Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
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Summary
The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 made a series of changes to criminal offences, the management of young offenders, court procedure, and judicial review. Part 1 increased sentences for some offences and created new offences — most prominently the offence of disclosing private sexual photographs or films with intent to cause distress ('revenge porn', s.33) and the ill-treatment or wilful neglect offences for care workers and care providers — while Part 3 strengthened the law on juror misconduct, creating offences for jurors who research their case or disclose the jury's deliberations. Part 2 provided for 'secure colleges' for young offenders. Part 4 restricted judicial review, introducing the 'highly likely' test under which permission and relief may be refused where the conduct complained of would not have made a substantial difference, and reforming the costs rules on interveners and cost-capping orders.
Key Points
- 'Revenge porn' — offence of disclosing private sexual photographs or films with intent to cause distress (s.33)
- Ill-treatment or wilful neglect offences for care workers and care providers (ss.20-25)
- Juror offences — researching the case or disclosing the jury's deliberations (Part 3, ss.69-74)
- Secure colleges for the detention of young offenders (Part 2)
- Judicial review reform — the 'highly likely' test (s.84) and cost-capping orders (Part 4)
- Increased maximum sentences for certain driving offences