Perspectives of Justice for Victims of Sexual Violence

Abstract

Many victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse seek justice through the courts. This study explored disjunctures in the perceptions of two key groups of professionals, agents of the court and victim therapists/advocates, regarding the role, experiences and outcomes for victims of sexual violence in the criminal justice system. Concerns are expressed that their divergent views shape the expectations of victims, potentially contributing to disappointment and a sense of re-victimization.

Keywords:

• sexual assault
• sexual abuse
• justice
• court
• advocacy

This research was generously supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Notes

¹Throughout this document, the term victim has been selected rather than the term survivor. Survivor tends to refer to individuals who have recovered from the traumatic event or are in the process of recovery. This study makes no assumptions about recovery and seeks to understand the individual's perspective on their own recovery.