This report looks at what the victim experience is when a case is brought to the magistrates’ court, and what can be done by magistrates to improve that experience within the confines of their judicial role.
The Magistrates Association (MA) were given a grant of £8,000 from the Somerset Community Justice Partnership, in order to create a set of training resources that support magistrates in engaging with victims of crime and to encourage a more positive and supportive environment within the magistrates’ court.
The report is set out in three sections: firstly, looking at what the current positives and negatives of attending court are, then looking at ways in which this experience can be improved, and finally, honing in on what changes magistrates can put in place to result in a better experiences for victims.