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2009

16/12/2009
Prison Service must continue to focus on vulnerable prisoners
Dr Michael Maguire has urged the Northern Ireland Prison Service to continue to focus on the needs of vulnerable prisoners in a new report published today by CJI. View Report, View Press Release.
11/12/2009
Peer review of Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
Criminal Justice Inspection has completed a peer review of Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.  The review was carried out by the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice Dr Michael Maguire and Stephen Dolan from CJI’s Inspection Team.
26/11/2009
Positive contribution to community safety made by Community Safety Forum in West Belfast.
The work of the West Belfast Community Safety Forum (WBCSF) has made a positive contribution to the delivery of a safer community according to a new inspection report published by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland. View Report. View Press Release.
11/11/2009
Inspectorates acknowledge progress made by Coroners Service
Criminal Justice Inspection and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Court Administration (HMICA) have welcomed the progress made by the Coroners Service for Northern Ireland (CSNI) to improving the administrative services in place to support bereaved families in their latest inspection review. View Report. View Press Release.
30/10/2009
Police Service praised for progress on scientific services
Criminal Justice Inspection and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary have praised the progress made by the PSNI to improve its Scientific Support Services in their latest joint follow-up review. View review. View Press Release.
15/10/2009
Inspectorate finds community restorative justice scheme suitable to seek Government accreditation
Criminal Justice Inspection has published the findings of its inspection of a community-based restorative justice scheme operating in Newry and South Armagh. View press release. View report
15/09/2009
New HMIC Inspector visits CJI
Mr Bernard Hogan-Howe the new Inspector of Constabulary with responsibility for Northern Ireland has met with CJI’s Chief Inspector Dr Michael Maguire and Deputy Chief Inspector Brendan McGuigan during a visit to Belfast
07/09/2009
Parole Commissioners develop action plan in response to Life Sentenced Prisoners report

The Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland have developed an action plan detailing how they intend to respond to recommendations contained within CJI's inspection report dealing with arrangements for Life Sentenced Prisoners. View action Plan.

To view a copy of CJI's report which was published in April 2009 please visit the Inspection Report area of the website.
21/08/2009
CJI Newsletter August 2009

Criminal Justice Inspection has published the latest edition of its newsletter The Spec. Copies of the August '09 edition can be viewed or downloaded here.

30/07/2009
Inspectorate recognises progress made on volume crime and police bail
A follow-up review published today of an inspection into the handling of volume crime and the use of police bail has welcomed progress made by the PSNI to implement recommendations made by the Inspectorate.  The follow-up review revealed that 90% of the recommendations which were within the PSNI’s ability to deliver had been achieved. View report. View press release.
21/07/2009
Chief Inspectors call for urgent action to improve performance at Maghaberry Prison
The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland and Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales have called for urgent action to be taken to improve performance at Maghaberry Prison.  Dr Michael Maguire and Dame Anne Owers made the call today as the findings of an unannounced inspection of Northern Ireland’s high security prison were published.  View report. View press release.
09/07/2009
CJI publishes report on Forensic Science Northern Ireland
Criminal Justice Inspection has published its latest inspection of Forensic Science Northern Ireland.  The report – which is the third published by CJI on the agency since 2005 recognises the progress made by the organisation to take forward the recommendations made in previous inspection reports.  View report. View press release.
30/06/2009
CJI unveils 2009-12 Corporate Plan and 2009-10 Business Plan
Dr Michael Maguire unveiled CJI’s three year Corporate Plan and Business Plan for 2009-10 before MLAs and stakeholders from across the criminal justice system at a reception held in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings today.  View plan. View speeech.
30/06/2009
Public Prosecution Service follow-up inspection report published
A follow-up inspection of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland has shown that core prosecutorial decision making remains sound and the vast majority of decisions made by the PPS are correct.  The inspection carried out by CJI and Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate examined progress made against the recommendations made by Inspectors from HMCPSI and CJI in their original inspection report published in 2007. View report. View Press Release.
17/06/2009
Report on police custody facilities in Northern Ireland published by CJI
Criminal Justice Inspection has published its first inspection report examining the standards and conditions of police custody arrangements in Northern Ireland.  The report which reviewed practice within the PSNI under the legislative requirements of PACE - the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 and the OPCAT principles found that standards across Northern Ireland’s 21 designated custody suites to be of an acceptable standard. View report. View Press Release.
 
