Justice and Jurisdiction

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

In September 2017, the Welsh Government announced a Commission of Justice in Wales, to be led by Lord Thomas of Cwmgeidd. The Commission seeks to examine how the justice system works in, and for, Wales since devolution in 1999, and to investigate the possibility of establishing a Welsh legal jurisdiction. This project seeks to shadow, and contribute, to the work of the Commission. It builds directly upon work led by Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre in relation to the Silk Commission process and the subsequent 2014 and 2017 Wales Acts. The project will consider: how justice is delivered at the "jagged edge", the point at which the non-devolved justice functions interact with the devolved areas of social policy; the challenges associated with devolving matters relating to policing, the courts, probation services, and prisons, as well as the opportunities for developing a justice system attuned to the distinctive needs of Wales; the fiscal implications for the Welsh budget as well as the wider economic implications for Wales.The "jagged edge" is the first strand of the project. Building on Dr Robert Jones' work on the prison service in Wales, the first strand of the project seeks to address the complicated relationship between the non-devolved justice functions and the devolved policies that it underpins. Focus groups will draw together professionals and practitioners to explore the practicalities and opportunities of an independent judicial system for Wales. The second strand of the project looks explore the examples of international best practice and consider how innovative justice models and initiatives could deliver for Wales. This will draw upon research into criminal justice in Scotland, as well as developments in Northern Ireland since 2010.The final strand considers the economic impacts of reform, both in terms of the Welsh Budget and the wider Welsh economy. Drawing on expertise within the Welsh Governance Centre, the team will consider current spending on justice (across the jagged edge), the cost of the current "legal economy" in Wales, and estimate the likely cost of establishing a distinct legal jurisdiction for Wales. This work will be informed by similar studies into Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as other relevant examples.