My work supporting survivors/victims of sexual violence means I continually witness first-hand the similar experience had by many survivors; a system that should protect them often fails repeatedly. This is a call to rectify that failing system by introducing trauma-informed juries, specifically in cases involving sexual violence and domestic abuse.

According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime predominantly by an intimate partner (WHO, 2021). In spite of these numbers, the criminal justice system often favours the perpetrator rather than the victim. The incorporation of trauma-informed juries can create a victim-friendly environment that understands the depth of emotional, psychological, and physical effects survivors experience.

Adding to this, jury members often face vicarious trauma due to their exposure to harrowing details of abuse and violence. To counter this, comprehensive after-care support for jury members should be a mandatory system addition.

It takes a lot of courage and strength for a survivor to report a crime to the police; it takes even more courage and strength to stand up in Court and give evidence against a perpetrator and yet the current system fails survivors by not using a jury that understand the impact trauma can have on an individual and how any one trauma can impact someone in various differing ways.

In order for a case to be put before a jury, specially trained police officers and highly trained solicitors have investigated and reviewed all of the available evidence. In their professional opinions, for a charging decision to be made, there has to be sufficient evidence and threshold criteria met and yet the number of RASSO and DA cases that get to trial only for a jury to find the defendant not guilty is staggering; and something which could be strongly attributed by the lack of trauma-informed jury members.

A trauma-informed approach respects the complexities of trauma and aids in re-establishing survivors' empowerment and control, thus enhancing the odds of obtaining justice. This petition invites all stakeholders in the criminal justice system to revisit their roles and responsibilities towards victims and juries alike. Please join this cause and sign the petition to encourage the establishment of trauma-informed juries and the inclusion of support systems for jurors who face vicarious trauma. This is one positive step towards a nuanced and compassionate criminal justice system which currently fails too many.