New report - Improving the court experience: A model for pre-recorded testimony in sexual assault cases

Fair Agenda and Sexual Assault Services Victoria are proud to announce our new report – Improving the court experience: A model for pre-recorded testimony in sexual assault cases.

This report provides a model for governments to improve the court experience for victim-survivors of sexual assault, who too often say that seeking justice exacerbated their trauma. In particular, many victim-survivors describe the process of giving evidence during trial as one of the hardest parts of the court process.

Right now many victim-survivors are forced to wait more than a year to give testimony at trial, causing anticipatory anxiety and stress. On top of this, many victim-survivors are expected to recount some of the most traumatic moments of their lives and answer distressing and often humiliating questions about their bodies and assault, with a jury and the person who harmed them watching on.

This report offers a comprehensive model for all states and territories across Australia to expand access to pre-recorded testimony, allowing victim-survivors to give their statements months—or even years—before a trial, in a setting that supports their safety and wellbeing. 

Research shows that providing a victim-survivor with the option to pre-record their testimony can reduce their anticipatory anxiety, eliminate the stress of the courtroom environment, and in doing so, help improve the quality of their evidence.

Read the full report here.

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