The conference was dedicated to a discussion of the many unresolved issues that remain with regard to suspect/defendant/offender vulnerability. It brought together a range of contributors, exploring different aspects of the criminal process, to critically interrogate the safeguarding, protection, and participation of vulnerable suspects and defendants across jurisdictions.
Professor Warren Barr (Dean of Birmingham Law School) welcomed delegates at the start of the programme, along with Dr Samantha Fairclough, Associate Professor in the University of Birmingham Law School and conference lead.
The conference brought together a large and diverse group of scholars, practitioners and policy makers working on identifying and responding to vulnerability among accused persons in the criminal justice system. It provided welcome opportunities to network in-person, build collaborations, and push forward to change practice in this broad area of practice which spans from the police station, court processes, diversion processes, custody and parole. We were very happy to be able to host the conference at the University of Birmingham.
Dr Samantha Fairclough - Associate Professor in the Birmingham Law School.
The vulnerability of suspects and defendants in criminal proceedings is a topic that has received increasing and sustained judicial attention in recent years. The Salduz judgment and subsequent case law recognises that all suspects are potentially vulnerable. With specific regard to defendants, there is an ever-growing body of case law concerned with the ability of vulnerable defendants to participate effectively in criminal proceedings.
The conference also celebrated the launch of the edited collection Vulnerability, The Accused, and the Criminal Justice System: Multijurisdictional Perspectives (Routledge 2023), edited by Dehaghani, R., Fairclough, S. and Mergaerts L.
