Last week, the Centre, in collaboration with Commons, hosted a breakfast briefing at the Houses of Parliament titled Fixing the courts backlog – what can we learn from New York’s criminal justice pioneers?
Parliamentarians, policymakers and criminal justice practitioners gathered at the Houses of Parliament last week to discuss how holistic defence approaches could help address the growing courts backlog in England and Wales. The breakfast briefing, hosted by the Centre in collaboration with Commons, explored lessons from New York’s Bronx Defenders pioneering model and how similar approaches might support justice reform in the UK.
The event, titled Fixing the courts backlog – what can we learn from New York’s criminal justice pioneers?, was held in the Churchill Room and chaired by Andy Slaughter MP, Chair of the Justice Select Committee. Speakers examined how holistic defence, combining legal representation with support for issues such as housing, mental health and substance dependency, could improve case progression, reduce repeat offending and ease pressure on the courts.
Juval O. Scott, Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders in New York, reflected on the development of the organisation’s pioneering holistic defence model and the impact it has had on clients and communities. She explained how integrating legal advocacy with social and community support can help address the underlying causes of offending, stabilise individuals’ circumstances and reduce further involvement with the criminal justice system.
Sashy Nathan, co-founder of Commons, outlined how similar principles could be implemented in England and Wales. He described Commons’ model of holistic defence and highlighted proposed amendments to the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 that could incentivise diversionary work and early crisis intervention. Such reforms, he argued, could allow legal practitioners to address the drivers of offending earlier and reduce unnecessary progression through the courts.
Cassia Rowland, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government, provided broader policy context on the challenges facing the justice system. She discussed the scale of the courts backlog and ongoing debates around potential reforms, including proposals relating to jury trials, efficiency measures within the courts, and longer-term organisational changes aimed at improving system performance.
Evidence from the United States and emerging work in the UK suggests that holistic defence can reduce reoffending, lessen the use of custody and improve court efficiency. Participants also noted that a relatively small number of repeat offenders place disproportionate pressure on the justice system. Research indicates that around 30,000–50,000 prolific offenders account for approximately 130,000 offences each year.
The briefing forms part of ongoing discussions on how to address the courts backlog and strengthen the criminal justice system in England and Wales.
Want to know more?
- Justice+: Why England and Wales Need Holistic Defence in the Criminal Justice System.
- Sashy Nathan’s recent article for CCJS on justice reform and the courts crisis.
- Find out more about the Bronx Defenders here.
Photography by Sam Day Thompson
