Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act to make certain provision with respect to responsibility for offences and with respect to homicide and ...; to provide for an appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal against a verdict of not guilty on the ground of insanity and to empower that Court to order a new trial; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid or any of them. |
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| Citation | 1966 c 20 (NI) |
| Territorial extent | Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 7 July 1966 |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (c 20) (NI) is an important law passed by the Parliament of Northern Ireland. A "Criminal Justice Act" is a type of law that helps make sure the justice system works fairly. This particular Act was created to update and improve how serious crimes were handled in Northern Ireland.
It brought in new rules about how people are held responsible for their actions if they break the law. It also made changes to how courts deal with very serious cases, like those involving loss of life. The Act also allowed for appeals to a higher court, the Court of Criminal Appeal, if someone was found not guilty because of mental health reasons. This meant the court could review the case and even order a new trial if needed.
This Act was similar to other important laws passed in the United Kingdom, like the Homicide Act 1957 and another Act from 1961, but it was specifically made for Northern Ireland.
What the Act Covered
The Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 had several parts, each dealing with different aspects of the law.
Changes to Legal Processes
Some parts of the Act focused on making sure legal processes were clear and fair. For example, it looked at how appeals were handled, especially when someone was found not guilty due to mental health issues. These sections aimed to ensure that such cases could be properly reviewed by higher courts.
Naming the Act
The Act also included a section that officially gave it its short title: "The Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1966." This is how the law is commonly known and referred to.
See also
- Criminal Justice Act
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