Ring, Sinéad (2019) Prosecuting Sexual Offences. Project Report. JUSTICE, London, UK..

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Abstract

Recent years have seen a surge in the prosecution of sexual offences. The uncovering of historic crimes, a rise in reporting, shifting cultural attitudes and the internet have all contributed to a pronounced escalation in the number and gravity of cases coming to trial. In turn, this increase has thrown into the spotlight the complexities inherent in the prosecution of offences of this kind, many of which will involve significant evidentiary problems and vulnerable witnesses. The Criminal Justice System (“CJS”) has responded with some major improvements in the way sexual offences are tried. Yet the increase in accusations has caused the CJS to struggle. The nature and scale of the offences reported has meant that ever-increasing resources are needed to investigate and prosecute. Widely publicised incidents of cases collapsing due to non- disclosure of unused material exemplify the difficulties being caused. This Working Party of JUSTICE considered how sexual offences might be prosecuted more effectively and more justly in these difficult circumstances. Although the original intention was to identify where efficiency savings could be made, it quickly became apparent that improving procedural practices alone would not be sufficient. Instead, the Working Party adopted a holistic view. An approach that understands what causes sexual offending and seeks to address this through efforts that prevent crime, divert from prosecution and reduce reoffending, is key.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Keywords:	Prosecuting; Sexual Offences;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Law
Item ID:	15329
Depositing User:	Sinead Ring
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2022 11:40
Publisher:	JUSTICE
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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