In 2011, Communicourt began assisting vulnerable defendants in the criminal courts. It was founded by Naomi Mason, who works as a Registered Intermediary and Non-Registered Intermediary. The does not offer a service for defendants, even though there are many vulnerable defendants now standing trial with the professional assistance they require. Young male offenders are at high risk for previously undetected oral language deficits, and this risk seems to increase as severity of offending increases. Communicourt were keen to address this issue and many courts have since recognised the need for to assist vulnerable people during their trial. Criminal Practice Directions allow the court the discretion to appoint an intermediary for a vulnerable defendant. The company serves criminal and family courts across England and Wales, has 16 full-time intermediaries, a small number of freelancers and an admin team. Communicourt is based in Halesowen in the West Midlands.
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