Working group agrees guidance about emailing clients in criminal proceedings
New guidance on emailing case information to clients has been published (see below).
The document explains key points to bear in mind including:
Guidance for emailing clients during criminal proceedings? was agreed by a working group including members of the:
An issue raised by many defence practitioners is about the storage of information which has been sent by CJSM Secure eMail.
The answer is that there is no restriction on the movement of sensitive personal data from CJSM to case management systems or online storage owned by defence practitioners.
However, defence practitioners who transfer information do need to remember their obligations as data controllers under the Data Protection Act (see below).
A general guidance document called ?Guidelines on Digital Working for Defence Practitioners? has been developed from frequently asked questions. It looks at issues such as Secure eMail, security and working on the move (see below).
The CJS Efficiency Programme has been busy testing digital working in selected courts by looking at:
The courts taking part in the six month trial are Birmingham Magistrates? Court, Chelmsford Combined Court and Croydon Crown Court.
Defence practitioners have asked about taking recording devices into court and draft guidance is now being looked at by the Judicial Office.
Visit the CJS efficiency defence practitioners page to download:
Guidance for Emailing Clients during Criminal Proceedings ? new document
Guidelines on Digital Working for Defence Practitioners ? revised document
Information Commissioner?s Office ? Data protection principles