Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)
Definition
An independent public body in England and Wales, established by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, that reviews suspected miscarriages of justice and refers cases to the Court of Appeal. Several CCRC referrals have involved flawed forensic science.
- Established by
- Criminal Appeal Act 1995
- Jurisdiction
- England and Wales
- Status
- Independent public body
- Function
- Reviews suspected miscarriages of justice, refers to Court of Appeal
Common questions
Why was the CCRC created as an independent body rather than leaving reviews to the courts or government?+
It followed criticism that referring suspected miscarriages of justice back to the Court of Appeal had previously been a political decision made by the Home Secretary, so an independent statutory body was created to remove that role from government and place it with specialist investigators.
What role has flawed forensic science played in CCRC referrals?+
Several referrals have centred on forensic evidence later shown to be unreliable or overstated, such as flawed expert interpretation or outdated scientific techniques, which is why the CCRC's caseload is often cited in discussions of forensic error and wrongful conviction.
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