Comments on: Why we need open courts data – and newspapers need to improve too http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/ A conversation. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:40:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Egrommet http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-195476 Egrommet Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:04:48 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-195476 <a href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/courts-and-tribunals/courts/procedure-rules/criminal/part_16.htm" rel="nofollow">Rule 16 of the Criminal Procedure Rules (2011)</a> Rule 16 of the Criminal Procedure Rules (2011)

]]> By: Egrommet http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-195471 Egrommet Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:00:20 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-195471 A really good place to have a look at the general rules – open data is a long way off yet – is the new Criminal Procedure Rules (2011), which make for a very interesting read. Rule 16 deals with restrictions, and is well worth any blogger, hyperlocal or journalists having a read. The key thing is that there is an explicit presumption in favour of open justice which may play well for those who want to not only record (Rule 16 Section 3) but this may also eventually form part of the leverage required to push the data card. A really good place to have a look at the general rules – open data is a long way off yet – is the new Criminal Procedure Rules (2011), which make for a very interesting read.

Rule 16 deals with restrictions, and is well worth any blogger, hyperlocal or journalists having a read.

The key thing is that there is an explicit presumption in favour of open justice which may play well for those who want to not only record (Rule 16 Section 3) but this may also eventually form part of the leverage required to push the data card.

]]> By: Sentencing data update: Manchester Evening News make another splash | Online Journalism Blog http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-195199 Sentencing data update: Manchester Evening News make another splash | Online Journalism Blog Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:51:15 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-195199 [...] I wrote about the need for more data journalism around sentencing in August, the Manchester Evening News have been beavering away keeping track of riot sentencing data on [...] [...] I wrote about the need for more data journalism around sentencing in August, the Manchester Evening News have been beavering away keeping track of riot sentencing data on [...]

]]> By: How I use social bookmarking for journalism | Online Journalism Blog http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-163273 How I use social bookmarking for journalism | Online Journalism Blog Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:05:45 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-163273 [...] Here’s a post I wrote about how sentencing decisions were being covered around the UK riots. The ‘lead’ came through a social network, but if I was to write a post that was informed by more than what I could remember about sentencing, I needed some help. [...] [...] Here’s a post I wrote about how sentencing decisions were being covered around the UK riots. The ‘lead’ came through a social network, but if I was to write a post that was informed by more than what I could remember about sentencing, I needed some help. [...]

]]> By: Why investigate sentencing? | Help Me Investigate Sentencing http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-106871 Why investigate sentencing? | Help Me Investigate Sentencing Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:46:58 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-106871 [...] a blog post I wrote about why we need data about sentencing in both magistrates and Crown Court – and in better form fro.... This website aims to break down that challenge into manageable chunks – see the [...] [...] a blog post I wrote about why we need data about sentencing in both magistrates and Crown Court – and in better form fro…. This website aims to break down that challenge into manageable chunks – see the [...]

]]> By: Media law mop up: Social media copyright wars; riot reporting; PCC’s future | media law & ethics http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-106804 Media law mop up: Social media copyright wars; riot reporting; PCC’s future | media law & ethics Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:35:10 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-106804 [...] OJB>> Why we need open courts data – and newspapers need to improve too [...] [...] OJB>> Why we need open courts data – and newspapers need to improve too [...]

]]> By: Paul Bradshaw http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-105651 Paul Bradshaw Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:13:46 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-105651 Yes, I didn't mention that issue, largely because the post was about sentencing data without the names of offenders (if we can redact council spending, it's even easier to redact sentencing data). That said, once we get past the principle of data rights we can move on to the practicalities of spent convictions etc. (There's also a broader issue of employers googling applicants, which I understand is not, strictly speaking, allowed - and beyond that there's the move at EU level towards a 'right to be forgotten', either of which may have implications here). The conditions mentioned in Judith's comment below are interesting on that front - not sure how well the newspapers tend old court reports on their websites. Yes, I didn’t mention that issue, largely because the post was about sentencing data without the names of offenders (if we can redact council spending, it’s even easier to redact sentencing data).

That said, once we get past the principle of data rights we can move on to the practicalities of spent convictions etc. (There’s also a broader issue of employers googling applicants, which I understand is not, strictly speaking, allowed – and beyond that there’s the move at EU level towards a ‘right to be forgotten’, either of which may have implications here). The conditions mentioned in Judith’s comment below are interesting on that front – not sure how well the newspapers tend old court reports on their websites.

