the quality of court custody areas in some courthouses are not fit for purpose.

Leadership and staff at Magilligan Prison have been commended by Inspectors for their efforts to successfully protect prisoners and colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining a regime where time out of cell for prisoners was retained for much of the day.

The UK National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has today published its 12^th Annual Report for 2020-21.  The report details the work carried out by CJI and other designated organisations to ensure the rights of those in places of detention such as prison and police custody.  This year’s report focuses on the challenges and impacts of the COVID pandemic on people deprived of their liberty in the UK, as well as on inspection and monitoring bodies.
 
Follow the link to the UK National Preventive Mechanism 2020-21 Annual Report to find out more.

An independent Review of Care and Supervision Units (CSUs) in Northern Ireland’s prisons urges improvements to meet United Nations Standard Minimum Rules (known as the Mandela Rules) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons Expectations, to provide assurance and deliver better prisoner outcomes.

Inspectors are to undertake an announced inspection of Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre (JJC/Centre) - Northern Ireland’s custodial facility for children - as part of its regular programme of inspections of places of detention.  
 

CJI Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin has urged criminal justice organisations to take account of the specific issues and sensitivities affecting women and girls under 18 years when dealing with females who are suspected or convicted of committing a criminal offence.

Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin has welcomed the work of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service’s Fine Collection and Enforcement Service (FCS) to reduce the level of outstanding fines and monetary penalties.
 

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) has today (7 July 2021) published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2020-21
 

Inspectors are about to commence an Inspection of File Quality, Disclosure and Case Progression and Trial Recovery from the Coronavirus Pandemic.  The terms of reference have been provided to the criminal justice agencies and are available here
 
If you are interested in making you views known to inspectors about this important work please contact the inspection team by email to [email protected].

CJI has published the terms of reference for its thematic inspection of Leadership Development and Well-being support in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.  Initial scoping and research to  inform the inspection has been undertaken and fieldwork is now underway.

CJI’s Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin and Chief Executive James Corrigan have published the Inspectorate’s annual Business Plan and Inspection Programme for 2021-22.

CJI Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin has urged criminal justice organisations to focus on taking forward all outstanding inspection recommendations following the publication of the No Excuse domestic violence and abuse inspection Follow-up Review.