Teachers in Warwickshire are being urged to hold mock trials in class as part of this year’s Inside Justice Week, which runs from 18-25 November. The campaign offers schools the chance to get a unique glimpse at how the criminal justice system works.

Free online resources are available to support teachers, including lesson plans for Personal, Social, Health and Education (PSHE) and Drama, with easy-to-copy activity sheets and a mock trial script. The plans are perfect for Inside Justice Week but have been designed for use at any time in the school year.

Urging schools and teachers to get involved in Inside Justice Week, Liz Stafford, Chair of the Warwickshire Criminal Justice Board said:

“Inside Justice Week is a great opportunity for people to see what goes on behind the scenes of the justice system. For schools, it is the perfect link to the citizenship curriculum, covering topics such as the local police, prisons and crime.

“I hope the week will give young people in particular a clearer understanding of the criminal justice system’s inner workings – for instance, by taking Goldilocks to court using the materials in our free drama pack for schools.”

The aim of this year’s Inside Justice Week is to open up the justice system to the public in order to:

• increase people’s knowledge and understanding of the Criminal Justice System (CJS)
• encourage people to get involved by publicising the range of career and volunteering opportunities available in the CJS
• inform people about the support available should they come into contact with the justice system, either as a victim of crime, witness, juror or as someone accused of a crime.

For further details of activities taking place during Inside Justice Week in Warwickshire, please visit www.cjsonline.gov.uk/lcjb/warwickshire.