Key Findings From the Witness Satisfaction Survey 2000

• NCJ Number: 191257
• Author(s): Emmy Whitehead
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 4 pages
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Research Findings, No. 133.

Annotation

This report presents findings from Great Britain's first national witness satisfaction survey, which was conducted in 2000 to establish a baseline measure for the treatment of witnesses by key criminal justice agencies.

Abstract

In the survey, a witness was defined as "someone who is involved in a case listed for trial and who has been asked to attend court as a witness." Witnesses were recruited at all Crown Court centers and 159 magistrates' courts in late May and early June 2000. Interviews were conducted with 2,500 people: 29 percent with victims, 58 percent with other prosecution witnesses, and 13 percent with defense witnesses. Child witnesses composed 7 percent of the sample. The survey asked witnesses about all aspects of their experiences as a witness, from first contact with the police to giving evidence and beyond. The survey found that 76 percent of witnesses were "very" or "fairly" satisfied with their overall treatment within the criminal justice system. Satisfaction with individual agencies was higher, especially for the Witness Service, court staff, and judges/magistrates. Levels of overall satisfaction were strongly related to whether witnesses received enough information before coming to court and whether they were kept informed while waiting at court. Witnesses who were unhappy with the verdict were over four times as likely to be dissatisfied with their experience overall than witnesses who were happy with the outcome. Nearly one-fifth of witnesses felt intimidated by the process of giving evidence, and one-quarter felt intimidated by an individual. The most commonly mentioned unmet needs of witnesses were for more information to be given before arriving at court, separate waiting areas for defense and prosecution, and more information/help from the police and Crown Prosecution Service during the case. Even though three-quarters of witnesses were satisfied with their experience overall, almost 40 percent stated they would not want to be a witness again. 3 tables and 1 figure