{"id":7586,"date":"2021-10-05T14:00:53","date_gmt":"2021-10-05T14:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2021.cjg-annualreport.co.uk\/?p=7586"},"modified":"2021-10-25T10:59:54","modified_gmt":"2021-10-25T10:59:54","slug":"engaging-victims-witnesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/2021.cjg-annualreport.co.uk\/?p=7586","title":{"rendered":"ENGAGING VICTIMS & WITNESSES"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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BY MARGARET SMITH<\/b>

Policy, Planning & Development Officer, Community Justice<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Victims \u2013 we will listen to and act on victim\u2019s voices and ensure that victims of crime receive the support they need.<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>

In the <\/b>2019-20 Annual Reporter<\/b><\/span><\/a>, in an article <\/b>\u2018Victim(s) Matter(s) \u2013 Making In-Roads Locally\u2019<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a> I explained that listening to and acting on the voices of victims and witnesses was a priority for the Community Justice Glasgow Partnership.\u00a0 <\/span>As explained, many of the levers for a better experience of the Justice System for victims and witnesses of crime, sit outwith the Gift of the Partnership locally, instead they sit at a national level within a legislative framework.\u00a0 <\/span>I also explained, in that article, that the work we do locally to meet that priority, focusses on using the right justice response to reduce reoffending and protect the public:<\/p>

\u201cThere is no easy answer<\/i><\/b>,\u00a0<\/i>at a very pragmatic level, for every person who turns their life around<\/i><\/b>\u00a0and gets off the revolving door of short-term prison sentences, going forward, there will be less offending, less harm to communities and\u00a0<\/i>ultimately fewer victims of crime<\/i><\/b>. For lower level offending, where a\u00a0short-term<\/i>\u00a0prison sentence could be imposed, the evidence tells us that community options are significantly more effective in reducing the risk of further offending.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>

And on focussing our action around engagement<\/b> with Victims & Witnesses:<\/p>

\u201c\u2026..<\/i>increasing knowledge and understanding of the Justice System<\/i><\/b>, giving victims of crime an empowered voice to shape and influence the work that we do, and take action to deliver against the outcomes set out in our <\/i>Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan 2018-2023<\/i><\/span><\/a> and\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Outcome Improvement Framework<\/i><\/span><\/a>\u201d.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>

FOR BACKGROUND YOU CAN STILL ACCESS THE ARTICLE BY CLICKING BELOW:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Although this piece of work had its beginnings in Prevention<\/b>, the work cuts across a number of Community Justice Glasgow Priority Themes:<\/p>\n

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  1. Victims <\/b>\u2013<\/strong> we will listen to act on victim\u2019s voices and ensure that victims of crime receive the support they need.<\/li>\n
  2. Prevention \u2013 <\/b>we will continue with the development of earlier intervention and prevention within the justice system, capitalising on opportunities at the first point of contact with Community Justice Partners.<\/li>\n
  3. Service and Resource Alignment \u2013 <\/b>we will use resources where they are most effective, and in a collaborative approach to improve outcomes.<\/li>\n
  4. Engagement\/Communication \u2013 <\/b>we will establish an effective approach to communication, with a focus on continuing communication between partners, the wider group of stakeholders and communities.  <\/span>Improved communication will stimulate dialogue, enhance knowledge and further develop confidence in justice systems for the public and for key stakeholders, such as the judiciary.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It is a combination of the first and last of these \u2013 Engagement with Victims<\/i><\/b> <\/i>\u2013 that <\/span>the remainder of this article will focus on, in particular, consultation work with victims & witnesses of crime in order to inform improvement planning around increasing referrals to Diversion from Prosecution for Adults.  <\/span><\/p>\n

    As part of this Improvement Plan<\/b> work, in collaboration with Victim Support Glasgow<\/span><\/a>, the following action was taken:<\/p>\n