Miscarriages of justice occur far more frequently than we realise and have the power to ruin people’s lives. It is crucial for criminal justice practitioners to understand them, given significant developments in recent years in law and police codes of practice.

This text, part of the Key themes in policing textbook series, is written by three highly experienced authors with expertise in the fields of criminal investigation, forensic psychology and law and provides an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of miscarriages of justice. They highlight difficulties in defining miscarriages of justice, examine their dimensions, forms, scale and impact and explore key cases and their causes. Discussing informal and formal remedies against miscarriages of justice, such as campaigns and the role of the media and the Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), they highlight criticism of the activities and decision-making of the latter and examine changes to police investigation in this area.

Designed to incorporate ‘evidence-based policing’, each chapter provides questions reflecting on the issues raised in the text and suggestions for further reading.

“The book is well worth reading. The bibliography is especially strong and will be of great benefit to readers who want to explore further the important topic of wrongful convictions and their causes.” Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books
"This first textbook on miscarriages of justice marks a significant and welcome milestone in the discipline" Dr Hannah Quirk, University of Manchester
"This is a rigorous, thoughtful introduction with many detailed lessons for all aspects of the criminal justice system." John Grieve, CBE QPM, London Metropolitan University and University of Portsmouth
“An indispensable book for students of the criminal justice system, equipping readers with a greater insight into how justice works, and how it sometimes creates more victims.” Carole McCartney, Northumbria University

Dr Sam Poyser is Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Criminal Justice and Policing at York St John University. Her primary area of research is miscarriages of justice and the learning opportunities they present for criminal investigators. More generally, she has conducted research into victims’ experiences of injustice and has published extensively in the areas of policing, investigation and criminal justice. Angus Nurse is Associate Professor of Environmental Justice and Director of Policing Programmes at Middlesex University London. Angus Nurse is Head of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Nottingham Trent University. Dr Rebecca Milne is a Professor of Forensic Psychology and Founder of the Centre of Forensic Interviewing at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth. She is also a chartered forensic psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Rebecca has published widely in the fields of criminal investigation, interviewing and evidence.