Court Transcript Costs

Opened the debate

Sarah Olney raised the issue of court transcript costs, highlighting that many victims are unable to afford them due to high fees. She cited her constituent Juliana Terlizzi's case as an example, where Juliana was raped and faced a £7,500 fee for obtaining a trial transcript. Olney argued that these costs act as barriers to victims' recovery and access to justice. She also noted the delays in court proceedings and the lack of transparency in the system, which further exacerbates the issue. The Justice Committee has recommended steps to improve access to transcripts but the Government has yet to act on this recommendation. She called for the Victims and Prisoners Bill to include provisions allowing victims to request a free transcript.

Government Response

Mike Freer acknowledged the importance of transparency in the justice system but noted that providing transcripts free of charge would have significant financial implications for taxpayers. He explained that transcription companies calculate costs based on various factors and manual processes are currently used to produce transcripts, which can be expensive due to their length. The Minister highlighted existing measures to support victims, such as pre-recording evidence and the end-to-end rape review, but acknowledged concerns about court transcript fees. Freer stated that audio recordings of trials could potentially be made available free of charge for victims and committed to further consideration. He also mentioned ongoing work on improving victims' experiences through the Victims and Prisoners Bill and a call for evidence on open justice.