The Impact of Court Delays on Sexual Assault and Rape Survivors’ Psychological Well-being and Perceptions of Justice.

By Vestina Virsilaite,

London Metropolitan University.

The impact of court delays on sexual assault and rape victims the criminal justice system has on the psychological well-being and perceptions of justice is examined in this research. It tackles a significant issue, despite the judicial system’s aim to provide justice, prolonged delays and adversarial procedures contribute to further suffering, deterring survivors from seeking or continuing legal action altogether. A desk-based methodology was employed in this research, involving a critical analysis of existing academic sources, official reports, and publicly available survivor testimonies. The sensitive nature of this study and the ethical concerns surrounding direct engagement with sexual abuse and rape survivors, a secondary data approach was chosen for this research, enabling a thorough examination of judicial delays on survivors. The results reveal that judicial and procedural delays have a major impact on mental discomfort, anxiety and despair. The criminal justice system itself has caused survivors to feel disempowered, re-traumatised, and isolated. Especially those from minority backgrounds, persons with disabilities and LGBTQ+ communities, who are more affected because of increased social and institutional obstacles. The study unveils the perception of justice not solely in terms of outcome, but also the overall feeling of being valued, believed, and receiving fair treatment. For better outcomes, this research proposes suggestions for an improved judicial system, including increased funding for victim support systems, clearer and more rapid communication between legal figures and survivors, and re-evaluation of adversarial courtroom processes.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16649428

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