
Criminal
Justice (Procedures) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-
Adopted
by the States 26 March 2026
Sanctioned
by Order of His Majesty in Council [date to be inserted]
Registered by the Royal Court [date to be inserted]
Coming into force [date to be inserted]
THE STATES, subject to the sanction of His Most
Excellent Majesty in Council, have adopted the following Law –
Part 1
Criminal
Procedure (Jersey) Law 2018
1 Criminal
Procedure (Jersey) Law 2018 amended
This Part amends the Criminal
Procedure (Jersey) Law 2018.
2 Article 1 (interpretation and application) amended
In Article 1(1) –
(a) after the definition
“Magistrate’s Court” there is inserted –
“majority verdict” means a verdict delivered by a jury constituted
in accordance with Article 75(3);
(b) after the definition
“relevant programme” there is inserted –
“reserve juror” means a person selected to serve
on a jury in accordance with Article 66A;
3 Article 19 (summons) amended
(1) For
Article 19(1) there is substituted –
(1) A person who is to be charged with an
offence may be summoned to appear before the Magistrate’s Court at the time and
on the date notified in the summons by –
(a) the
Attorney General; or
(b) with
the Attorney General’s approval, a prosecutor or a Centenier.
(2) Article 19(2) is deleted.
(3) In
Article 19(3) –
(a) for “Such summons shall
contain a statement setting out the following” there is substituted “A summons is
the document that charges the person with an offence and must contain the
following”;
(b) for
sub-paragraph (a) there is substituted –
(a) the
specific offence with which the person is charged including any particulars that
are necessary to provide a reasonable amount of information about the charge;
(c) in sub-paragraph (c),
“to be” is deleted.
4 Article 28 (Magistrate’s directions in respect of cases sent to the Royal Court) amended
In Article 28(1)(a),
for “; or” there is substituted “; and”.
5 Article 31
(Magistrate’s power to rectify mistakes) amended
(1) In
Article 31(1), for “28” there is substituted “56”.
(2) In
Article 31(3), for “28 day period” there is substituted “56-day
period”.
6 Article 64 (jury and panel lists) amended
(1) In
Article 64(1)(a), after “to compile” there is inserted “, or have
access to,”.
(2) In
Article 64(1)(b), after “compilation of” there is inserted “, or
access to,”.
7 Article 66
(selection of persons for jury service) amended
Article 66(5) to (9) is deleted.
8 Article 66A (selection and discharge
of reserve jurors) inserted
After Article 66 there
is inserted –
66A Selection and discharge of
reserve jurors
(1) This Article applies if a trial is expected
to last for more than 5 days.
(2) Once 12 people have been selected to
serve as jurors and depending on how long the trial is expected to last, the
Judicial Greffier must, subject to
Articles 66(4) and 68, read out from the panel list the names of up to 4 additional
people (the “reserve jurors”) in the order in which their names appear on the
list.
(3) If the trial is expected to last –
(a) not
more than 30 days, 2 reserve jurors must be selected; or
(b) more
than 30 days, 4 reserve jurors must be selected.
(4) A reserve juror must be called to serve on
the jury if the
number of jurors is reduced at any time up to the point that the Bailiff
concludes their summing up of the case.
(5) The Bailiff may discharge a reserve juror
from jury service –
(a) if they have not been required
to serve on the jury immediately before the start of the Bailiff’s summing up
of the case; or
(b) at
any earlier point during the trial if the Bailiff considers that, in the case
of a trial that is expected to last more than 6 weeks, there need only be
2 reserve jurors.
(6) The Bailiff must discharge a reserve juror
from jury service if they have not been required to serve on the jury when the
jury retires to deliberate its verdict.
(7) The selection of a reserve juror may be
challenged in accordance with Article 69.
9 Article 70 (swearing
of jurors) amended
In Article 70(1), for
“Article 66” there is substituted “Articles 66
and 66A”.
10 Article 75
(verdicts) amended
(1) In Article 75(1),
for “the proceedings shall” there is substituted “the trial must”.
(2) After Article 75(2) there is inserted –
(2A) The Bailiff must allow a reasonable period to elapse before
directing that the jury may deliver a majority verdict.
(2B) In determining the reasonable period to allow, the Bailiff must
have regard to the nature and complexity of the charge against a defendant but
must, in any event, allow a period of not less than 2 hours to elapse
before directing that the jury may deliver a majority verdict.
(2C) The 2-hour period commences when the jury retires to consider
their verdict.
(3) In Article 75(5),
for “the defendant shall stand convicted of the offence and sentenced” there
is substituted “the defendant stands convicted of the offence and must be
sentenced”.
