NCJ Number
191547
Date Published
2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A survey of vulnerable or intimidated witnesses in the United Kingdom sought to develop a baseline measure of their satisfaction levels prior to the implementation of special approaches intended to improve criminal justice services to them to enable them to give best evidence.
Abstract
The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 defined vulnerable witnesses as all those under age 17, with a physical disability, with a learning disability of mental disorder, or likely to suffer particular distress due to circumstances such as being a victim of a sex offense or fearing or experiencing intimidation. The survey methodology was similar to that in the National Witness Satisfaction Survey 2000, which covered all witnesses. The survey gathered interview information from 552 witnesses recruited at all courts where a Witness Service operated between October and December 2000, before the implementation of the new approaches. Results revealed that 64 percent of vulnerable or intimidated witnesses and 76 percent of all witnesses in the 2000 survey were very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the overall response of the criminal justice system. Thirty percent of witnesses under 17 years of age said that their statements were video recorded and most regarded this as helpful. Twenty percent of witnesses said that they were offered an escort either to or from the court. Forty-three percent of those under 17 who gave evidence said that they were offered the use of a live video link. Only 3 percent reported that screens were used in court, but 58 percent thought that they would have been helpful. Only 12 percent said that they had been consulted about the use of special approaches currently available. The analysis concluded that the gap in satisfaction between vulnerable and other witnesses is probably greater than the data suggest and that the findings reinforced the need for special efforts in dealing with vulnerable and intimidated witnesses. Tables