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. and Hough, Mike (2009) Public opinion and the jury: an international literature review. Project Report. Ministry of Justice, London, UK.

Hough, Mike, Roberts, J.V. and Jacobson, Jessica (2008) Attitudes to the sentencing of offences involving death by driving. Project Report. Sentencing Advisory Panel, London, UK

Hough, Mike (2008) Does it matter: reflections on the effectiveness of institutionalised public participation in the development of sentencing policy. In: Freiberg, A. and Gelb, K. (eds.) Penal Populism, Sentencing Councils and Sentencing Policy. Abingdon, UK: Taylor & Francis.

Roberts, J.V., Hough, Mike, Jacobson, Jessica, Bredee, A. and Moon, N. (2008) Public attitudes to sentencing offences involving death by driving. Criminal Law Review 7 , pp. 525-538.

Hough, Mike and Jacobson, Jessica (2008) Creating a Sentencing Commission for England and Wales: an opportunity to address the prisons crisis. Project Report. Prison Reform Trust, London, UK.

Jacobson, Jessica and Hough, Mike (2007) Mitigation: the role of personal factors in sentencing. Project Report. Prison Reform Trust, London, UK