October - December

An independent inspection report has highlighted the need for greater commitment, ambition and creativity to be applied if current Department of Justice plans to implement 90% of the recommendations of the Youth Justice Review are to be met in 2014.

An independent inspection report published today (5 December 2013) has found the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to be co-operating with the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (OPONI) when required to provide sensitive information for the purpose of investigation.

The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland has called for radical reform of the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission (NILSC) in order to address spiralling legal aid costs and inefficiencies.

A new report by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) has indicated the financial cost borne by criminal justice agencies in Northern Ireland in terms of dealing with the past is estimated to exceed £30m per year.

The use of approved premises to assist offenders to resettle back into society helps reduce the risk of individuals reoffending and strengthens public protection arrangements in Northern Ireland according to a new inspection report published today by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI).

The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland Brendan McGuigan has called for work to be undertaken to fully achieve 12 outstanding inspection recommendations aimed at strengthening how criminal justice agencies handle incidents of domestic violence and abuse.

A follow-up review of how the criminal justice system works to address sexual violence and abuse has found improvements in the working relationship between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

Inspectors have raised significant concerns around the performance of two of Northern Ireland's prison facilities and their ability to deliver positive outcomes for prisoners within their care.