Report No. 277

(ii) Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)

3.9 The UK also has a Review Commission dedicated to the task of ascertaining whether an accused has suffered miscarriage of justice. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which was established in March 1997, reviews cases with possibility of miscarriages of justice in the criminal courts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and refers appropriate cases to the appeal courts for review.

3.10 CCRC is the forum where those who believe they have either been wrongfully convicted or sentenced can apply to have their case reviewed. It can gather information related to a case and carry out its own investigation. Once completed, CCRC decides whether to refer the case to the appropriate appellate court for further review.