Book Review: In Doubt: The Psychology of the Criminal Justice Process

• Date: 01 September 2013
• Author: Astrid Birgden
• Published date: 01 September 2013
• DOI: 10.1177/1057567712475295
• Subject Matter: Book Reviews

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International Criminal Justice Review 23(3)
Due to the fact that prison-based educational research has been limited, Hughes presents a nice
addition by particularly focusing on the distance learning dimension, even though some readers may
find the lack of quantitative data analysis of Hughes’ study curious. On a positive note, the book also
provides many personal accounts of students, which makes Education in Prison a lively and
approachable read for practitioners, students, and academics alike.
Dan Simon
In Doubt: The Psychology of the Criminal Justice Process New Jersey: Rutgers, 2012. p. 405. $45. ISBN 978-0-674-
04615-3
Reviewed by: Astrid Birgden, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
DOI: 10.1177/1057567712475295
In Doubt has been produced by Professor Simon, Law and Psychology, the University of Southern
California. The book examines the investigative (pretrial) and adjudicative (at trial) aspects of the
criminal justice process in the United States utilizing the cognitive and social psychology literature.
This review is written in the context of the reviewer being a practitioner based in Australia. Being a
practicing forensic psychologist means that the reviewer has generally avoided this particular topic,
deliberately sidestepped because of its emphasis on experimental psychology. However, Professor
Simon has managed to produce a book that nicely dovetails the experimental literature with practice.
Each chapter is set out with real-world examples, supported by experimental evidence, and
completed with best practice recommendations. Being an Australian means that the author views the
dire consequences for offenders who are directed into the U.S. criminal justice system with some
alarm. Professor Simon has particularly highlighted the problem with faulty investigative and
adjudicative practice resulting in false convictions; ‘‘the steady flow of exonerations in recent
years has turned a spotlight onto the accuracy of the criminal justice process’’ (Simon, 2012,
p. 4)....