Open Justice for All

Equal Access. Fair Treatment. No Exceptions.

The UK criminal justice system is meant to serve all victims - not just those who can afford it. But right now, the reality is very different.

Too many victims of sexual violence are left in the dark about what happened in court. Some are misadvised by police or barristers to stay out of the court room after giving evidence, others are told they must pay hundreds or even thousands of pounds for court transcripts if they want to read exactly what was said about their case. For those already navigating the trauma of an assault and the stress of legal proceedings, these barriers can cause further harm and rob them of closure.

This inequality is unacceptable - and it’s why the Open Justice for All campaign is demanding change.

Sentencing Remarks Pilot – Now Permanent

One important step forward has already been achieved. The government has made permanent its pilot scheme to provide free sentencing remarks transcripts to victim-survivors of sexual offences.

This means that if your case resulted in a guilty verdict, you can now apply to receive a copy of the judge’s sentencing remarks - free of charge. You can read them in your own time, absorb the words without the pressure of the courtroom, and gain a better understanding of how the sentence was decided.

They fought hard for this pilot, and they are pleased that it has now been made permanent. It’s a small but significant win for transparency and survivor rights.

How to Apply for Your Free Transcript of sentencing remarks

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a victim of rape or another sexual offence

• The sentencing hearing must have taken place after March 2012

• Know the name of the defendant(s) in the case

• Know the name of the court where sentencing was held

• Know the date of the sentencing hearing

• Provide your own name and contact details

Please note:

• The transcript can only be released with the judge’s approval.

• Certain details may be redacted (for example, personal addresses or information subject to reporting restrictions).

Why This Matters

The right to understand what happened in your own case should not be determined by your bank balance.

For far too long, access to court transcripts has been a privilege of those who can afford to pay - leaving many victims without the information they need to fully process what happened in court. This lack of transparency adds to the emotional toll and can delay healing.

By making sentencing remarks available for free, we’ve taken a step toward fairness. But this is just the beginning. All victims - regardless of the nature of the offence - should have access to the information they need about their case without facing financial or bureaucratic hurdles.

their Goal

They are a collective of victims and allies calling for one simple principle: Equal access to justice for all.

That means:

• Free access to essential court documents for all victims, not just in sexual offence cases.

• Clear, accurate information from police and legal professionals throughout the process.

• A justice system that recognises transparency as a right, not a luxury.

Take Action

Support the call for #OpenJusticeForAll.

• Share this campaign with your networks.

• If you are eligible, apply for your free sentencing remarks and encourage others to do the same.

• Join the conversation online using #OpenJusticeForAll to share your experiences and demand change.