ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE
Edited by Professor Penny Cooper and Linda Hunting
ABOUT THE BOOK
This is the second volume of this kind. The first, Addressing Vulnerability in Justice Systems, focussed on identifying vulnerability in international justice systems. This volume presents some of the challenges that exist in achieving sufficient access to justice for vulnerable people, primarily in criminal and family proceedings and provides international comparisons of best practice.
This book, following on from The Advocate’s Gateway Conference in 2017, consists of a selection of papers from presentations at the conference. The primary focus is an international comparison of vulnerability in justice systems and issues surrounding access to justice for vulnerable witnesses and parties. The book presents the latest developments in a constantly developing area of law and provides details of the many different challenges which suspects, defendants, vulnerable witnesses and victims encounter in justice systems. The authors make recommendations for specific changes to policy and practice.
The discussions in Access to Justice for Vulnerable People will provide academics and practitioners across a variety of disciplines an insight into topics of central importance to the fairness and efficiency of court processes. Expert contributors offer an international perspective and research-informed practical advice for lawyers, researchers, judges and policy makers.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Professor Penny Cooper designed and pioneered the English witness intermediary role as well as the ground rules hearing approach which was written into court rules on her recommendation. She co-founded and has led since its inception The Advocate’s Gateway. Penny’s research is widely published and cited; she has written judicially endorsed guidance for advocates and witness intermediaries. Penny practices as a barrister at 39 Essex Chambers advising on effective participation of witnesses in a wide range of serious, complex and high value cases. Penny also leads grant-funded research at the Institute for Criminal Policy Research, Birkbeck, University of London. Linda Hunting is a visiting lecturer in criminology and law at the University of West London and University of Roehampton and has worked as a consultant developing materials for undergraduate courses. Linda played a pivotal role in the development and promotion of The Advocate’s Gateway from its inception in 2012 and has contributed to its toolkits on mental health. Penny and Linda are also editors of Addressing Vulnerability in Justice Systems (Wildy, Simmonds & Hill 2016).
READERSHIP:
Lawyers; social care practitioners; academics and researchers – criminologists, sociologists, legal, psychologists and policy makers
