The Magistrates' Association's Contribution to Justice in England and Wales

• Objectives
• Stakeholders
• Tasks
• Strategy

Key objectives

• Uphold the judicial independence of the lay magistracy as part of the judicial family
• Support magistrates in their essential work
• Provide advice and information to magistrates
• Promote and contribute towards high quality training for magistrates
• Represent views and interests of lay justices
• Promote consistency of approach to sentencing
• Promote respect for human rights and equal treatment
• Provide advice and information about the lay magistracy to the general public

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Key stakeholders

The Judiciary

The Lord Chief Justice
The Deputy Chief Justice
The Senior Presiding Judge
The President of the Family Division
The Senior District Judge
The Judges' Council
Resident Judges
Liaison Judges

Professional bodies

Justices’ Clerks’ Society
Association of District Judges (Civil)
The District Bench ( Magistrates' Courts)
The Council of Circuit Judges

The Government

The Home Office
The Ministry of Justice
Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Education and Skills
Department of Health
Department for Work and Pensions
National Assembly for Wales
The Treasury
Members of Parliament

Agencies in Criminal, Family and Civil Justice

The police
The National Offender Management Service
The Crown Prosecution Service
The Youth Justice Board
CAFCASS
Child Support Agency

The legal profession

Law Society
Bar Council

Voluntary organisations

eg. Victim Support

Others

The print and broadcast media
The general public
Overseas contacts
Local Government Authorities

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Key Tasks

Represent the best interests of the Association's members
Consult fully and frequently with members
Produce training programmes and facilitate and contribute to consultation on Sentencing Guidelines
Research sentencing practice
Establish/improve mechanisms for effective consultation
Establish/improve mechanisms for effective representation
Operate sound financial procedures
Operate and develop our public awareness programme
Operate sound administrative systems
Encourage and promote fair treatment

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Strategy

• Encourage all magistrates to be active members of the Association
• Encourage all magistrates to undertake training to maintain their competence
• Promote a structured approach to sentencing though use of Guidelines
• Support and maintain close working relationships with the higher judiciary at local and national level
• Influence Government by representing magistrates' views
• Make the most effective use of the Association's financial and other resources
• Work with organisations and agencies in criminal and family justice
• Liaise with other relevant bodies and organisations
• Communicate the aims, objectives and work of the Association in a manner which ensures that these are clearly understood

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