11/06/2009
Inspection of Prison Service Training and Development published by CJI
An inspection report published by CJI has examined the training and development opportunities provided for prison officers within the Northern Ireland Prison Service. The report urges the Prison Service to move towards the provision of developmental training aimed at supporting officers to move away from a turn-key role to that of a role model for prisoners. View Press Release.  View Report
09/06/2009
CJI hosts Heads of Inspectorates Forum at Hillsborough Castle
Criminal Justice Inspection is hosting a meeting of 22 high ranking representatives from inspection and oversight bodies from across the United Kingdom at Hillsborough Castle.
19/05/2009
CJI attends OPCAT designated bodies launch
Deputy Chief Inspector Brendan McGuigan joined colleagues from across the United Kingdom in London for the formal launch of UK designated bodies for the National Preventative Mechanism (NPM) of OPCAT - the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.
12/05/2009
Greater effort needed to promote equality of opportunity
CJI has called for criminal justice agencies to place a greater emphasis on the promotion of equal opportunities in its latest inspection report.  The report examined the impact of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 which requires public bodies to promote equality of opportunity in carrying out their functions.  View report.  View press release.  To view a copy of the Ministerial Action Plan click here.
29/04/2009
Derry DPP receives Policing with the Community Presentation
Brendan McGuigan, CJI’s Deputy Chief Inspector has met with members of Derry District Policing Partnership to discuss the findings of the recent inspector report on Policing with the Community.
27/04/2009
CJI personnel meet representatives of the Irish Prison Service and Irish Prisons’ Inspectorate
Dr Michael Maguire and Tom McGonigle have attended a meeting with Brian Purcell, Director General of the Irish Prison Service at its headquarters in Longford.  The meeting also enabled them to view the conditions and facilities at Wheatfield prison in west Dublin.  As part of the two-day visit, they also met with Judge Michael Reilly, head of the Irish Prisons Inspectorate in Dublin. The meetings were organised as part of the CJI’s on-going programme of engagement with criminal justice bodies, which assist in increasing understanding and awareness of practice in other jurisdictions within the Inspection Team.
23/04/2009
Review of arrangements for life sentence prisoners published
Criminal Justice Inspection has published its review of transition to community arrangements for life sentenced prisoners.  The review, which was carried out at the request of the Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins MP, examined the risk assessment and management processes in place within the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland.  The review revealed that public protection was paramount in all decision made in relation to life sentence prisoners and that the arrangements in place in Northern Ireland compared favourably with those in other jurisdictions.  During the course of the review, Inspectors identified a number of weaknesses within the existing arrangements that could have a negative impact on the review process.  This would be of particular concern if and when increased numbers of prisoners became subject to oversight by the Parole Commissioners as a result of changes in legislation brought about by the Criminal Justice Order 2008.  The Inspectorate has made a number of recommendations to address these weaknesses and will be returning to revisit the subject in a follow-up review to assess progress in about 18 months time. Click here to view a copy of CJI’s press release or to download an electronic copy of the review.  To view the response of the Northern Ireland Prison Service to the review, please follow this link to their website
 
20/04/2009
Chief Inspector meets Prisons Inspectorate in Scotland
As part of on-going dialogue and engagement with other partner Inspectorates working in the criminal justice field Dr Michael Maguire has met with Andrew McLellan from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland.  He also toured Edinburgh Prison during his one-day visit.
03/04/2009
Inspectorates publish report on Policing with the Community
CJI and HMIC have jointly published their inspection report on Policing with the Community in Northern Ireland.  The inspection report looks at the work carried out by the PSNI in the 10 years since the Patten Report was published to embed policing with the community as the core policing ethos. View Report, View Press Release

 
02/04/2009
CJI senior management participate in Criminal Justice Week
Dr Michael Maguire and Brendan McGuigan attended an event hosted by the Northern Ireland Office at Hillsborough Castle focusing on Engaging with the Community.
31/03/2009
CJI designated as anti- torture oversight body

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland has been designated as one of the bodies to form UK’s National Preventative Mechanism (UK NPM) in accordance with the Operational Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).  As part of the ratification process for OPCAT, the Government has announced CJI will be one of a number of existing inspection bodies directed to carry out a system of regular visits to places of detention in order to prevent the torture and other cruel, in human or degrading treatment or punishment of detained persons.  A written ministerial statement  identifying the bodies selected across the UK to form the UK NPM was presented to Parliament by Michael Wills MP, Minister of State with the Department of Justice today.  Other bodies designated alongside CJI as part of the UK NPM for Northern Ireland include the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB), the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) and the Northern Ireland Policing Board Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (NIPBICVS).  To view a copy of the Ministerial statement click here.

