Developments in the Use of Compensation Orders in Magistrates' Courts Since October 1988

Concern with the needs of victims has come to occupy an increasingly important place in the criminal process, and this has led to a series of changes designed to increase the use of compensation orders by the courts. The Criminal Justice Act 1988 for the first time required courts to give reasons when not awarding compensation to victims who suffered loss or personal injury. This report shows how the use of compensation orders has changed, discusses reasons for not awarding compensation and examines the speed and effectiveness of enforcement. It provides a basis for considering what measures might encourage still wider use of compensation orders in appropriate cases.