Concluded projects

of the Institute of Conflict Research

Concomitant research on quality management of victim support organisations

Project Management:	Dr.in Birgitt Haller
Project Team:	Dr.in Birgitt Haller Dr.in Evelyn Dawid
Financed by:	Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth via the Coordinator for psychosocial and legal victim support
Concluded in	January 2010
	German

The work order for concomitant research was twofold: On the one hand, the documentation of victim support organisations working with children and juveniles were analysed. In 2005, the organisations were requested to fill in a one-page questionnaire for each closed case so that it was possible to work out the annual differences between 2005 and 2008.

On the other hand, qualitative research was conducted on clients’ experiences during court trials. The study focused on conditions required for victims to cope with their experiences, so that victim support can be satisfactorily concluded. Sixteen case-studies provided by persons working in victim support organisations were analysed: What had worked well for the victim during the court trial, what had gone wrong, which factors had been supportive, emotionally draining or frightening? Many of the topics addressed have for years been subjects of discussion by practitioners: the importance of gentle questioning, the need to avoid encounters of victims and perpetrators, very long time periods between complaint and gentle questioning / charge / trial, as well as outcome of trial. As the importance of these problems has again been confirmed, the criminal justice system should respond to these findings with appropriate measures.