18/03/2009
CJI represented at Butler Trust awards ceremony
Dr Michael Maguire has represented Criminal Justice Inspection at an awards ceremony hosted by the Butler Trust at Buckingham Palace.  The Butler Trust is an independent charity established in 1985 in memory of ‘RAB’ Butler (Lord Butler of Saffron Walden), a reforming Home Secretary, to promote and encourage prison reform and positive regimes in UK prisons.
11/03/2009
Graduates learn about accountability in the criminal justice system
Dr Michael Maguire has today spoken with students of the University of Ulster’s Graduate School of Professional Legal Education at Magee Campus about accountability within the criminal justice system.
06/03/2009
CJI publishes special edition of The Spec
Criminal Justice Inspection has published a special edition of its newsletter dedicated to its 2009 Stakeholder Conference.
02/03/2009
Dr Michael Maguire speaks at Crown Prosecution Service staff conference
CJI’s Chief Inspector provided an insight into the similarities between inspection and management consultancy when he addressed the HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspection staff conference in London.
18/02/2009
Inspectorate attends Policing Board Community Engagement event in Derry
Representatives of CJI attended a community engagement initiative in the Millennium Forum, Londonderry/Derry hosted by the Policing Board to promote the work being carried out by the Inspectorate.
16/02/2009
CJI Inspector participates in joint DPP training event
Rachel Tupling from CJI was one of four speakers to address a DPP training event in Cookstown looking at the issue of anti-social behaviour.
06/02/2009
Chief Inspector addresses Children’s Law Centre AGM
Dr Michael Maguire addressed the Annual General Meeting of the Children’s Law Centre in Belfast.  The Chief Inspector used the meeting to discuss CJI’s proposed inspection agenda with the representatives of the voluntary and community sector who were present.
29/01/2009
Criminal Justice Issues Board meets CJI’s Chief Inspector
The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland has met members of the Criminal Justice Issues Board to as part of CJI’s on-going engagement with representatives of from the criminal justice sector on its future inspection agenda.
22/01/2009
New Inspectors sought to join Inspection Team

CJI has launched a recruitment campaign to identify two talented individuals to join its highly motivated, professional, multi-disciplinary Inspection team.

The successful candidates will be involved in preparing the programme of inspection, leading in the pre-inspection of organisations and will participate in formal inspections in accordance with relevant legislation. 

 
They will also be required to lead in the production of draft inspection reports and make recommendations that will generate performance improvement.  In addition, their role will involve establishing and developing networks and relationships within the criminal justice sector as well as co-ordinating the running of multiple inspections, ensuring that operational and strategic aims are achieved.
 
“As we are preparing a very challenging inspection programme for 2009 that deals with important issues within each of the major justice organisations, we are keen to hear from candidates that have knowledge, skills and experience that will further enhance CJI’s existing inspection team,” said CJI’s Deputy Chief Inspector, Brendan McGuigan.
 
For further information on these positions, interested individuals should contact Claire McKee at Clarendon Executive , 12b Clarendon Road, Clarendon Dock, Belfast, BT1 3BG, [email protected]  or phone 028 90 725750.  Information on theses posts can also be found on the Vacancies page of this website.  The closing date for completed application forms is 5pm on Monday 9th February. 
16/01/2009
CJI prepares for 6th Annual Stakeholder Conference
CJI is currently finalising plans for its 2009 Stakeholder Conference which is due to be held in the La Mon Hotel, Belfast on Tuesday 27 January.  A distinguished panel of speakers are due to participate in the event which will look at the topic ‘Managing criminal justice in a devolved setting: New Opportunities?
15/01/2009
Inspector meets Finnish Forensic Science experts
James Corrigan has met with representatives of the Finnish Forensic Science Service in Helsinki to assess their processes and procedures and the type of service they provide to the criminal justice system in Finland.
14/01/2009
Chief Inspector attends Fermanagh DPP meeting
Dr Michael Maguire sought the views of members of Fermanagh District Policing Partnership on the issues they felt CJI should be addressing during a meeting held at the Pond Park Centre in Lisnaskea.
07/01/2009
Inspector meets DPP members in Dungannon
James Corrigan gave a presentation on the findings of CJI’s Roads Policing inspection report to members of Dungannon and South Tyrone District Policing Partnership during a meeting held at the Council Offices in Dungannon.  The DPP members present at the meeting extended a warm welcome to James and showed great interest in the findings of the report and the implications for Roads Policing in their local area.