Survivor Reference Group
About the project
Researchers at Oxford are conducting research on the introduction of trauma-informed specialist sexual offence courts in the UK, including SSVS courts at Leeds, Newcastle and Snaresbrook. As part of the research, we're asking survivors to share their experiences of giving evidence at SSVS courts, so we can highlight best practice and help drive further reforms to court processes. Please see the main project website, Care in the Courtroom, or the webpages on Victim and Survivor Participation for more information.
About the Reference Group
We're adopting a trauma-informed approach to the case study, including how we involve survivors in the research design.
Before speaking to survivors about SSVS courts, we wanted to ensure that our interview questions and approach was survivor-led so we invited a group of survivors with experience of the court process to join our Survivor Reference Group.
The Reference Group reviewed and gave feedback on our research materials, including interview guidance we had drafted for survivors ahead of the interview, the questions we planned to ask survivors in an interview, and the Survivor Online Survey. By referring to examples from their own experiences of the trial process, the Reference Group also helped frame and inform our understandings of trauma-informed court practices from survivors' perspectives.
If you would like to know more about survivor involvement in the project, please email the project lead, natalie.kyneswood@csls.ox.ac.uk.
Thank you for your interest.