Deakin
Summary:
- A new Australian Institute of Criminology-backed study will explore how sensitive third-party evidence of sexual offence victim-survivors can be better protected during criminal trials.
- Evidence such as prior sexual experiences, digital materials, counselling notes and school records can potentially re-traumatise and harm the credibility of victim-survivors in court.
- The research team, led by Deakin criminology and sexual violence expert, Dr Mary Iliadis, will conduct a nationwide survey and interview victim-survivors.
Deakin University’s Dr Mary Iliadis will examine one of the most harrowing and re-traumatising experiences for victim-survivors when giving evidence at trial.
In an Australian-first study, Dr Iliadis, alongside Dr Zarina Vakhitova and Dr Delanie Woodlock from Monash University and Associate Professor Michael Salter from the University of New South Wales, will explore ways in which sensitive third-party evidence of sexual offence victims can be better protected during criminal trials. They aim to address what they describe as ‘a significant socio-legal problem’ in Australian criminal justice systems.
/University Public Release. View in full here.
