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Publications

We produce advocacy reports, briefing notes, consultation responses and position statements to support our policy work. Use the search box or filters to find what you're looking for, and drop us a line with any questions.

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  • Adult court matters
  • Wider justice system

Out of Court resolutions (adult)

Our position statement on Out of Court Resolutions (OOCRs) recognises that OOCRs play a useful role in the justice system. They can be valuable for first-time, low-level offences and can reduce unnecessary criminalisation. But their use must not compromise open justice or judicial oversight - complementing, not replacing, the courts.
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  • Wider justice system
  • Youth court matters

Out-of-court resolutions in the youth jurisdiction

The function and use of OOCRs in the youth justice system is different to the adult jurisdiction. Our position statement on Out-of-court resolutions (OOCRs) in the youth jurisdiction explores our members concerns, especially around: consistency of practice, bypassing of judicial oversight, and current transparency practices.
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  • Practicalities of being a magistrate

Local Justice Area consultation outcome

A joint consultation by the Ministry of Justice and Judicial Office on the reform of Local Justice Areas started in early 2025. Following submissions by the MA, our members and branches, benches, and other stakeholders, the government issued its response in March 2026. This briefing summarises the consultation response, proposal by proposal, alongside our recommendations and final decisions.
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  • Addictions and drug issues
  • Adult court matters
  • Victims

Community Sentences

Our position statement on Community Sentences calls for a renewed focus on community sentencing, built on three pillars: Credibility (proper resourcing of probation and timely commencement of orders), Transparency (data-sharing, so magistrates can see outcomes and breaches) and local coherence (clear links between courts, probation, police and local agencies).
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Statement on Interim Magistrates’ Executive Board

The Magistrates' Association and the Magistrates Leadership Executive have issued a joint statement on the Interim Magistrates’ Executive Board.
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  • Wider justice system

Brief for magistrates on Part 2 of the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts

The Magistrates’ Association has put together this briefing for all magistrates, highlighting those recommendations specific to the magistrates’ courts in Part 2 of Sir Brian Leveson's Independent Review of the Criminal Courts.
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  • Adult court matters
  • Family court matters
  • Wider justice system
  • Youth court matters

Criminal Courts Review: further evidence

Further written evidence from the MA to the Commons Justice Committee, following in-person evidence from National Chair David Ford JP on 13 January 2026.
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  • Adult court matters
  • Family court matters
  • Wider justice system
  • Youth court matters

Criminal Courts Review Part 2

This is the Magistrates’ Association's consultation response to Part 2 of the Independent Review of Criminal Courts - on the efficiency of courts. We consulted with our five policy committees, local justice area bench chairs, and family and youth panel chairs - representing significant frontline day-to-day experience. Although the review is only focused on criminal courts, we have also included responses covering family courts, to provide a full picture, and because there are significant similarities in experience between criminal and family jurisdictions.
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Welcome booklet for new Cumbria magistrates

Designed to be accessible for everyone, but especially neurodiverse people, this booklet was created by Cumbria members Lisa and Caroline, working with a neurodiversity charity called Owl Blue, and funded by the MA. It was presented at the 2025 MA Conference in the family courts breakout session.
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  • Adult court matters
  • Family court matters
  • Practicalities of being a magistrate
  • Youth court matters

Safety and security in the magistrates’ courts

In April 2025, we surveyed members to understand their thoughts and experiences relating to their safety and security inside and outside the magistrates’ courts. To our knowledge, this is the first survey of its kind put to the lay judiciary. The report makes for concerning reading and we've made 20 recommendations for change.
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Magistrates’ governance consultation

The MA supports reforming magistrates’ governance to improve transparency, accountability, and representation. In our response, we call for empowered national and regional bodies, advocate elected leadership rooted in magistrate values, and oppose an expansion of the current MLE. Recommendations stress inclusivity, clearer communication, structural coherence, and safeguarding the distinct voice of magistrates.
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  • Wider justice system

Reforms to Local Justice Areas submission

Our response to this consultation reflects extensive engagement with our members across England and Wales, including with our five policy committees and representatives from all 53 local MA branches. Their input has been central to shaping our approach - that the post-LJA magistracy must be local and rooted in place, shaped with magistrates, based on consent and goodwill, and built for the future.
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  • Practicalities of being a magistrate

Magistrates Matter

Magistrates make a massive and vital contribution to the justice system, but don’t always receive the support and recognition they deserve. Our new report 'Magistrates matter – A plan to ensure magistrates are valued, appreciated and recognised' calls for fundamental reform and makes seven recommendations that we believe will better recognise magistrates’ contribution and service.
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  • Adult court matters
  • Family court matters
  • Youth court matters

Reforms to Local Justice Areas position statement

While we support reform that delivers greater efficiency and better outcomes, we are concerned that the proposals in the Local Justice Areas consultation lack a cohesive vision, apply a one-size-fits-all model, and risk weakening the core principles of local justice. We fear they may damage morale and lead to resignations, undermining efforts to grow magistrate numbers and reduce court backlogs.
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  • Adult court matters

Oversight and regulation of private prosecutors

We welcome this consultation’s proposals to make private prosecutors more accountable, and we’re especially pleased with its focus on their use of the Single Justice Procedure (SJP). We have made recommendations in key areas that we believe will improve transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the SJP, as well as in private prosecutors more generally.
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  • Youth court matters

Youth court disparity toolkit

Disproportionality – the situation where a group's representation in a specific area (like the youth justice system) is significantly different from their representation in the overall population – is a policy priority for the MA.

As part of our work in this area, we have published this Youth Court Disparity Toolkit, which has been produced by the MA’s Youth Court Committee in conjunction with key partners.

This toolkit is designed to be a memory aid for youth magistrates to use whilst in court about some of the drivers of disparity. It is not a prescriptive instruction about how you should conduct a hearing, rather a reminder about elements you may wish to consider when making decisions about a child in court.

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Social media guidance for members

The Magistrates’ Association has written this short guide for members who use – or who want to use – social media. It aims to clarify the Judicial Office's updated guidance on using social media, originally issued in October 2024.
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  • Adult court matters
  • Wider justice system
  • Youth court matters

Criminal courts review

The Magistrates’ Association welcomes this critical work to explore options and recommendations for reforming the criminal courts, ensuring cases are handled proportionately and efficiently. This response outlines our recommendations on how magistrates can contribute to court reforms, alleviating the strain on the crown court and ensuring justice is delivered swiftly and fairly to victims, witnesses, and defendants.
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  • Adult court matters
  • Wider justice system

Sentencing review

While we welcome this wide-ranging review, we have also raised some concerns. Our response argues for action in three key areas: the need for more constructive, flexible and creative sentencing options to be available; the capacity of the probation service to support more community-based options; and the availability of short custodial sentences.
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