Making the justice system better for victims: consultation - easy read

A new court for sexual offence cases

There has been a review of how sexual offence cases are managed by the courts.

The review has said there should be a new court to deal with serious sexual offences.

Serious sexual offences are crimes like rape and attempted rape.

The review said:

• that this new court should be separate from the High Court and the Sheriff Court

These are the courts where trials for serious sexual offence cases take place just now.

• people working in the new court would have special training about dealing with victims of sexual offences
• all victims in the new court would have their evidence recorded before the trial

Here are some of the arguments for creating a new court:

• better training for the people working there
• better experience for victims
• cases will be dealt with quicker
• there is a sexual offences court in New Zealand that is working well

Here are some of the arguments against creating a new court:

• some people think that serious cases like rape should be heard in the High Court
• very serious cases – for example cases which involve both rape and murder - would still have to be heard in the High Court

This would mean that not everyone will have access to the special features of a new court.

• the special features of the new court could be included in the High Court instead of having a new court
• it might not make much difference in how quickly cases can be heard
• judges who only work in a new court could lose the experience of other types of cases

The Scottish Government would like to hear your views about creating a new sexual offences court.