Communicourt
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Communicourt is a legal services company, based in Birmingham[1] in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. It provides Non-Registered Intermediaries for defendants in criminal proceedings and respondents in family proceedings in the United Kingdom.
As of April 2022,[2] Communicourt provides legal intermediaries as a Managed and Approved Service Provider (MASP)[3] on behalf of HMCTS.Criminal Practice Directions allow the court the discretion to appoint an intermediary for a vulnerable defendant[4] because the Ministry of Justice does not offer this service.
Prior to April 2022, Communicourt provided its services outside the Witness Intermediary Scheme run by the Ministry of Justice which has not historically provided intermediaries for defendants in court cases.[5][6] Communicourt provides intermediary services for a variety of court users and proceedings, including defendants in criminal proceedings, respondents or other parties in family proceedings, appellants in immigration tribunals, complainants or respondents in employment tribunals, and incarcerated people during parole hearings.
Intermediaries are not appropriate adults or expert witnesses and do not provide legal advice. They facilitate communication between a court user and the court and/or legal professionals. Intermediaries may work alongside other professionals in court such as advocates or interpreters. Court users may additionally be supported by an official solicitor, litigation friend or McKenzie friend.
Communicourt was founded in 2011 by Naomi Mason, who worked as a Registered Intermediary and a Non-Registered Intermediary. The company recruits Speech and language therapists and Psychology graduates with an interest in the legal system, and other graduates with relevant knowledge and experience. Communicourt staff then undergo an extensive Intermediary Training Programme and complete intermediary competencies, alongside ongoing continued professional development (CPD) and professional supervision.
Young male offenders are at high risk for previously undetected oral language deficits, and this risk increases as severity of offending increases.[7] There are many vulnerable defendants that stand trial requiring professional assistance.[8] Communicourt work closely with the defendant, court personnel and counsel during proceedings. As of summer 2023, Communicourt has over 80 full-time intermediaries and an administration team. [9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Communicourt Intermediary Service for Vulnerable Defendants". www.communicourt.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "HMCTS intermediary services". GOV.UK. 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
- ^ "HMCTS managed and approved service providers (MASPs) of intermediary services". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
- ^ Criminal Practice Directions Neutral Citation Number: (2013) EWCA Crim 1631
- ^ Cooper, Penny (13 October 2014). "Highs and Lows: The 4th Intermediary Survey" (PDF). Kingston University: 4, footnote 8.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Family Law Week: Children: Public Law Update (July 2013)". Family Law Week.
- ^ Pamela Snow, Oral Language Competence in Community and Custodial Young Offenders www.asha.org/events/convention/handouts/2010/1130-snow-pamela
- ^ "Dixon v R [2013] EWCA Crim 465 (17 April 2013)". bailii.org.
- ^ "Our people". Communicourt. Retrieved 2023-07-21.