Too Little Too Late: Assessing Vulnerability1

摘要

This paper is based on findings from three victim-focused research projects, which explored the characteristics of victims that report sexual and other violent crime to the police and the impact these issues have on attrition. It will challenge current police practice and broader legal discourse centred on the support of ‘vulnerable’ victims. The findings indicate that the presence of particular victim vulnerabilities is more likely to result in cases dropping out of the criminal justice system. We argue that current legal decision-making processes concerning victim credibility and consent need to be grounded in observable information held by the police.