Victims expect to play a part in the justice process but most feel ‘relegated to the role of a passive witness’, ‘having no say’ and being ‘told nothing’, Victoria’s Victims of Crime Commissioner says.Victims expect to play a part in the justice process but most feel ‘relegated to the role of a passive witness’, ‘having no say’ and being ‘told nothing’, Victoria’s Victims of Crime Commissioner says.
McCormack said while the Victorian government in 2018 introduced changes to the law to recognise the victim’s role as a participant in proceedings for criminal offences, it had not translated to tangible change. Many spoke about having to chase police and prosecutors for updates and being “blind-sided”, because they did not get information, including about court dates.
Another victim said their perpetrator “smirked” at them throughout proceedings. They were denied alternative arrangements to read their victim impact behind a screen. McCormack recommended sexual assault victims be provided with state-funded legal representation during some proceedings, to play a “protective role” for the victim that prosecutors don’t.
She said they included Indigenous people, migrants, those with a disability and members of the LGBTQ+ community.