CENTRE FOR SOCIO-LEGAL STUDIES & FEDERAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON PROPOSED MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT (ACJA) 2015 AND ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAWS OF THE VARIOUS STATES

PROPOSED MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

•	Category A
•	Abolition of Lay Prosecution
•	Professional bondsperson
•	Day to day trial
•	Intervals of adjournment
•	Timelines to commence and complete trial
•	Compensation to victims of crime
•	Electronic record of court proceedings.
•	Misconduct proceedings for violating the Act or Law
•	Availability of up-to-date statistics on arrests, trials, judgements including non-custodial sentences. 
•	Engagement with Civil Society and the general public engendering public support for law enforcement agencies.

•	Category B
•	Deployment of the Criminal Records Registry in the State and Central Criminal Records Registry at the Federal level. 
•	Dispensation to Appellate Judge to complete part-heard trial
•	Timeline for issuance of legal advice
•	Witness protection
•	Sentencing guidelines
•	Seizure and forfeiture of proceeds of crime
•	Exercise of the powers of the head of court to make supplementary rules
•	Returns by Comptroller-General/ Controller of Correctional Services
•	Standard template on plea bargain agreement
•	 Assignment of cases within fifteen (15) working days of filing. (or within the time frame stipulated by the State law)
•	Issuance of notice of trial within ten (10) days (or within the time frame stipulated by the State law).

•	Category C
•	Arrest protocols
•	Search by same sex
•	Mandatory record of arrest
•	Prohibition of Arrest by Proxy/arrest in lieu 
•	Availability of Statistics of Arrests in the state
•	Monthly reports of arrest by police to supervising magistrates
•	Mandatory inventory of property
•	Availability of video recording facilities for recording of interrogation processes or the taking of confessional statements
•	Quarterly report of arrests to the AG of states by the commissioner of police.
•	Human rights compliance
•	Women standing as sureties
•	Treatment of children- trial of children 
•	Are there specialized courts e.g. family courts
•	Are children kept in the same Correctional Centres with adults
•	Dissemination of remand protocols and compliance therewith
•	Inspection visits to detention facilities
•	Prohibition of objection during trial
•	Ruling on preliminary objections deferred till judgment 
•	Award of costs against prosecutors and defendants
•	Abolition of stay of proceedings in criminal proceedings
•	Quarterly returns to the Chief Judge
•	Functionality of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC)

•	Category F
•	Practice of holding charge (minus 3 points)
•	Others: