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<p>The Government does not intervene in individual cases, including Single Justice
Procedure (SJP) cases, which are a matter for the independent judiciary.</p><p> </p><p>SJP
is used by a number of approved prosecutors. It is a more proportionate way of dealing
with straightforward, uncontested, summary-only non-imprisonable offences. The prosecuting
body cannot choose this route for any case which falls outside of these criteria.
SJP also cannot be used in cases where a defendant pleads not guilty.</p><p> </p><p>Where
a guilty plea is submitted, defendants are able to enter mitigating circumstances,
if they wish, alongside their guilty plea, to be considered by the magistrate dealing
with their case. Cases where defendants have not responded to a notification that
they are being prosecuted may also be dealt with under the SJP.</p><p>For prosecutors,
guilty pleas and any entered mitigation are available on the system for them to review
as soon as the plea is received online, or as soon as scanned into the system if received
by post, however, prosecutors are not required to view this.</p><p> </p><p>Often the
defendants’ circumstances and any potential vulnerability are not known until they
provide their mitigation. Any mitigation provided under SJP is considered by the magistrate
in the same way that it would be in open court. Although prosecutors decide whether
to offer defendants the option of having their case dealt with under the SJP, magistrates
may refer a case to open court if they think that would be more appropriate rather
than continuing under the SJP.</p><p> </p><p>The mitigation provided sometimes suggests
that the prosecution may not be in the public interest; a magistrate can then adjourn
the case and ask the prosecution to review the mitigation. Alternatively, the magistrate
can reduce the penalty imposed and even deal with the case by way of a conditional
or absolute discharge. Guidance for magistrates on mitigating factors is provided
in the sentencing guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>Support channels are also available to
defendants who require clarification of information and processes ranging from web
chat or telephone assistance to more intensive face-to-face assistance.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government keeps all policies under review and listens to feedback from stakeholders
on how they are working.</p>
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