Determining Mode of Trial

The criminal justice system in England and Wales has seen an extension of summary jurisdiction; for reasons of cost and efficiency successive reforms have aimed at reducing the number of cases that are sent to the Crown Court. To shed light on this process, this book examines the dynamics of the mode of trial decision. It does so via a theoretical framework that explores different influences upon social interaction; psychobiography, the courtroom setting, the dynamics of interaction and wider social structures that frame behaviour. This is conducted through an examination of the narrative (re)production practices of courtroom professionals. The findings suggest that legal considerations dominate the mode of trial process; however, where discretion remains, sociological influences can be ascertained as impacting upon behaviour. Also, the legal narratives (re)produced in the courtroom speak to the nature of law. Law translates stories into narratives that are appropriate for the legal process. As a result, the voices of the participants are lost. This book will be of interest to students, academics and professionals with an interest in criminal justice or narrative analysis.