Court reports and resources
The Magistrates Association (MA) were given a grant of £8,000 from the Somerset Community Justice Partnership, in order to create a set of training resources that support magistrates in engaging with victims of crime and to encourage a more positive and supportive environment within the magistrates’ court.
Additionally, there are a number of guides to various parts of the court process for witnesses, authored by Susan Stewart.
This pack includes resources to assist professionals who need to gain a victim personal statement from a witness. This resource will help a victim understand what a Victim Personal Statement (VPS) is, plan for and then give their VPS. It includes visual resources to assist both adult witnesses with reasonable verbal and written communication skills, and also children, young people and vulnerable adults with a communication need. This is an interactive version. There is also a print version. This resource was funded by the Office of the Police Crime and Victims’ Commissioner-Durham, March 2020. The resource author is Susan Stewart (Speech and Language Therapist, Registered Intermediary).
These resource packs provides general background information about court and show a witness the court they will give their evidence to, using graphics and clear descriptions.
This resource pack provides general background information about court and shows a witness where they will give their evidence at Newcastle Magistrate's court, using graphics and clear descriptions
This disseration explores the use of the Cognitive Interview and other Special Measures being used to support Vulnerable Witnesses in preparing for court and in a court of law.
This report looks at what the victim experience is when a case is brought to the magistrates’ court, and what can be done by magistrates to improve that experience within the confines of their judicial role.