Introduction -- The relevance of character -- Character and prejudice -- The ethics of character evidence -- Propensity's history: English law before the Criminal Justic Act 2003 -- Understanding propensity evidence -- Propensity evidence under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 -- Propensity, coincidence, and acquitted misconduct -- Character and credibility -- Good character -- Punishing character -- Dangerous characters -- Conclusion.
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The use of character in the criminal trial raises a number of controversial issues such as the nature of criminal responsibility, the link between past and future behaviour, and the way juries and judges reason about evidence of prior wrongdoing. This book reassesses and reflects on the significance of the law's increasing emphasis on character.