Understand
Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Naomi Long considers reforming character references in sentencing
Overview
Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long, has launched a public consultation to explore potential reforms regarding the use of character references at sentencing, particularly in cases involving sexual offences. The review follows concerns from victims about inequalities between defendants and complainants, as well as recent controversies surrounding character references provided by high-profile figures for individuals convicted of serious sexual offences.
Key points
- Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched an eight-week public consultation on reforming the use of character references at sentencing.
- The consultation will explore proposals including keeping the current system, requiring references to be made by affidavit under oath, or restricting their mitigating effect.
- Long highlighted concerns regarding potential inequalities between defendants and complainants, particularly in cases of sexual offending.
- Any potential legislative changes will be carefully considered to ensure they do not compromise the right to a fair trial.
- The consultation closes at 17:00 BST on 3 December.