Crown Court victims granted free access to sentencing remarks in ‘victory’ for campaigners
"Today’s announcement is a victory for the brave survivors of the Open Justice For All campaign, and a crucial, welcome step towards real transparency in our courts."
Victims in all Crown Court cases will be entitled to free transcripts of judges’ sentencing remarks under new government measures hailed as a major victory for campaigners.
The Ministry of Justice announced on Monday (19 January) that the move is designed to spare victims the trauma of facing their perpetrators in court while ensuring they can still access the judge’s reasoning for a sentence.
Under current rules, victims typically have to pay a fee of £40 to access a transcript of court proceedings, though costs can rise to hundreds of pounds depending on the length of the remarks. While families of homicide victims and survivors of rape and sexual offences are already exempt from these fees, the new measures extend this right to all victims in Crown Court cases.
The change comes following a successful pilot scheme and the backing of peers in the House of Lords, who voted to amend the ongoing Sentencing Bill to include the provision.
By providing free transcripts, victims who choose not to attend court can still receive clarity on how a sentence was reached, including the judge’s assessment of aggravating and mitigating factors.
If the Sentencing Bill passes into law, the remarks will be made available to victims free of charge within 14 days of a request being received.
The announcement has been welcomed by the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE, who described it as a “victory for the brave survivors of the Open Justice For All campaign.”
Waxman highlighted the work of Charlotte, a survivor, and a group of campaigners who pushed for the change.
“For too long, victims have been left in the dark about what happened in their own cases, facing unnecessary hurdles and unfair costs just to understand how the sentence was reached,” Waxman said. “This barrier has compounded trauma and delayed closure for far too many.”
However, Waxman urged the government to go further, calling for the same access to be extended to Magistrates’ courts and for transcripts of judges’ summing-up in acquittal cases to be made available.
“It is now crucial the Ministry of Justice puts in place the right infrastructure,” Waxman added, “supporting the judiciary by shouldering the administrative burden.”
For too long, victims have been left in the dark about what happened in their own cases, facing unnecessary hurdles and unfair costs just to understand how the sentence was reached. This barrier has compounded trauma and delayed closure for far too many.
It is now crucial the Ministry of Justice puts in place the right infrastructure, supporting the judiciary by shouldering the administrative burden. We must also go further: I want open justice for all victims – including free access to judges’ summing-up in acquittals and an extension to magistrates’ courts – so that every survivor can get the closure they deserve.