Vera Institute of Justice

Overview

This 1985 Vera London report evaluates two pilot projects that implemented section 48 of the Criminal Justice Act of 1977, which concerns advance disclosure of the prosecution case to the defense in criminal cases. In 1983-84, Vera collaborated with the Inner London Probation and After-care Service (ILPAS) to develop two pilot projects - an East London project provided disclosure of the statements of prosecution witnesses, and a Northumbria project focused on disclosure of a summary of the prosecution case. The paper also sets forth the major policy issues concerning implementation of section 48.