SUBJECT: Magistracy Information

To whom it may concern

As part of the Judicial Office’s Outreach Programme I am writing to inform you about the work of Diversity and Community Relations Magistrates (DCRMs) to explain the role of magistrates and demystify the judiciary.

DCRMs are appointed by the Lord Chief Justice following a competitive application process and work closely with Diversity and Community Relations Judges (DCRJs) to speak to the community about the judiciary and the court process.

The role of the DCRM

DCRMs play a crucial role in supporting delivery of the Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (JDIS) and bridging the gap between the magistracy and the community. They also develop and maintain contacts with institutions and under-represented groups to promote the role of the magistracy. Their activities inform and educate people about the role of a magistrate and help bust the myths that prevail. Through these efforts DCRMs work to increase public confidence in the justice system through a more accurate portrayal of how it works.

Every year DCRMs and DCRJs deliver a huge variety of presentations to incredibly diverse groups across England and Wales. We visit schools, colleges, offices, and community, religious and social groups. Our presentations are fun, exciting, thought-provoking, challenging and satisfying as we endeavour to demystify the legal system and educate and interest the wider community in the work of their local court.

Our presentations and talks

Our talks are interactive, informative and entertaining. Our presenters are all experienced Justices of the Peace (JPs) with excellent presentation skills. We can tailor our talks to your needs using our specially designed multi-media resources.

The dual aims of our talks are to engage with the wider community through outreach work (schools, universities, business, community groups, faith groups, wider civil society) to dispel the myths that surround the judiciary giving people a more accurate understanding of the role of the magistrate and the justice system and to encourage people to consider becoming magistrates.

A typical interactive talk lasts around an hour but can be adapted to your requirements and time constraints and can include:

• Interactive Quiz • Brief History of the Magistracy • Becoming a magistrate and application process • Diversity and Inclusion • How we work • Inside the Court (short video presentation) • Sentencing (short video presentation) • Types of Court • Case studies for Group Discussion • Q & As

Advantages of employing magistrates

Magistrates are required to sit a minimum of 26 half days (13 full days) a year. Employers are obliged by law to allow time off work for magistrates to perform their duties, but it is at their discretion whether this is paid or unpaid leave. Many supportive employers allow magistrates leave for their public duties in addition to their normal holiday entitlement.

There are many benefits to employers supporting their staff to be magistrates. In doing so they both give back to the community in a valuable way and invest in staff development. Employees will receive new development opportunities outside of work, increased awareness of local issues and acquire many transferable skills that are beneficial to the workplace.

During their service and training, magistrates develop transferable skills in many areas essential to both personal and professional development, including but not limited to: • Critical analysis • Decision-making • Giving and receiving constructive feedback • Conflict resolution • Teamwork • Communication • Time management

If you would like to find out more about DCRM presentations for your company or organisation, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Siobhan Draper JP Diversity and Community Relations Magistrate (DCRM) for South East Region