The Criminal Cases Review Commission
(CCRC)
What is the CCRC? - answer review body that considers possible miscarriages of
justice
When was it set up? - answer By the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. came into force on 1st
Jan 1997
What did the Runciman Commission do in 1993? - answer Reported and recommended
the establishment of an independent body to consider suspected miscarriages of justice
as a result of several high profile miscarriages of justice
What is a miscarriage of justice? - answer When someone was wrongly convicted for a
crime they did not commit.
Prior to 1995 what did individuals wishing to appeal their conviction have to do? -
answer Under Criminal Appeals Act 1968, they had to apply to the Home Secretary to
refer the case to the Court of Appeal.
Why did they take this role away from the Home Secretary? - answerHe often wouldn't
refer cases as he didn't have time to consider them all. He was in charge of the police
and was therefore likely a cause of miscarriages of justice as he put pressure on the
police to make convictions
List some advantages of the CCRC - answer-very accessible
- more efficient than the old system
- gives defendant the extra opportunity to challenge the criminal justice system
-June 2013, had investigated 341 quashed convictions
- silver several high profile miscarriages of justice
List some disadvantages of the CCRC - answer-only considers cases that have failed
appeal routes
-not independent
-miscarriages of justice still occur
-scottish commission has wider powers
-limitations on decision making
-has severe backlog of cases
- not an appeal court
-they view success as reduced sentences
How many members are there? - answer14. All appointed by the Queen
(CCRC)
What is the CCRC? - answer review body that considers possible miscarriages of
justice
When was it set up? - answer By the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. came into force on 1st
Jan 1997
What did the Runciman Commission do in 1993? - answer Reported and recommended
the establishment of an independent body to consider suspected miscarriages of justice
as a result of several high profile miscarriages of justice
What is a miscarriage of justice? - answer When someone was wrongly convicted for a
crime they did not commit.
Prior to 1995 what did individuals wishing to appeal their conviction have to do? -
answer Under Criminal Appeals Act 1968, they had to apply to the Home Secretary to
refer the case to the Court of Appeal.
Why did they take this role away from the Home Secretary? - answerHe often wouldn't
refer cases as he didn't have time to consider them all. He was in charge of the police
and was therefore likely a cause of miscarriages of justice as he put pressure on the
police to make convictions
List some advantages of the CCRC - answer-very accessible
- more efficient than the old system
- gives defendant the extra opportunity to challenge the criminal justice system
-June 2013, had investigated 341 quashed convictions
- silver several high profile miscarriages of justice
List some disadvantages of the CCRC - answer-only considers cases that have failed
appeal routes
-not independent
-miscarriages of justice still occur
-scottish commission has wider powers
-limitations on decision making
-has severe backlog of cases
- not an appeal court
-they view success as reduced sentences
How many members are there? - answer14. All appointed by the Queen
