The public has until Thursday 21 November to take part in the public consultation on criminal legal aid.
The consultation, which began on 23 September, has received 156 responses so far.
The purpose of the consultation is to seek people’s views on the current criminal legal aid provision in the Isle of Man, and explore the feasibility of alternative approaches in the future.
The consultation forms part of a wider legal aid review project, which is being carried out in two parts, to reflect both types of legal aid in the Island (criminal and civil). A consultation on civil legal aid will be launched later in the year.
The aim of the legal aid review is to develop policy options for the sustainable provision of legal aid on the Island, which:
- maintain or improve access to justice
- support the delivery of quality services
- provide value for money for the taxpayer
Following the completion of both the criminal and civil consultations, policy options will be submitted to the Legal Aid Committee. The committee’s remit includes the determination of legal aid policy in the Isle of Man.
The criminal legal aid consultation is available online through the Isle of Man Government’s Consultation Hub. Paper copies of the consultation are available from the Attorney General’s Chambers on request by calling +44 1624 685452 or emailing attgen@gov.im.
