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.

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.

Heard, Catherine and Mansell, D. (2011) The European Arrest Warrant: the role of judges when human rights are at risk. New Journal of European Criminal Law 2 (2), pp. 133-147.

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.

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.

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

Jacobson, Jessica and Talbot, J. (2009) Vulnerable defendants in the criminal courts: a review of provision for adults and children. Project Report. Prison Reform Trust, London, UK.