Procedural Justice and Psychological Effects of Criminal Proceedings: The Moderating Effect of Offense Type

Laxminarayan, Malini

doi:10.1007/s11211-012-0167-6

Cited by 40 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Reporting to police may also concerns survivors may have about their immediate safety, inform them of their rights, and provide service referrals (Campbell, Wasco, Ahrens, Sefl, & Barnes, 2001). Survivors involved in the criminal justice system tend to perceive their experiences differently than victims of other violent crimes and property crimes (Laxminarayan, 2012). Survivors who report to police and involve themselves in the criminal justice system are often met with negative social reactions such as blame, disbelief, or feeling stigmatized (Ullman, 2010) and regard this experience as negative or unhelpful, which is termed "secondary victimization" (Ahrens, Campbell, Ternier-Thames, Wasco, & Self, 2007;Campbell, 1998;).…”

Section: Involvement With the Criminal Legal Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Study Of Sexual Assault Survivors’ Post-Assault Legal System Experiences

Lorenz

Kirkner

Ullman

2019

Journal of Trauma & Dissociation

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Following sexual assault, survivors may turn to the civil or criminal justice systems in pursuit of some form of legal justice. Informal support providers (SPs) often play a large role in survivor's post-assault experiences and recovery, including providing support during survivors' decision to pursue legal justice and in navigating the system. Yet, this has not been thoroughly examined in research, particularly through a dyadic lens. Using qualitative dyadic results from 45 survivor-SP matched pairs (i.e., friend, family, or significant other), the current study addresses this gap by looking broadly at survivors' post-assault experiences with the criminal and civil legal systems. Of the 45 pairs in the sample, the current study presents findings from a subsample of 28 survivors and 13 SPs regarding post-assault legal system experiences. Our findings suggest that survivors and SPs consider the perceived strength of their case, perceptions of police, and the possibility of institutional bias when deciding to report the assault to the police. Interviews revealed that reasons for legal system involvement extend beyond pursuance of perpetrator prosecution, such as filing for custody of their children after leaving a domestic violence situation or seeking financial compensation. Many survivors who had interactions with the police and legal system experienced secondary victimization, while a few survivors had positive experiences, despite their expectations. We recommend improved access to survivor advocates and suggest directions for future research stemming from findings.

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Section: Involvement With the Criminal Legal Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Study Of Sexual Assault Survivors’ Post-Assault Legal System Experiences

Lorenz

Kirkner

Ullman

2019

Journal of Trauma & Dissociation

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“…Two variables were significantly modified by the perception of being treated fairly in litigation i.e., quality of life rose, and depression fell. It has been shown that these studies were not generalizable to victims of sexual offences [36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

The Effects of the Justice System on the Mental Health of Plaintiffs and Defendants

Clemente¹,

Padilla-Racero²

2019

Preprint

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This study aimed to assess the psychological effects of being processed by the justice system, either as a plaintiff or as a defendant. The sample consisted of 360 subjects, 32.8% defendants and 52.2% plaintiffs, residents in the Autonomous Community of Galicia (NW Spain). A lot of psychological test were administered. The results indicated significant differences between plaintiffs and defendants. The former were more pessimistic about the future, used poor strategies for protecting health, and had less empathy. In contrast, defendants had a more negative outlook on life, and in general more psychosomatic symptomology. Thus, both defendants and plaintiffs suffered health problems. Moreover, the group with the longest exposure to litigation had the worst deteriorated health. In conclusion, defendants were more pessimistic about the future, used poor strategies for protecting their own health, and showed less empathy. Likewise, plaintiffs had a more negative outlook on life, and on the whole presented more psychosomatic symptomology. Thus, both defendants and plaintiffs presented health problems. Moreover, the comparison between litigants and non-litigants showed health was more deteriorated in the former, but only in a few specific variables.

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“…Each of those authors found a link between legal authorities (police and court officials) treating victims with procedural justice and victims' quality of life. In particular, Laxminarayan (2012) and Elliott et al (2012) found that procedural justice improved victims' self-esteem, their faith in a just world and their trust in legal authorities, and provided them with a sense of empowerment. Where our study extends those prior studies, however, is that it explains why procedural justice might have such positive effects on the quality of life of crime victims.…”

Section: Implications Of the Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

System contact and procedural justice policing

Barkworth

Murphy

2016

International Review of Victimology

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Victims of crime often feel re-victimised when they come into contact with criminal justice professionals. Police, as first responders to many victimisation experiences, therefore need to be particularly sensitive to the way in which they treat victims if they wish to reduce the occurrence of such secondary victimisation. The present study seeks to explore the role that procedural justice policing can play in improving the wellbeing and quality of life of crime victims after system contact. Importantly, it also seeks to put forward a framework for understanding why procedural justice policing might improve victims' quality of life; this framework draws heavily on theories of emotion. The study utilises survey data collected from 171 crime victims to show that procedural justice policing can indeed reduce the negative impact that system contact can have on a victim's quality of life. It will be shown that procedural justice enhances victims' quality of life because it serves to diminish the negative emotions experienced by victims of crime when they come into contact with legal authorities.

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Procedural Justice and Psychological Effects of Criminal Proceedings: The Moderating Effect of Offense Type

Cited by 40 publications

References 31 publications

A Qualitative Study Of Sexual Assault Survivors’ Post-Assault Legal System Experiences

A Qualitative Study Of Sexual Assault Survivors’ Post-Assault Legal System Experiences

The Effects of the Justice System on the Mental Health of Plaintiffs and Defendants

System contact and procedural justice policing

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