TWO OUT of every five victims of crime were dissatisfied with their dealings with gardaí, according to a report on the experience of victims of crime. A slightly lower number were dissatisfied with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the courts and the lawyers they encountered.
The study of people who had accessed the services of 44 victim support organisations was co-ordinated by Dr Shane Kilcommins and Dr Maire Leane of University College Cork, who headed a research team which used questionnaires, interviews and street and telephone surveys. It has been published on the website of the Department of Justice.
The authors point out that they did not survey those victims of crime who had not engaged with support organisations. Therefore, the study depended on the availability of a support organisation locally, and does not reflect the distribution of crime around the State. Dublin, in particular, appeared to be under-represented. Efforts to increase the spread of services to victims of crime should continue, they said.
The majority of those surveyed were women. Even excluding crimes of domestic violence and sexual offences, female respondents made up 72 per cent of the total, suggesting that men are not availing of the services of support organisations to the same extent as women.
The types of crime where people sought support were usually crimes of violence, in particular domestic violence, homicide and sexual offences, which reflects more the areas in which help is available than the pattern of crime generally, they said.
There was a very high level of satisfaction (88.5 per cent) with the Crime Victims Helpline, but the study found that victims were not systematically receiving information about it. For example, only four of 10 respondents received its number from gardaí, and there was a low level of awareness about it among professionals and community workers likely to have contact with the victims of crime.
The respondents also complained about a lack of sensitivity on the part of gardaí during an investigation, and a lack of information about progress in a case.
The authors recommend that new Garda recruits receive initial training and existing members ongoing training which sensitises them to the needs of victims. They should follow the existing commitments in the Victims Charter to ensure people are referred to the appropriate organisations.
Respondents were generally satisfied with the services received from support organisations, particularly information, counselling and emotional support. However, the study found there were significant problems in relation to an awareness of these organisations, and recommended increased co-operation between the Crime Victims Helpline and the organisations it refers victims to, as well as improving awareness among the general public.
It found dissatisfaction with the courts system, especially because of delays and adjournments and a lack of information on court procedures.
Gardaí, court officials and solicitors were found to be a useful source of information by only about 60 per cent of respondents, though 93 per cent obtained useful information from support groups.
The respondents also found the physical environment of the court difficult, complaining that court rooms were overcrowded; of being unable to hear the proceedings; of a lack of access to private areas; and of unsatisfactory seating arrangements for victims and their families in court.
Some 46.5 per cent were unhappy with the experience of giving evidence.
Dissatisfaction was also expressed with the office of the DPP, especially around such issues as the downgrading of charges; lack of presence at sentencing hearings; not giving reasons for a decision not to prosecute; and poor standards of communication.
The authors recommend that all the handbooks and other materials that have been produced on the criminal justice system should be assembled on a single website and details of the website disseminated in a way likely to reach the largest possible number of people.