Building Trust and Confidence in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

The criminal justice system aspires to be open, transparent and accountable to the public. Indeed, the courts and the key organisations involved in the criminal justice system in Victoria—including Victoria Police, Victoria Legal Aid and the Office of Public Prosecutions—all recognise that transparency, integrity and accountability are key goals. Accordingly, it might be asked how these values fit with a system that so frequently embraces plea negotiations. This chapter discusses this question and considers how public confidence in the criminal justice system can be developed and maintained. This includes proposing two recommendations for ways to improve understandings of plea negotiations.