The Needs and Concerns of Victims of Crime in Ireland
Shane Kilcommins
Máire Leane
Fiona Donson
Caroline Fennell
Anna Kingston
Report prepared for
The Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime
August 2010
Table of Contents
Acknowledgementsiii
Executive Summaryiv
Chapter 1 – Introduction1
1.1.Introduction
1.2.Recognition of the Rights of Victims: The European
and International Context
1.3.The Rights of Victims in Ireland: Developments
and Continuing Difficulties
1.4Recent Developments
1.5This Research Project
Chapter 2 – Methodology10
2.0. Introduction
2.1. Researching Victim Experiences and Needs
2.2 Researching Public and Professional Awareness
of Victim Support Organisations
2.3 Conclusion
Chapter 3 – An Garda Síochána30
3.1Introduction
3.2 Victim Reporting of Crime to the Gardaí
3.3Who reported the crime
3.4When was the crime reported
3.5The provision of details by the Gardaí
3.6Consent for referrals
3.7 Garda sensitivity during the statement taking process
3.8Satisfaction with the information provided by the
Gardaí during the investigative process
3.9Satisfaction of Victims with the Family Liaison Officer
3.10Overall satisfaction with the Gardaí
3.11Conclusion
Chapter 4 – Crime Victims Helpline68
4.0Introduction
4.1Knowledge of the Crime Victims Helpline
4.2Referral to Crime Victims Helpline by Gardaí
4.3Contacting the Crime Victims Helpline
4.4Services Utilisedi
4.5Satisfaction with the Crime Victims Helpline
4.6Conclusion
Chapter 5 – Support Organisations83
5.0Introduction
5.1Hearing about the Organisation
5.2Contacting the Organisation
5.3Satisfaction with Services
5.4Conclusion
Chapter 6 – Court Procedures and Compensation112
6.0Introduction
6.1Victims’ Experiences of Court Procedures
6.2Delay
6.3Information Provision on Court Procedures
6.4Prosecution decision-making and contact
6.5Court architecture and the organisation of the court hearing
6.6Sensitivity of court professionals and the court process
6.7Understanding of the legal system
6.8Victim impact statements
6.9Compensation
6.10Financial reimbursement of expenses
6.11Information provision related to post-release of offender
6.12Conclusion
Chapter 7 – Findings and Recommendations171
7.0Introduction
7.1Prior to reporting a crime
7.2Initial Contact with Gardaí
7.3The investigation of the crime and the support for the victim
7.4The Court Process and Compensation
7.5Sentencing/Post Sentencing
7.6General Recommendations
Appendix 1 – Self-Completion Questionnaire For Crime Study190
Appendix 2 – Schedule for In-depth Interviews with Victims203
Appendix 3 – Informed Consent Form for In-depth Interviews206
Appendix 4 – Street Survey207
Bibliography209
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Acknowledgments
The project coordinators, Shane Kilcommins and Máire Leane, would like to acknowledge the assistance of a number of people who contributed to the completion of this study.
In particular we wish to acknowledge the co-operation of the 303 victims who responded to the postal survey, the 20 victims who participated in the in-depth interviews, and the personnel in the victim support organisations who distributed the postal survey. Without the generous assistance of these people the study would not have been possible.
We would also like to acknowledge the 50 members of the public who participated in the street survey in Waterford and the 23 professionals and community organisation workers who participated in the community awareness telephone survey. The advice and co-operation received from Greg Heylin, Dominic Kelly, Grainne Bolger and Anne O'Shea from the Victims of Crime Office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on behalf of the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime was much appreciated. Finally we wish to acknowledge the work and commitment of Dr. Anna Kingston, the research officer who worked on the project, Dana Swanton the statistical consultant and Clodagh O’Driscoll who contributed to data inputting.
Dr Shane Kilcommins
Dr Máire Leane
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