ABSTRACT
It is an obvious although unpleasant truth that it is impossible to eliminate errors from the criminal justice system. But if it is acknowledged that the mistakes are inescapable and that wrongful convictions resulting in imprisonment may happen and may eventually be reversed, it is almost a natural consequence to search for an effective mechanism to compensate those wrongfully deprived of liberty as a result of wrongful conviction. If the power to do justice as exercised by the state must be respected by individuals, a mechanism for compensating damage resulting from a defective functioning of the criminal justice system should be adopted. However, the crucial question is how the compensation system for those that suffered miscarriages of justice that resulted in conviction should operate. This chapter describes the aims of the study and presents the main problems that the research conducted wishes to address. It also presents the current research in the field of compensation for wrongful conviction. Moreover, it provides the scope of the study, the structure of the book, the methodology adopted for this work as well as the reasons behind the decision regarding the choice of countries selected for the comparative analysis. Finally, the chapter explains how the book will aim to provide in-depth analysis of the most important remedy accessible to the victims of miscarriages of justice.
