Citation

Hoyle C. Br. J. Criminol. 2019; 59(4): 919-937.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/bjc/azy066

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Criminal Cases Review Commission reviews possible wrongful convictions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, referring back to the Court of Appeal cases where there is a 'real possibility' that the conviction is unsafe. This article presents findings from a four-year empirical study of decision-making within the Commission. It explores how Commission staff exercise their discretionary powers in identifying and investigating possible wrongful convictions from approximately 1,400 applications a year, referring just a few back to the Court. It focuses on a sample of cases that turned on forensic evidence and expert testimony, showing that while there is some variation in individual caseworkers' approaches to investigation, decision-making is shaped by the law and internal policies such that reasonably consistent decision frames emerge.

© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (ISTD). All rights reserved.

Language: en