Simplification of Criminal Procedure (including Name Suppression)

Opened 1 Jul 2007

Contact Details

• Andrea King
• AKing@lawcom.govt.nz
• 04 914 4824

Publications to date

22 Dec 2008		Issues Paper
22 Dec 2008		Press Release
16 Nov 2009		Report
16 Nov 2009		Press Release
1 Dec 2009		Legislation

Criminal Law
The Criminal Procedure (Simplification) project is being jointly conducted by the Ministry of Justice and the Law Commission. It has two objectives: to reduce unnecessary court delays, through legislative and operational change; and to create a more accessible and simplified criminal procedure. The project reflects many of the recommendations made in the Law Commission’s 2005 report Pre-Trial Processes: Justice Through Efficiency (NZLC R89). It also incorporates a reference received by the Commission to review the law relating to the suppression of names and evidence. The final product will be major changes to the operation of the criminal courts, supported by a new Criminal Procedure Bill to replace and reform relevant provisions of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, District Courts Act 1947, and Crimes Act 1961. Consultation papers relating to the Project’s key proposals were provided to stakeholders for comment over 2008 and 2009. These are provided under the issues paper tab. In December 2009, a Bill Plan was released for consultation that sets out the key proposals in legislative form. Submissions on the Bill Plan, and its accompanying Commentary, close on 1 March 2010. The Bill Plan and Commentary are provided under the legislation tab. It is anticipated that a bill reflecting the project’s final proposals will be introduced into Parliament in 2010. The consultation papers and Bill Plan have been on the Ministry of Justice’s website since their release last year. They have been posted on the Law Commission’s website to make them easier for visitors to our website to find. Future papers released by the Criminal Procedure (Simplification Project) will also be posted on the Commission’s website.