Available Open Access under CC-BY-NC licence

Effective participation in court and tribunal hearings is regarded as essential to justice, yet many barriers limit the capacity of defendants, parties and witnesses to participate.

Featuring policy analysis, courtroom observations and practitioners’ voices, this significant study reveals how participation is supported in the courts and tribunals of England and Wales. Including reflections on changes to the justice system as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it also details the socio-structural, environmental, procedural, cultural and personal factors which constrain participation.

This is an invaluable resource that makes a compelling case for a principled, explicit commitment to supporting participation across the justice system of England and Wales and beyond.

Jessica Jacobson is Director of the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (ICPR) and Professor of Criminal Justice at Birkbeck, University of London.

Penny Cooper is Visiting Professor at the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (ICPR) at Birkbeck, University of London.

Chapter authors:

Gillian Hunter is Senior Research Fellow the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (ICPR) at Birkbeck, University of London.

Amy Kirby is Lecturer in Criminology the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (ICPR) at Birkbeck, University of London.