GovWire

Four categories of prison law work are being brought into scope on 21 February 2018 through amendments to the 2017 Standard Crime contract.

These are the areas affected:

1. Pre-tariff review hearings and other advice cases for life and other indeterminate sentence prisoners before the Parole Board
2. Category A prisoner reviews
3. Directions as to a prisoners placement in a close supervision centre of a prison
4. Directions as to a prisoners placement in a separation centre within a prison

Details of contract amendments and associated training materials can be found on the Standard Crime Contract 2017 page on GOV.UK.

Updated forms and guidance

The updated forms include the CRM3 application for advocacy assistance and the CRM18a escape case claim form.

There is also an updated version of the Criminal Bills Assessment Manual, as well as the Contracted Work and Administration (CWA) Code Guidance.

Transitional arrangements

We would like the new forms and guidance to be used immediately. But we will continue to accept the previous versions of the CRM3 and CRM18a forms until 31 May 2018.

Further information

Criminal Legal Aid (Amendment) Regulations 2017

Standard Crime Contract 2017 to download overview module of prison law requirements

Legal aid guidance to download criminal bills assessment manual

CRM3 application for advocacy assistance form

CRM18a escape fee case claim form

CWA codes guidance to

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