What do victims want after a crime occurs? Does resolving crime out of court work for victims? This report answers these questions and more, based on a poll of 1,235 victims and in-depth interviews with 25 victims whose cases were resolved out of court.
Victims’ biggest priority after a crime occurs is for the person who harmed them not to do it again. They also want the crime to be resolved quickly, for the police to acknowledge what happened, take it seriously and take action to address it.Â
Resolving crime out of court can meet many of these priorities for victims – and it often does. When it worked well, victims felt supported, acknowledged and understood. However, victims also experienced some downsides of resolving crime out of court.
Our report includes recommendations for how to use out of court resolutions more often and, most importantly, more effectively for victims.
Join Transform Justice, Phil Bowen from the Centre for Justice Innovation, and Emily Spurrell, chair of the Association for Police and Crime Commissioners, to discuss the research and its implications for how we can give victims the meaningful resolution to crime that they deserve.
Monday 14 July, 10-11am.