(4) For Article 75(6) there is
substituted –
(5) After Article 75(6) there is
inserted –
(6A) Paragraphs (5) and (6) do not apply if a verdict is delivered
in respect of an alternative or lesser offence to a charge in the indictment,
and the Attorney General has given a notification under Article 75A(5) that there is to be retrial in respect of that
charge.
(6) In Article 75(7), for “shall make”
there is substituted “must make”.
(7) Article 75(8) is deleted.
11 Articles 75A to 75D
(procedures relating to discharge of jury and retrials) inserted
After Article 75 (verdicts) there is inserted –
(a) the Bailiff has directed
that the jury may deliver a majority verdict;
(b) following that direction
the Bailiff, having had regard to the nature and complexity of the charge
against the defendant, has allowed a further reasonable period to elapse; and
(c) following that period, the
jury is still unable to deliver either a unanimous or a majority verdict in respect of –
(i) a charge in the indictment; or
(ii) an alternative or lesser
offence not charged in the indictment.
(2) If
there are no other charges in the indictment, and no alternative or lesser
offences that require the jury’s consideration, the Bailiff must discharge the
jury from the proceedings and from the custody of the Viscount.
(3) If
there are other charges in the indictment, or alternative or lesser offences
that require the jury’s consideration, the Bailiff must discharge the jury only
from their duty to give a verdict in respect of the charge or offence for which
they were unable to deliver a unanimous or majority verdict.
(4) If
paragraph (3) applies, the Bailiff must discharge the jury from the
proceedings and from the custody of the Viscount only when there are no
remaining charges left in the indictment and no alternative or lesser offences that
require the jury’s consideration.
(5) The
Attorney General must, not later than 14 days after the day the jury is
discharged, notify the defendant and the Bailiff whether or
not there is to be a retrial of any charge in the indictment, or any
alternative or lesser offence not charged in the indictment, in respect of
which the jury was unable to deliver a unanimous or majority verdict.
(6) Christmas Day, Good Friday or a public holiday (as specified in the Public
Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Act 2010) is disregarded for the purpose of determining when the 14 days expire.
75B Procedure
following notification of no retrial
(a) discharge the defendant in respect of any charge in the indictment, and of any
alternative or lesser offence not charged in the indictment, for which the jury
was unable to deliver a unanimous or majority verdict; and
(b) declare
the defendant not guilty of that charge or alternative or lesser offence.
(3) A declaration under paragraph (2)(b)
is taken to be a not guilty verdict for the purposes of the
Judicial Greffier’s record under Article 75(7).
75C Procedure
following notification of retrial and procedure on retrial
(1) This
Article applies if, under Article 75A(5), the
Attorney General notifies the defendant and the Bailiff that there is to be a
retrial.
(2) If
there was an alternative or lesser offence to a charge in the indictment in
respect of which the Attorney General has given notice of a retrial under
Article 75A(5), the Bailiff must quash any
verdict delivered in relation to that alternative or lesser offence.
(3) The
Bailiff must order that the case is listed for a directions hearing to be held
not later than 7 days after receipt of the Attorney General’s notification.
(4) Article 75A(6) applies for the purpose of determining when the
7 days expire.
75D Procedure if jury unable to deliver verdict
on retrial
(1) This
Article applies if a defendant is retried, and following the end of the reasonable
period allowed by the Bailiff under Article 75A(1)
the jury is unable to deliver either a unanimous or a majority verdict in
respect of –
(a) a
charge in the indictment; or
(b) an
alternative or lesser offence not charged in the indictment.
(a) discharge the defendant in respect of any charge in the indictment, and of any
alternative or lesser offence not charged in the indictment, for which the jury
was unable to deliver a unanimous or majority verdict; and
(b) declare
the defendant not guilty of that charge or alternative or lesser offence.
(3) A
declaration under paragraph (2)(b) is taken to be a not guilty verdict for
the purposes of the Judicial Greffier’s record under
Article 75(7).
12 Article 83 (duty
to give defence case statement) amended
(1) For
Article 83(5) there is substituted –
(5) Paragraph (5A)
applies if the court has not, under paragraph (3), dispensed with the
requirement to give a defence case statement, and it appears to the Magistrate
or Bailiff that –
(a) the
defendant has not given a defence case statement as required under
paragraph (1); or
(b) the
defendant’s defence case statement, although given as required under
paragraph (1), does not comply with paragraph (2).
(5A) The Magistrate or Bailiff may order the
following people to pay the sum of the prosecution’s costs that are
attributable to the defendant’s failure to comply with paragraph (1) or
(2) –
(a) the
defendant’s legal representative; or
(b) the
defendant whether represented or not.
(2) For
Article 83(6) there is substituted –
(6) If the Magistrate or Bailiff makes an order
under paragraph (5A), it must be made as soon as
practicable after the date directed for service of the defence case statement
has expired.
(3) In
Article 83(7), for “paragraph (5) shall” there is substituted
“paragraph (5A) must”.
