Language barriers in the criminal justice system

Abstract

Since the project began, VS has: n Reviewed existing policies and research on victims' experiences and their rights and entitlements to language support. n Interviewed 25 frontline professionals from a range of criminal justice agencies; services for migrants, refugees and minority ethnic communities; victims' services; and language support services. n Surveyed 163 VS staff members and volunteers, 95% of whom had supported victims who had English as an additional language. Next stages of the research include interviews with victims, witnesses, defendants, arrestees/detainees and offenders who have limited English language skills, with Victim Support focusing on interviewing victims and witnesses. A final report is expected to be published within 12 months alongside a practitioner toolkit. This briefing sets out some of VS's initial findings from the research relating to victims and witnesses from the first stage of this pioneering research project.