The Lived Experiences of Claiming Wrongful Conviction in Prison

Book excerpt: The Lived Experiences of Claiming Wrongful Conviction in Prison focuses on the lived experience of maintaining innocence in the prison environment and highlights the struggles and pain that such a claim can cause. Using the novel means of conducting an interview via a series of letters, the book details the experiences of sixty-four prisoners maintaining innocence in England and Wales and examines in-depth what is unique to this population. The chapters cover coping mechanisms, relationships maintained with relatives, relationships formed with prisoners and staff, and the perceived effect of their claims on matters of progression and parole. It draws on material from criminology, sociology, law and psychology to provide a holistic account of this populations’ experiences. The Lived Experiences of Claiming Wrongful Conviction in Prison will be of great interest to students and scholars across Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law, Sociology and Psychology.