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 (2013) Sentencing riot-related offending: where do the public stand? British Journal of Criminology 53 (2), pp. 234-256.

Hough, Mike, Farrall, S. and McNeil, F. (2013) Intelligent justice: balancing the effects of community sentences and custody. Project Report. The Howard League for Penal Reform, London, UK.

Hough, Mike and Kirby, Amy (2013) The role of public opinion in formulating sentencing guidelines. In: Ashworth, A. and Roberts, J.V. (eds.) Sentencing Guidelines: Exploring the English Model.Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, pp. 140-156.

Roberts, J.V., Hough, Mike, Jackson, J. and Gerber, M.M. (2012) Public opinion towards the lay magistracy and the sentencing council guideline: the effects of information on attitudes. British Journal of Criminology 52 (6), pp. 1072-1091.

Roberts, J.V. and Hough, Mike (2011) Custody or community: exploring the boundaries of public punitiveness in England and Wales. Criminology & Criminal Justice 11 (2), pp. 181-197.

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.