JP's LEGACY C.I.C.

Empowering communities with knowledge of the law, challenging injustice, educating, and raising awareness about joint (criminal) enterprise to build safer, fairer futures for all.

What is

Joint Enterprise?

Joint (criminal) Enterprise, also known as secondary liability, is a legal doctrine where two or more people can be held legally responsible for a crime, even if one person physically committed the act, which can lead to convictions

About Us

JP'S LEGACY C.I.C established in 2023, is a lifeline for individuals, families, parents and carers, navigating the complex justice System, particularly those affected by Joint (criminal) Enterprise.The mission of JPSL is a direct response to a stark injustice, which began when Pearls Loren Wisdom, Visionary, Founder and Director's journey began, when her then, 16 year-old Son was wrongly charged with murder, compelling her to act.She has created a Parents, Families & Carers Support Group, that provides a Safe Haven for those whose children are currently incarcerated, offering them a critical network of support and assistance.We do this through community and youth engagement, visiting schools, colleges, connecting with families to prevent more young people from being caught into the Joint (criminal) Enterprise Dragnet, which destroys not only their lives, but also the lives of their families and loved ones.If you are interested in JPSL sharing their Lived Experiences in your establishment of learning, Youth or Family Hubs, contact us.

How can Joint Enterprise affect you?

Joseph Lappin was a 16-year-old boy from Liverpool. In 2008, he was standing outside a youth club with friends when he was attacked by a group of young people. One of them fatally stabbed him.Although only one person used the knife, all the young people involved in the attack were charged with murder under joint enterprise. The law held them responsible because they were part of the group and were seen as encouraging or supporting the violence.

Why This Matters For You

Some of the teens didn’t know a knife would be used and they didn’t plan to kill anyone. But because they were present and part of the group, they were treated as if they had committed the murder themselves.- Being part of a group that commits a crime can lead to serious consequences, even if you didn’t do the act.- Walking away or speaking up could save a life and your future.- Peer pressure and loyalty can be dangerous when it leads to violence.

The IMPACT

From 2005-2026 over 1,000 young people were convicted under Joint (criminal) Enterprise laws in the UK.According to the latest CPS Joint Enterprise National Monitoring Scheme report (covering April 2024 to March 2025) and associated pilot data, approximately 57% to 60% of joint enterprise laws are from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds.KEY STATISTICS BY GROUP
* Black Defendants: Represent approximately 25% to 30% of joint enterprise caseloads, despite making up only 4% of the general population.
* Ethnic Minority (Total): More than 57% of defendants are from racially minoritised backgrounds.
* Gender: Nearly 93% of all joint enterprise defendants are male.
Age: Young people are heavily over-represented, with 60% of defendants being under the age of 25 and 20%bbeing children (under 18)Prosecution Vs. Conviction disparities
Recent analysis from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and legal organisations like APPEAL show a high degree of disproportionality in how these cases are brought to court (check out APPEAL's website https://appeal.org.uk/)
* LIkelihood of Prosecution: Black individuals are estimated to be 16 times more likely to be prosecuted than their white counterparts.
* Trial Outcomes: In specific study of murder trials, roughly 79% of defendants were from racially monoritised backgrounds, but the conviction rate for the primary offence (murder) was about 39%, with others being acquitted or convicted of lesser offences.
* Geographic Concentration: The disparity is most extreme in London. where less than 10% of joint enterprise defendants are white.
* Gang Labelling: Police and prosecutors often use the 'gang' label and associated social media ('Drill or rap' music) as evidence to argue for 'common purpose' among young Black defendants, even without direct evidence of a crime.
* Miscarriages of Justice: The law allows conviction through 'association' rather than direct action, leading to wrongful convictions and excessive sentencing.
* Social and Developmental Impact: The extensive use of these laws removes young people from their communities, causing long-term damage to their opportunities and development.

Chevron Down

I want to thank Dr Nisha Waller & Tehreem Sulton from APPEAL, for the 6 Month they were at the Old Bailey on a court watch focusing on Joint Enterprise cases, where they observed 17 murder and attempted murder trials, one of which was my Son and his Co-D's. The study documents and analyses how secondary liability is applied in high-stakes prosecution.

Pearls Wisdom

Landmark Case

In Feburary 2025, six black teenagers were acquitted of murder after a four-month Old Bailey trial, exposing serious flaws in the use of joint enterprise laws. Despite minimal evidence, the prosecution pursued all six, but the jury unanimously found them not guilty.The case, involving boys as young as 15, has sparked renewed calls for urgent legal reform. Several spent over a year in custody, missing education & family life. Defence teams highlighted the injustice & the need for a full parliamentary review of such prosecutions.

ROYal Global Awards Of Excellence

What an honour to be nominated, and be a finalist as a Community Champion by ROYal (Raising Our Youth As Leaders) Global Awards Of Excellence for the work i have been doing within my community where young people and their families are concerned. It is not only a passion, but also my purpose, to see the young people and my community prosper. This is why i do what i do....for the Youth!

get in Touch

Contact Us

Whether you have a question about our work, need support, or want to explore ways to collaborate, we’d love to hear from you.You can either contact us on 07983806436 or fill out the form below, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.