Courts, court users and the judicial process

ICPR has long-standing experience of conducting empirical courts-based research. Prior studies have examined sentence decision-making and public attitudes to sentencing; the quality of criminal advocacy; and what it is like to attend the criminal courts as a defendant, witness or victim. Current work includes research into what it means to 'participate' in criminal, family and tribunal proceedings; the values shaping deliberation in the Court of Protection; and the preparation of witness statements for the Employment Tribunal.

Current projects

Diverse Disabilities: Accessibility and Justice in the Tribunal

Lived experience of the law: A research and policy project

Public engagement with justice: Evidence review

Completed projects include:

Enhancing problem-solving practice in the Youth Court

Inside Crown Court

Joint Enterprise

Judging Values and Participation in Mental Capacity Law

Judicial perceptions of criminal advocacy

Language Barriers in the Criminal Justice System

Participation in Courts and Tribunals

Taking and Making a Statement: An exploratory study analysing through the lens of research the production of witness statements by lawyers and litigants in person (MAS)

The quality of legal advice and representation in the Youth Justice System

The Youth Proceedings Advocacy Review

Voicing loss: Meanings and implications of participation by bereaved people in inquests

Publications

Roberts, J.V., Hough, Mike and Ashworth, A. (2011) Personal mitigation, public opinion and sentencing guidelines in England and Wales. Criminal Law Review 7 , pp. 524-530.

Roberts, J.V. and Hough, Mike (2011) Exploring public attitudes to sentencing factors in England and Wales. In: Roberts, J.V. (ed.) Mitigation and Aggravation at Sentencing. Cambridge Studies in Law and Society. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 168-187.

Jacobson, Jessica and Hough, Mike (2011) Personal mitigation: an empirical analysis in England and Wales. In: Roberts, J.V. (ed.) Mitigation and Aggravation at Sentencing. Cambridge Studies in Law and Society. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 60-80.

Jacobson, Jessica and Hough, Mike (2010) Unjust deserts: imprisonment for public protection. Project Report. Prison Reform Trust, London, UK.

Talbot, J. and Jacobson, Jessica (2010) Adult defendants with learning disabilities and the criminal courts. Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour 1 (2), pp. 16-26.

Roberts, J.V., Hough, Mike, Jacobson, Jessica and Moon, N. (2009) Public attitudes to sentencing purposes and sentencing factors: an empirical analysis. Criminal Law Review 11 , pp. 771-782.