Criminal Injustice

Book excerpt: Drawing upon a wealth of research evidence, this book examines the historical, structural, cultural and political tensions which exist within the criminal process and the ways in which routine injustices and wrongful convictions are produced. Beginning with an exploration of the miscarriages of justice which prompted the establishment of the RCCJ, the authors examine the role played by institutions and legal actors within the criminal process. Tracking the shift from due process rhetoric to the "new penology" of the risk management of suspect populations, they assess the impact of recent reforms such as the curtailment of the process itself.