Perrin Duncan’s Post

Our Chief Executive speaks about the powerful meeting between Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown, and a person affected by crime, on the changes that are needed within the criminal justice system. #VictimsAwarenessWeek

Victims of crime not only have to cope with its immediate impact, but also face a criminal justice system that many find stressful and more focused on the needs of offenders than their own. Navigating the justice system can be complicated and unfamiliar. That's where Victim Support steps in. We help victims understand, prepare for, and engage with the justice system. Our team answers questions, offers a listening ear, and provides support at critical moments. Our impact is clear: an independent evaluation of our services revealed that 42% of victims said they likely would have dropped out of the criminal justice process without our support. Victims don’t have to face this journey alone. We can assist in reporting the crime if needed, but our support extends to all victims, regardless of whether the crime is reported. #VictimSupport #JusticeForVictims #CriminalJusticeSystem #SupportServices #CommunitySupport #VictimAdvocacy

Catch22 are pleased that the long-awaited Victims and Prisoners Bill has finished its journey through parliament and will become law. We hope the passing of the bill will strengthen the place of victims in the criminal justice system by giving legislative footing to the Victim’s Code, increasing transparency in the treatment of victims and giving them access to more options and support. It is by no means the end of our campaign to give victims a voice and promote a more restorative criminal justice system, but its passing is important to show the intentions of Parliament towards making victims’ rights a priority. We welcome the bill’s footing to hold agencies to account, improve collaboration, and broaden the legal definition of a victim. However, we remain concerned about the lack of provision for victims of anti-social behaviour and for those eligible for access to restorative justice. Find out more about how Catch22 works to support victims of crime and antisocial behaviour here: https://ow.ly/yUjA50RYn4v

This is really disappointing. This guidance is primarily aimed at frontline staff in England and Wales who work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. It really doesn't provide any meaningful information with regard to adults. It looks as though the adult part was an after thought. The language within adult safeguarding was updated by the Care Act 2014, to adults at risk. The move away from the term vulnerable adults was due to the lack of clarity on what vulnerability meant. There is so much evidence in practice that adults with care and support needs are being criminally exploited. Sadly the adult who is are at risk (due to their care and support needs as defined by the Care Act 2014) are often criminalised or regarded as actively engaging or making unwise decisions. More guidance is required specifically about the risks to adults who are often hidden victims.

This is a great article explaining how criminal justice reform can also better protect victims. Of course, it needs to be done thoughtfully and with victim voices at the table. https://lnkd.in/dc_VkfSd

Interested in a career in Victim Studies? You're invited to join us TOMORROW for a webinar hosted by The SHSU College of Criminal Justice's Crime Victims' Institute and the Department of Victim Studies. To participate, you must RSVP in advance. Visit www.cjcenter.org/rsvp to register. For more information, check out the image below. #shsu #shsucj #VictimStudies #webinar

The Global Impact of Secondary Victimisation in the Criminal Justice System ‘Betrayed’, ‘shamed’, blamed’, ‘disregarded’; these are all words that come up repeatedly in the testimonies of survivors who have experienced secondary victimisation in the aftermath of a crime. As they are failed and further traumatised by the institutions that are designed to protect them, victims around the world are deprived of the opportunity to heal from the devastating impact of violent assaults and ongoing abuse. Fearful of not being believed, met with hostility or even being blamed for the very crimes they report, many victims are silenced by the prospect of secondary victimisation. Some are so deterred by initial contact with police that they feel unable to pursue their case. For others, the distress they endure as they seek justice and support leaves them wondering whether it was even worth reporting at all. In this blog, we’ll outline how the prospect and reality of secondary victimisation pervades for victims of abuse and violence across the globe. Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/eGz2Pd3w #thrivingsurvivors #survivorsvoices #restorativejustice #traumarecovery #healingjourney #traumasensitive #traumascotland #childsexualabuse #dangersforchildren #youth #domesticabuseawareness

The CSG Justice Center’s team of nonpartisan analysts and justice experts have identified 5 Ways States Can Reduce Violent Crime. Welcome to Day 2 of us spotlighting each of these 5 strategies on social media: #2: Make data-driven investments in violence prevention. Roughly half of violent crimes are never reported to law enforcement. It is critical that states develop and invest in a wide range of prevention programs that have been shown to reduce violence. Focusing investments and targeting programs to communities that are disproportionately impacted by violent crime and are often historically under-resourced can prevent violent crime and reduce victimization. Learn more about what states can do to make data-driven investments in communities and other strategies to reduce violent crime: https://bit.ly/4akQVto

#ThrowbackThursday     In 2013 we developed the Whole Justice Approach in collaboration with our sister organisation Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse. This included the introduction of Criminal Justice Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs), who work from within police stations and courts so they can be there for victims at every stage.     The Whole Justice Approach supports survivors through the criminal justice process from beginning to end, which ultimately improves prosecution and conviction rates. We deliver this through the Impact Project in Hammersmith & Fulham, and our data proves that it keeps victims safer and holds more perpetrators to account: 🚨 51% increase in arrests leading to charges   🚨 100% increase in the use of restraining orders   🚨 34% increase in convictions in domestic abuse cases     Our new report #HerStoryHerJustice outlines how the criminal justice system is currently failing survivors of abuse – and how we can change this using the Whole Justice Approach. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eA-3jMdW #domesticabuse #criminaljusticereform #justiceforvictims

In a few days from now, NSW will be the first Australian jurisdiction to introduce a standalone dedicated offence of coercive control. The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022 will criminalise coercive control in current or former intimate partner relationships in NSW starting from 1 July 2024. If found guilty, perpetrators can face up to a maximum of 7 years in prison. Coercive control has been strongly linked to intimate partner homicide, with the NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team finding that in 97% of intimate partner domestic violence homicides in NSW between 2000 and 2018 were preceded by the perpetrator using emotional and psychological abuse as a form of coercive control towards the victim. It's not love, it's coercive control #coercivecontrol #domesticviolence #dvlegislation #criminaloffence #nswgovernment