Chloe Macdonald is currently studying Social Science Research Methods (MSc) as part of her 1 + 3 PhD programme at Cardiff University, previously she has completed an MSc in Forensic and Investigative Psychology. MacdonaldCL1@cardiff.ac.uk My research For my MSc research, I wanted to focus on how appropriate adults (AAs) and police officers construct vulnerability andContinue reading “Perceptions and Interventions: Exploring vulnerability at the custody suite”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Judicial Review and Courts Bill and its Potential Impact on Vulnerable Suspects and Defendants
George Smart, GDL Student, City University. Contact: George.Smart@city.ac.uk The Judicial Review and Courts Bill aims to modernise and improve court procedure within the criminal justice system and is presently at the report stage within the House of Commons. It proposes digital reforms to the criminal court procedure originally submitted as part of the Prisons andContinue reading “The Judicial Review and Courts Bill and its Potential Impact on Vulnerable Suspects and Defendants”
The Application in Youth Justice Proceedings of Directive 2016/800 on Procedural Safeguards for Juvenile Suspects or Defendants
Jantien Leenknecht, PhD Fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), KU Leuven, Institute for Social Law and Leuven Institute of Criminology The Directive 2016/800 of 11 May 2016 on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings (Children Directive) is the first legislative instrument in EU criminal law that containsContinue reading “The Application in Youth Justice Proceedings of Directive 2016/800 on Procedural Safeguards for Juvenile Suspects or Defendants”
The Vulnerable Accused’s Position at Trial in Scotland: Time to do Better?
Mr Eamon P. H. Keane, Solicitor (Non-Practising), Early Career Fellow in Criminal Law and Evidence, The University of Edinburgh. In Scotland, vulnerable individuals who find themselves arrested and prosecuted for criminal offences may be eligible for support at various stages of the criminal process in order to allow them to participate effectively. The nature of,Continue reading “The Vulnerable Accused’s Position at Trial in Scotland: Time to do Better?”
Obtaining the Appropriate Adult: Disparity in Practice
Jennifer Holmes, PhD Candidate Centre for Criminology, University of South Wales, and Lecturer in Criminology and Policing, University of Gloucestershire The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Code of Practice C requires for an appropriate adult (AA) to be provided to juvenile or vulnerable adult suspects who have typically been arrested and detained in theContinue reading “Obtaining the Appropriate Adult: Disparity in Practice”
Defendant intermediaries – a unique role requiring a unique status?
John Taggart, ESRC funded PhD candidate, Department of Law, LSE. Intermediaries are an increasingly common feature of criminal proceedings in England & Wales. As one of the special measures introduced by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (YJCEA), the role has effected a ‘culture change’ in how the criminal justice system deals withContinue reading “Defendant intermediaries – a unique role requiring a unique status?”
European safeguards for vulnerable suspects and defendants: Good intentions, but with limited effect in national proceedings
Lore Mergaerts, PhD researcher Leuven Institute of Criminology, KU Leuven In recent years, both the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (through case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)) have given increased attention to the vulnerability of suspects and defendants in criminal proceedings. This is not only crucial for truthContinue reading “European safeguards for vulnerable suspects and defendants: Good intentions, but with limited effect in national proceedings”
Vulnerable and intimidated defendants: The forgotten participant
Dr Samantha Fairclough, University of Birmingham, UK. Vulnerable and intimidated non-defendant witnesses (for the prosecution and defence) are able to access a comprehensive statutory scheme of special measures to assist them to give their ‘best evidence’ in criminal trials. This provision falls under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act (YJCEA) 1999 s.16-30 and permitsContinue reading “Vulnerable and intimidated defendants: The forgotten participant”
Interviewing Vulnerable Suspects in Ireland
Dr Donna McNamara, University of Newcastle, Australia The police interview is perhaps the most critical stage in the overall process of case construction. It provides officers with an opportunity to gain relevant information about the case using non-accusatorial questions which are designed to attain a full account from the interviewee (Williams 2000). While the experienceContinue reading “Interviewing Vulnerable Suspects in Ireland”
Unimplemented: The appropriate adult safeguard for adult suspects
Dr. Roxanna Dehaghani, University of Cardiff, Wales. Vulnerable suspects should be provided with an appropriate adult (AA) according to Code of Practice C to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). Until July 2018, vulnerable suspects were those under the age of 18, or adults who could be considered “mentally disordered” or “mentally vulnerable”Continue reading “Unimplemented: The appropriate adult safeguard for adult suspects”
