Press Release
BACK TO SCHOOL FOR CENTRE LAWYERS
The Community Justice Centre, North Liverpool, is launching a 'lawyer twinning' project with local schools as part of Inside Justice Week (18th 25th November, 2006).
The centre, based in Boundary Street, Kirkdale, will welcome sixth form pupils from Notre Dame Catholic College in Everton, on Friday 24th November, as the first law students to benefit from the project.
The project will see lawyers from the centre's team twinned with local schools in a scheme, which is aimed at helping students with their legal studies.
Lawyers from the centre's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) team and the Legal Advisor to the centre's court will work with pupils on a regular basis to share their experiences of the legal system and provide guidance and support, in schools and at the centre. The students will also take part in a work placement scheme, including a job-shadowing programme. Members of the centre's wider team, such as probation officers and the youth offending team, will also get involved to share their experiences.
Ursula Doyle, leader of the centre's Crown Prosecution Service team said: The centre is the only one of its kind in England and Wales and is pioneering community justice. For many students, this means they have one of the most innovative projects in the legal system on their doorstep, so we want to share our experiences with them and give them the opportunity to learn about how the centre uses a different approach to tackle crime and its causes.
One of the many innovative approaches pioneered by the centre is restorative justice, which brings together victims with offenders, through a method called conferencing. It aims to help offenders explain their actions, understand the harm they have done to their victim and the community, and give them an opportunity to make amends.
At the same time, it offers victims the chance to have their voice heard, so that the offender understands the effect of their actions. The pupils at Notre Dame will learn about this approach to resolving disputes as part of their studies.
During their visit to the centre, pupils will role-play in a mock sentencing event, with the centre's Judge, David Fletcher, to learn about the court process and the benefits of the centre's unique problem solving approach, which aims to help address the causes of offending behaviour.
The centre is the only one of its kind in England and Wales and is a pilot project aimed at bringing justice closer to the community by tackling crimes and anti-social behaviour-type offences that affect the quality of life for residents in the local authority wards of Anfield, County, Everton and Kirkdale. It houses a courtroom with a wide range of community services available to local people, victims and witnesses, as well as offenders.
Inside Justice Week is a weeklong event aimed at giving local people the chance to learn more about the Criminal Justice System in Merseyside and is part of a national programme.