Commons Sense 10 – Holistic Defence and the Courts Backlog

Video
Written By Kirsty Montgomery

Commons hosted international experts, parliamentarians, policy makers and advocates for an informative discussion on how the courts backlog might be tackled through small, practical changes to the criminal legal aid system.

Under the holistic defence model, pioneered by the Bronx Defenders Service in New York and developed by Commons in London, defendants receive not only legal aid advice from a qualified lawyer, but also specialist support on issues such as mental health, substance abuse and housing. Evaluations have found that holistic defence results in more efficient court cases, and reduced prosecutions, imprisonment and reoffending.

This event foreshadowed the Second Reading in the House of Commons of the Courts and Tribunals Bill and attendees heard from:

  • Andy Slaughter MP, Chair of the House of Commons Justice Select Committee

  • Juval O. Scott, Executive Director of New York’s Bronx Defenders Service

  • Sashy Nathan, Co-founder of Commons

  • Cassia Rowland, Senior Researcher, Institute for Government

Kirsty Montgomery

Hi, I’m Kirsty!

The designer behind Kirsty M Design.

I love small businesses and working with business owners to build websites that support their dreams is such an awesome part of my job! Why let the huge faceless corporations have all the fun (and the money)? Your small business can make a huge difference but it needs a smart website to support it.

http://www.kirstym.com
Next

Announcing our new directors!