The Criminal Cases Review Commission: Economy, Effectiveness and Justice

This article examines the work of the Criminal Cases review Commission since its inauguration in April 1997. It considers how the Commission is carrying out its functions, and how those cases it has referred have been dealt with by the Court of Appeal. Taking into account recommendation of a recent Home Affairs Select Committee Report, and drawing on comments from the Commission's own annual reports, various problems and suggested reforms are discussed. Though the Commission has been well received thus far, this paper concludes that it now risks the possibility of failing in its task of providing fast and fair resolution to miscarriage of justice cases unless more resources are forthcoming or there is a reconsideration of priorities within existing resources.