Launch of City’s Innocence Project at the Supreme Court

By Verónica Muñoz Martínez, Press Office Gradvantage Intern and Dr Shamim Quadir, Senior Communications Officer, The City Law School

On Thursday 20 June, City, University of London’s Centre for justice reform celebrated the achievements of its first year during a networking reception hosted at the Supreme Court.

The Centre for justice reform is an interdisciplinary centre based at The City Law School and the School of Global Policy & Affairs and combines the expertise of criminal lawyers and criminologists to drive forward a progressive agenda for criminal justice reform.

It is co-directed by Dr Gemma Birkett, Reader in Criminal Justice, School of Policy & Global Affairs, and Dr Cassandra Wiener, Reader at The City Law School.

Professor Richard Ashcroft , Executive Dean, The City Law School and Professor Charles Lees, Executive Dean, School of Policy & Global Affairs, welcomed attendees to the reception.

Dr Birkett shared the achievements of the Centre since its inception, including collaboration with leading women’s sector and criminal justice organisations. She also outlined ambitious plans for the Centre for 2024-5.

The event was a key opportunity to thank the Centre’s numerous partners and supporters, many of whom were present, including Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein, President, City, University of London; key members of the judiciary and the House of Lords; and its primary partners, the Centre for Women’s Justice and the Howard League for Penal Reform

This project will involve close work with other UK based innocence organisations to apply to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) on cases where there is fresh evidence or a new legal argument. Trained student caseworkers will work under the supervision of criminal solicitors and barristers to assist victims of wrongful convictions in order to widen access to justice in this sector.