13 Article 88
(defendant’s duty to attend trial and trial in defendant’s absence) amended
For Article 88(4) there
is substituted –
(4) If a defendant is convicted in their
absence in the Royal Court, the Court must make all reasonable efforts to ensure
that the defendant is present at their sentencing hearing.
14 Article 103
(defendant charged with certain
offences – prohibition of cross-examination by defendant in person) amended
In Article 103(3) –
(a) in sub-paragraph (a),
after “murder;” there is inserted “outraging public decency;”;
(b) in
sub-paragraph (b), after “le droit criminel”
there is inserted “(as in force before 23 November 2018)”;
(c) after sub-paragraph (b)
there is inserted –
(d) for sub-paragraph (c)
there is substituted –
(i) an offence under
Article 2 (indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children); and
(ii) an
offence under Article 2C (making, possessing,
distributing or showing a prohibited image of a child);
(e) in
sub-paragraph (d), after “Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 2007” there is
inserted “(as in force before 23 November 2018)”;
(f) for sub-paragraph (e) there is substituted –
(e) in
the Mental Health Law, an offence under Article 73 (offence of wilful
neglect) and any sexual offence under Articles 74 to 76;
15 Article 115 (Regulations)
amended
After Article 115(2)
there is inserted –
16 Schedule 2 (quashing
of person’s acquittal and retrial) amended
(1) This
Article amends Schedule 2.
(2) In
paragraph 1 (interpretation), after the definition “officer” there is
inserted –
“paragraph 3 application”
means an application to the Court of Appeal under paragraph 3(1) or (2);
(3) In
paragraph 2(1)(d) (cases that may be retried), after “Loi (1864)
Réglant la Procédure Criminelle” there
is inserted “(as in force before 1 October 2021)”.
(4) In
paragraph 3 (application to Court of Appeal), in the heading, after
“Appeal” there is inserted “for order quashing acquittal and retrial or
determination about acquittal outside Jersey”.
(5) After
paragraph 3 there is inserted –
3A Notice of paragraph 3
application, arrest and bail
(1) The Attorney General must give notice to
the Court of Appeal of a paragraph 3 application.
(2) Not later than 7 days after the day on
which notice of the paragraph 3 application is given, the Attorney General
must serve on
the person to whom the application relates –
(a) notice
that the Court of Appeal has been given notice of a paragraph 3
application; and
(b) notice
that the person is charged with the qualifying offence to which the application
relates.
(3) Sub-paragraph (2) applies whether the
person to whom the application relates is in Jersey or elsewhere, but the Court
of Appeal may, on application by the Attorney General, extend the 7-day period
for service of the notice if it considers it necessary to do so because of the person’s
absence from Jersey.
(4) At any time before the Court of Appeal
begins to consider the application, the Royal Court may, on the application of
the Attorney General, issue a warrant for the arrest of the person to whom the paragraph 3
application relates.
(5) A person arrested must be brought before
the Royal Court not later than 48 hours after arrest and the Court must,
pending the person’s appearance before the Court of Appeal for the hearing of a
paragraph 3 application –
(a) remand
the person in custody; or
(b) grant
the person bail.
(6) If
a person arrested is granted bail, the Attorney General must serve that person
with notice to appear before the Court of Appeal at the time and on the date
specified in the notice.
3B Court
of Appeal procedure for paragraph 3 application
(1) The
Court of Appeal must hold a hearing to consider a paragraph 3 application.
(2) A
person to whom a paragraph 3 application relates –
(a) unless
they are in custody elsewhere than in Jersey or excused attendance by the Court
of Appeal, must be present at any hearing under this paragraph even if they are
in custody, subject to sub-paragraph (3); and
(b) is
entitled to be represented at the hearing, whether they are present or not.
(3) If
a person in custody in Jersey refuses to be present at a hearing under this
paragraph (including an adjourned hearing), the Court of Appeal may proceed
with the hearing in the person’s absence.
(4) If
a person granted bail under paragraph 3A(5)(b)
fails without reasonable excuse to attend a hearing under this paragraph, the
Court of Appeal may proceed with the hearing in the person’s absence if the
Court is satisfied that the person was served with notice of the hearing in
accordance with paragraph 3A(6).
(5) The
Court of Appeal may –
(a) at
any adjournment of a hearing under this paragraph grant
the person bail or remand them in custody; or
(b) when
it makes an order under paragraph 4(1)(a) or 4(3)(a), or a declaration
under paragraph 4(4), grant the person bail or remand them in custody
pending –
(i) trial
in the Royal Court; or
(ii) the
determination of an appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council under
paragraph 8.
(6) If a person granted bail
under sub-paragraph (5)(a) fails without reasonable excuse to attend an adjourned hearing,
the Court of Appeal may proceed with
the hearing in the person’s absence.
