Press release
“Exploring Victims’ Interactions with the Criminal Justice System: A Literature Review” Research Report
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Research and Data Analytics unit in the Department of Justice and Equality are today launching a report by Dr. Deirdre Healy, on the findings of her literature review looking at victims’ interactions with the criminal justice system.
Dr. Healy is the Director of the UCD Institute of Criminology and a Criminal Justice and Associate Professor at the Sutherland School of Law.
This review brings together academic studies from numerous jurisdictions including research which studied victims’ and professionals’ experiences with Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) in England and Wales.
The review found that ISVAs are state-funded, are usually based in rape crisis centres and provide a flexible, 24-hour a day support service to victims of sexual violence in areas such as counselling, emotional support and referrals to other agencies. It revealed victims found that these ISVAs not only helped them to recover from the trauma of the crime but also facilitated participation in the criminal justice system.
Dr. Healy’s review also refers to a study which highlights how effective emotion management strategies can help to mitigate victims’ distress and aid criminal investigations. Norwegian detectives involved in the study believed that their efforts to work with victim emotions helped to produce more detailed and coherent witness accounts. The 21 detectives who participated in this study were experienced in dealing with traumatised witnesses, having interviewed 150-170 witnesses to the killings that took place on Utøya Island in 2011.
These detectives created a safe space in interview rooms which allowed for emotional expression and they let witnesses know that they were comfortable with emotional expression. This study shows that witnesses’ distress need not undermine police work, but can aid investigations if managed through effective interviewing strategies.
Additional focus has been placed on the approaches for dealing with victims with specialist needs, such as victims of intimate partner violence and sexual violence. It is hoped that the review will provide stakeholders with a deeper understanding of victim interactions with the criminal justice system and provide an evidence base that can be used to enhance victims’ experiences within the criminal justice system.
Secretary General of the Department, Aidan O’Driscoll, stated:
“The research review focuses on best practices with victims in general, exploring victims’ experiences at each stage of the criminal justice process, namely the initial police contact, investigation, prosecution, trial, sentencing and parole. The report provides a strong foundation upon which to continue to develop our policies and practices in these areas.”
Mr. O’Driscoll continued:
“An important fact identified in the report is the gaps in existing academic literature identified considered as part of this study, particularly when looking at the experiences of minority groups - most notably, people with disabilities, members of the Traveller and the LGBTQI+ communities. Therefore, it is anticipated that this report can be used by all stakeholders for further research projects in the field.”
The full report can be read here.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
This report is the first completed in a series of pieces of research that have been commissioned by the Research and Data Analytics unit and builds on the Department’s commitment, outlined in the 2018-2020 Data and Research Strategy, to support the development of more evidence-informed policy making.
Dr. Healy’s research focusses on best practice for victim interactions with the criminal justice system. The report consolidates and critically evaluates evidence on interactions at initial reporting, investigation and prosecution, trial, sentencing and parole.
The review also constitutes a valuable resource for researchers and will act as a springboard for future empirical research on best practice in this area providing a body of evidence essential to inform our future policy discussions and development.
Following a substantial Programme of Transformation throughout 2019, a new operating model has been implemented in the Department, increased capability in the Policy space will ensure that the Department is developing holistic, research-based long-term policy, through research and analysis from multiple sources. It will ensure that we are adopting a proactive and strategic view of Justice and Equality Policy formulation and review, providing “best-in-class” advice to Ministers and Government in the long-term interest of all citizens.