Jazmine meets with new Attorney General to discuss criminal justice and victim reform

Jazmine (not her real name), her family and Dr Charlotte Proudman met with the newly appointed Attorney General Ellie Reeves to discuss improving the criminal justice system for survivors of sexual violence.

Following Jazmine’s rape case, we discussed the urgent need for victims to have a greater voice and their own representation in the justice system.

Three boys were convicted of 17 sexual offences against Jazmine and another teenage girl; they were told by HHJ Rowland, “none of you needs to go to prison today”. Proudmans represented Jazmine throughout the appeal process and the Court of Appeal held the sentence was "unduly lenient”. Two of the boys convicted of rape were sent to detention and all three boys were made subject to a lifelong restraining order.

Following the appeal, Lady Chief Justice Carr issues a special judgment on the “administration of justice”, criticising the Criminal Prosecution Service and the Attorney General’s Office for “inaccuracies” surrounding the use of a knife.

Jazmine and her family believed this deflected from the harm caused by HHJ Rowland.

Notably, no comments were made on lessons for the judiciary in responding to and sentencing sexual violence, despite HHJ Rowland’s sentencing being found to be “unduly lenient”. 

The three boys are appealing their convictions, and the Court of Appeal has directed the Criminal Cases Review Commission to investigate. 

Dr Charlotte Proudman and Jazmine's parents outside the Ministry of Justice building.

Jazmine’s experience highlights the urgent need for judicial accountability and sentencing reform for sexual violence cases and we are grateful to the Attorney General for meeting with Jazmine and her family to discuss these issues.

The Attorney General has dedicated her career to tackling violence against women and girls and the justice system’s response to this violence.

She previously co-wrote Labour’s Green Paper for halving violence against women and girls and led the expansion of the Early Victims’ Right to Review scheme, allowing rape and sexual assault victims to have a decision to drop their case independently reviewed.

Whilst lead for Law Officers overseeing the CPS, the Attorney General pushed for a more victim-focused approach to rape and sexual violence prosecutions.

We are beyond delighted that Reeves is the new Attorney General. This is a very positive step forward for victims and we look forward to working with her.

Jazmine and her family have established a foundation, Stronger than Silence, dedicated to supporting other survivors and advocating for criminal justice reform. 

Dr Charlotte Proudman founded Proudmans, a trauma-informed specialist law firm, to represent survivors of abuse. We support survivors of rape and sexual abuse who report to the police and go through criminal trials with unfaltering advocacy.