(7) If the person has no legal
representation, any hearing adjourned under this paragraph must not be for a
period of more than –
(a) 42 days in respect of a
person in custody; and
(b) 60 days in respect of a
person on bail.
(8) For
the purposes of a paragraph 3 application and determination under paragraph 4,
the Court of Appeal may, if it is in the interests of justice to do so –
(a) order
the production of any document, exhibit or other thing, the production of which
appears to the Court to be necessary for the determination of the application;
or
(b) order
to attend for examination before the Court any person who appears to be a
person who could be required to give evidence at a retrial (if ordered) and capable
of assisting the Court’s determination of the application.
(9) The
Court of Appeal may consider more than 1 paragraph 3 application (whether
relating to the same person or not) at the same hearing, but only if the
offences concerned could be charged in the same indictment.
(6) Paragraph 7
(procedure and evidence) is deleted.
(7) In
paragraph 9(5), (6) and (8) (restrictions on
publication in the interests of justice), for “given
under paragraph 7(1)” there is substituted “given under paragraph 3A(1)”.
Part 2
Criminal Procedure (Bail) (Jersey) Law 2017
17 Criminal Procedure (Bail) (Jersey)
Law 2017 amended
This Part amends the Criminal
Procedure (Bail) (Jersey) Law 2017.
18 Article 1
(interpretation) amended
In Article 1(1) –
(a) after
the definition “police officer” there is inserted –
(b) after the definition “prescribed”
there is inserted –
19 Article 6A (Bailiff’s
power to determine bail) inserted
Immediately before Article 7
(duty of court to consider bail and defendant’s general right to bail) there is
inserted –
6A Bailiff’s power to
determine bail
Except for the determination of an appeal to the Royal Court under
Article 16, the Bailiff sitting alone may exercise any duty imposed or
power conferred on the court under this part.
20 Article 17 (court
order for arrest) amended
(1) In
Article 17, in the heading, after “arrest” there is inserted “and
detention”.
(2) For
Article 17(3) there is substituted –
(3) An order under paragraph (1) or (2)
authorises a police officer or the Viscount to arrest and detain the defendant
to whom the order relates –
(a) at
a police station or in prison; and
(b) to
bring the defendant before the court.
(3A) An order authorising detention of a defendant
in prison must comply with Rule 3(2) of the Prison Rules.
(3) In
Article 17(4) –
(a) for “shall” there is substituted “must”;
(b) for “his or her” there is substituted “their”.
21 Article 18 (police
power of arrest)
(1) In
Article 18, in the heading, after “arrest” there is inserted “and
detention”.
(2) After
Article 18(1) there is inserted –
(1A) A defendant arrested under this Article may be
detained at a police station or in prison.
(1B) If a defendant is to be detained in prison, a
police officer must obtain an authorisation that –
(a) complies with
Rule 3(2) of the Prison Rules; and
(b) is signed by the
Magistrate, a Jurat or the Bailiff.
(3) In
Article 18(2) –
(a) for “shall” there is substituted “must”;
(b) for “his or her” there is substituted “their”.
Part 3
Police Procedures and Criminal Evidence (Jersey)
Law 2003
22 Police Procedures and Criminal Evidence
(Jersey) Law 2003 amended
This Part amends the Police
Procedures and Criminal Evidence (Jersey) Law 2003.
23 Article 28A (person may not be detained in
custody without authorisation) amended
For Article 28A(1) there is substituted –
(1) This Article applies to –
(a) a
person arrested on suspicion of having committed an offence; or
(b) a
person who is treated as arrested for an offence under Article 32(6).
24 Articles 31B (grant of bail by Centenier where person is charged with an
offence) and 36 (duties of Centenier after charge) amended
In Articles 31B(2)(a) and 36(2)(b), for “Magistrate’s
Court or Youth Court (as the case may be)” there is substituted “court”.
25 Article 43
(detention after charge) amended
(1) In
Article 43(2), (4), (5) and (6), for “Court” there is substituted “court”.
(2) Article 43(7)
is deleted.
Part 4
Royal
Court (Jersey) Law 1948 Amended and final provision
26 Royal Court (Jersey) Law 1948 amended
(1) This Article amends Article 16 (quorum of the Superior Number) of the Royal Court (Jersey) Law 1948.
(2) In Article 16(1) –
(a) for “Subject to
paragraph (2), the Superior Number of the Royal Court shall” there is
substituted “The Superior Number of the Royal Court must”;
(b) for “5 Jurats” there
is substituted “3 Jurats”.
(3) For Article 16(2) there is
substituted –
27 Citation and commencement
This Law may be cited as the Criminal Justice (Procedures) (Jersey)
Amendment Law 202- and comes into force 7 days
after it is registered.