Miscarriages of Justice: Compensation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make it his policy to establish an independent body to administer compensation following miscarriages of justice.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones
Under the statutory scheme set out in section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, the Secretary of State for Justice is responsible for considering applications for compensation in cases of miscarriages of justice in England and Wales, subject to specific criteria. Where an individual meets the criteria, an Independent Assessor has discretion in determining the amount awarded, in accordance with the statute. Given this established process, as agreed by Parliament, there are currently no plans to create an independent body to administer compensation following miscarriages of justice.
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