Scottish Inquiry Finds COVID Court Delays Worsen Trauma for Rape and Abuse Victims
Scotland saw a surge in incidents of domestic abuse and violence following the COVID-19 pandemic.
An inquiry revealed that the backlog of court cases and repeated hearing delays during the pandemic had a lasting impact on rape and domestic violence victims in Scotland.
According to the Justice Impact Hearing of the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry, some victims faced numerous adjournments per case, causing increased stress and witness attrition.
Kate Wallace, the chief executive of Victim Support Scotland (VSS), highlighted that repeated delays in cases added to the trauma experienced by survivors.
The inquiry also heard from Sandy Brindley, the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, who reported an increase in distress and self-harm among rape survivors during the pandemic.
Brindley also mentioned that court delays prolonged distress among survivors, while Wallace noted a rise in domestic violence cases due to court adjournments.
The lack of digital infrastructure limited remote court services, according to Wallace, who stressed the need for stronger decisions and improved infrastructure moving forward.
The inquiry also discussed the restart of jury trials and implemented remote trials in cinemas to address delays, although survivors had mixed reactions to this approach.
Data showed a spike in domestic abuse incidents following the onset of the pandemic, with reports remaining high even post-pandemic, according to Wallace.
The pandemic restrictions made it challenging to provide support services to victims, impacting emergency housing, face-to-face support, and digital access.
The inquiry will continue examining the pandemic’s impact on justice until Feb. 28.