]]> By: Paul Bradshaw http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-104452 Paul Bradshaw Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:51:17 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-104452 Really useful - thanks. The need for accreditation is notable - would they turn down a blogging lawyer without a press card? Personal data seems to be at the heart of this, and yet the names are the least important - surely they could publish depersonalised data and make it available for longer? Really useful – thanks. The need for accreditation is notable – would they turn down a blogging lawyer without a press card?
Personal data seems to be at the heart of this, and yet the names are the least important – surely they could publish depersonalised data and make it available for longer?

]]> By: JTownend http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-104038 JTownend Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:22:02 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-104038 Thanks Paul. Yesterday I stumbled across this FoI (the MoJ is now publishing more responses on its site) about accessing Magistrate court listings http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/foi-releases/70202.doc It includes a link to this doc http://www.societyofeditors.co.uk/userfiles/file/Press%20Protocol%20for%20E%20News(2).doc which contains detail about the protocol for sharing court registers and court lists with local newspapers - as agreed between HMCS (as it was then; now HMCTS), the Society of Editors and Newspaper Society HMCS agrees to send listings by email or provide a hard copy (not disc) to journalists. It includes, among others, these two points: HMCS will: "take steps to satisfy themselves that they are providing information to a genuine journalist or agent. (Paper copies must be collected in person by a representative from the newspaper who must produce ID such as a UK Press Card Authority or a letter from the editor authorising collection, together with suitable ID. The package must be signed for and a record kept of the collection.)" "reserve the right to refuse to disclose data if there is a concern about how that information will be used (e.g. sold to a third party, used to create internet lists of sex offenders etc)" On the other hand, newspapers must, among other points: "destroy the data supplied within 6 months or other appropriate longer period, if recommended by their legal advisers or insurers. (Although they can retain details of individual cases for journalistic purposes)." "shred printed copies of registers." "not pass the information contained in court registers to third parties (i.e. outside the media and its legal advisers, for reasons unconnected with journalism)." Thanks Paul.

Yesterday I stumbled across this FoI (the MoJ is now publishing more responses on its site) about accessing Magistrate court listings

http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/foi-releases/70202.doc

It includes a link to this doc http://www.societyofeditors.co.uk/userfiles/file/Press%20Protocol%20for%20E%20News(2).doc
which contains detail about the protocol for sharing court registers and court lists with local newspapers – as agreed between HMCS (as it was then; now HMCTS), the Society of Editors and Newspaper Society

HMCS agrees to send listings by email or provide a hard copy (not disc) to journalists. It includes, among others, these two points:

HMCS will:

“take steps to satisfy themselves that they are providing information to a genuine journalist or agent. (Paper copies must be collected in person by a representative from the newspaper who must produce ID such as a UK Press Card Authority or a letter from the editor authorising collection, together with suitable ID. The package must be signed for and a record kept of the collection.)”

“reserve the right to refuse to disclose data if there is a concern about how that information will be used (e.g. sold to a third party, used to create internet lists of sex offenders etc)”

On the other hand, newspapers must, among other points:

“destroy the data supplied within 6 months or other appropriate longer period, if recommended by their legal advisers or insurers. (Although they can retain details of individual cases for journalistic purposes).”

“shred printed copies of registers.”

“not pass the information contained in court registers to third parties (i.e. outside the media and its legal advisers, for reasons unconnected with journalism).”

]]> By: Aiuti umanitari, Nuova Zelanda, open data e trasparenza: conti e racconti « Webcartografie http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/08/12/why-we-need-open-courts-data-and-newspapers-need-to-improve-too/#comment-103311 Aiuti umanitari, Nuova Zelanda, open data e trasparenza: conti e racconti « Webcartografie Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:03:54 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=15058#comment-103311 [...] City University: sul suo blog ricorda gli avvenimenti degli ultimi giorni nella capitale inglese. E pensa che avere i dati dai tribunali in modo tempestivo aiuterebbe le cronache, anche in seguito alla [...] [...] City University: sul suo blog ricorda gli avvenimenti degli ultimi giorni nella capitale inglese. E pensa che avere i dati dai tribunali in modo tempestivo aiuterebbe le cronache, anche in seguito alla [...]

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