criminal justice reform

DBRANLU Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Devinder Singh addressed the International Association of Forensic Sciences in Bulgaria. He presented on India's Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022, highlighting its modernization of forensic investigation with advanced biometrics. Prof. Singh emphasized aligning technology with constitutional safeguards for a robust justice system. Check details here.

Justice Secretary David Lammy unveiled plans to cut youth custody by 25%, inspired by his own experiences growing up in Tottenham. The reforms aim to reduce pre-trial detentions, introduce youth intervention courts, and enhance parental accountability. These measures seek to divert children from crime and prevent future offending by offering community sentences and specialized support.

The Calcutta High Court delivered a surprising ruling, lessening a man’s three-year sentence for the assault of an elderly farmer, which took place in 2005. With the court recognizing that years have gone by and the offender had no prior criminal background, they chose to reduce the penalty.

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) on Friday presented the first report on its "Brazil Against Organised Crime" plan, outlining expanded federal measures aimed at combating criminal factions and strengthening security infrastructure across the country. The initiative seeks to tackle organised crime through coordinated action in policing, intelligence sharing, and prison security reforms.

Adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution Declaration To Ease Court Burden

A shocking rape case in Hampshire has ignited a major law-and-order debate in Britain. Teenage boys convicted of attacking young girls received Youth Rehabilitation Orders instead of prison sentences. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for an urgent review of the sentences. The case raises serious questions about youth sentencing and the justice system's treatment of victims.

The Delhi High Court has sentenced YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja to six months' simple imprisonment in criminal contempt proceedings after holding that he continued to scandalise the judiciary and showed no remorse for his conduct.

Nearly 60,000 arrest warrants were issued in England and Wales last year for defendants skipping court, a 50% surge since 2020. Over 30,000 warrants remain outstanding, some for over six years, including serious offenses like rape. Former justice secretary calls it a 'horror show' due to systemic failures and backlogs.

Japan is reforming its challenging retrial system, often called the "unopenable door." Policymakers have approved a plan to limit prosecutors' power to block retrials for those wrongly convicted. This move follows the case of Iwao Hakamada, who spent decades on death row.

Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton have stepped out publicly as a couple, attending a Broadway show in New York City hand-in-hand. This rare public appearance follows their private global dates and highlights Kardashian's involvement as a producer for the play, aligning with her criminal justice reform advocacy. The duo, long-time friends, were also seen interacting inside the theatre.

A pregnant 15-yr-old’s ordeal again underscored the conceptual flaw in our abortion law. MTP law, despite amendments, makes terminating pregnancy an arbitrary process. Everyone has a say, except the woman

Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal revealed that approximately 5 crore cases are pending across Indian courts, with older cases being prioritized. He highlighted alternative dispute resolution methods and assured advocates that their demands for CAT and NGT wings in Jharkhand would be considered. The minister also reiterated the government's commitment to 50% women's reservation in legislative bodies.

The Supreme Court has set a number of new guidelines that must be followed in all cases where a person could get the death penalty

A stark report reveals Black children in England and Wales are nearly eight times more likely to be strip-searched than white peers, with many searches yielding no evidence. This raises serious questions about proportionality and safeguarding, especially after cases like Child Q. Experts and campaigners are demanding urgent reforms to ensure accountability and prevent lasting harm to young people.

Jan Vishwas Act, 2026 — passed by Lok Sabha on April 1 — takes forward the project of purging the law book of excessive criminalisation. Penalties, administrative sanctions, warnings are to replace violations that earlier attracted criminal charges and jail time. Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy breaks down what has changed and what needs to be done

India is shifting towards trust-based governance with the Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026, decriminalizing over 700 provisions across 80 Acts. This move aims to ease doing business and reduce court burdens by replacing imprisonment for minor offenses with monetary penalties and warnings. While promoting compliance, concerns remain about deterrence in critical sectors like public health and safety.

AP high court chief justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose on Friday lamented that our system is principally punishing the criminals among the lower class and that the white collar criminals are seldom punished.

India's constitutional journey towards a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is highlighted, tracing its origins in the Constituent Assembly and the ongoing debate. Recent state-level UCC implementations in Gujarat and Uttarakhand are noted as significant steps.

The government is thinking of implementing the Justice Malimath Committee report on reforms in the criminal justice system.

President Barack Obama on Saturday called for a meaningful reform of the criminal justice system in the US which "remains unfair" while citing that there are currently 2.2 million people behind bars in America compared to the 500,000 thirty years ago.