Jury trials scrapped for crimes with sentences of less than three years

"Jury trials for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years will be scrapped, the justice secretary has announced. The reforms to the justice system include creating "swift courts" under the government's plan to tackle unprecedented delays in the court system. Serious offences including murder, robbery and rape, will still go before a jury. Crucially, volunteer community magistrates, who deal with the majority of all criminal cases, will take on even more work."

"Lammy said the new system would get cases dealt with a fifth faster than jury trials. He added that it was necessary as current projections have Crown Court case loads reaching 100,000 by 2028, from the current backlog of almost 78,000. This means that currently a suspect being charged with an offence today may not reach trial until 2030. Six out of 10 victims of rape are said to be withdrawing from prosecutions because of delays."

Jury trials for offences likely to attract sentences under three years will be removed and replaced with 'swift courts' and greater reliance on volunteer community magistrates. Murder, robbery and rape will continue to be heard by juries. A prior proposal to limit jury trials to offences under five years was scaled back. The new system is expected to process cases about a fifth faster than jury trials. Crown Court caseloads are projected to reach 100,000 by 2028 from a backlog near 78,000, potentially delaying some trials until 2030. About six in ten rape victims are withdrawing because of delays. Critics blame Ministry of Justice cuts for the backlog.

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