LC3S330 - Miscarriages of Justice 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC3S330
Module Title: Miscarriages of Justice
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Clare Lewis
Module Team: Hannah Coburn, Holly Evans
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

This module will provide students with an opportunity to critically review the operation of the criminal justice system.
The module will provide a basis for study for students to;

1. Develop knowledge and understanding of the concept of miscarriage of justice and how the criminal justice system deals with them.
2. Evaluate key cases and processes in the area.

Content Summary

The module will cover the following indicative content:

· Introduction to the concept of Miscarriages of Justice; understanding types and definitions.
· The criminal appeals process and the role of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
· The causes of Miscarriages of Justice: considering the role of the police and prosecution, the role of evidence and testimony and the problems of the adversarial trial process.
· Representations of the wrongful conviction; considering representations of the media and popular culture.
· Throughout the module, there will be an examination of Miscarriage of Justice case studies and controversial areas of law like terrorism, and joint enterprise.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminar 40
Independent Study 78
Directed Study 62
Groupwork 20
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Evidence detailed and accurate knowledge and understanding of a substantial range of major concepts, values, principles, procedures, institutions and rules of the English Legal system relating to miscarriages of justice.
LO2 Evidence research, analysis and critical evaluation of legal rules, concepts, theories and doctrines related to miscarriages of justice from a variety of sources of different degrees of complexity.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 A portfolio consisting of a collection of three critical essays relating to an overarching theme relating to miscarriages of justice. 0 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Robins, J. Guilty Until Proven Innocent: The Crisis in Our Justice System (Biteback Publishing 2018)
Nobles, R. and Schiff, D. Understanding Miscarriages of Justice (OUP 2000)
Huff, C Ronald and Killias, M. Miscarriages of Justice: Causes and Remedies in North American and European Criminal Justice Systems (Routledge 2013)
(Naughton, M. The Innocent and the Criminal Justice System (Palgrave McMillan 2013)
The Secret Barrister, The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How its Broken (Picador 2018)
Hoyle, C. and Sato, M. Reasons to Doubt: Wrongful Convictions and the Criminal Cases Review Commission (OUP 2019)