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ANNEX 7: DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH STATEMENT MAKERS
1. Introduction
- Introduce self, University of Aberdeen and the study
- Discuss confidentiality, tape recorder and length of interview
- Explain main interests and purpose of study i.e. it is about what happens to victims after they report a crime and about the VS scheme
2. Background and context of crime
- Background to the crime - ask respondent to tell you as little or as much as they want about the background to what happened to them.
- Are they aware of the outcome of their case?
- Extent to which they have been kept up to date with case progress? Are they happy with this? Would they have liked more information?
3. Administration of the VS scheme
Explain that you now want to talk a little about the VS scheme.
- What do they remember about being told about the VS scheme?
If necessary, explain that a letter and statement pack would have arrived by post. If hazy, offer reassurance that this is not unusual and explain that we are still interested in their views.
- Before the letter/statement pack arrived, did they have any prior knowledge of the VS scheme? Prompt: seen something on news/in newspaper, heard about it from a friend?
Explain that we now want to ask them for their views about the information they were sent. If necessary, reassure them that it doesn't matter if they don't remember it, as you have copies.
- Ask what they thought about the information leaflet, letter and victim statement form.
Prompts for leaflet: Easy/difficult to understand? Useful? Comprehensive?
Prompts for letter: Easy/difficult to understand? Role of different agencies clear (i.e. letter from PF office/ VIA, but VSS provide help/support)? Better to have been told face-to-face?
Prompts for VS form: Easy/difficult to understand? Well designed? Encourages/ discourages you to make a statement or makes no difference?
4. Decision to make a VS
- Ask why did they decide to make a VS?
Probe fully: To let accused know how the crime affected me? To let judge/court know how the crime has affected me? To influence sentence/outcome of case? To gain compensation? To help me in coming to terms with what happened? Just wanted to write it all down?
- Did they realise that making a VS was voluntary i.e. they had the choice whether or not to complete it?
- Did they think very carefully before making their decision or was it easy to make?
- Did they discuss their decision to make a VS with anyone?
Prompt: family, friends, victim support worker?
- If yes - was this discussion helpful?
- Did they realise who would see their VS (i.e. it is seen by the accused?)
Probe fully: how did they feel about that?
5. The experience of completing the statement
At this point (if you haven't done so already), it may help to produce the copy of the respondent's victim statement.
- How did they find the experience of completing the statement? Easy? Difficult? Why?
- Can they remember what went through their mind when deciding what to put in the victim statement?
Probe fully: any uncertainty about what they were allowed to include, knowledge of the statement being used in court, knowledge that the accused might see it?
- When they made the statement, was this a long time after the offence took place or was the time gap quite short?
Probe fully: Was there a very long time gap? If so, how did they feel about this? Difficult to remember? Traumatic as brought the incident back to them?
- Was there a deadline for completion of the VS?
- If yes - how did they feel about this? Would they have liked more time?
- Were they given any help or guidance in completing the statement e.g. by a victim support worker?
- If yes - what sort of assistance was given? Was it helpful? Was there any additional help they would have liked?
6. Experiences after completing the statement
- Since making the statement, has the effect of the crime got worse in any way?
Prompt: Additional financial losses? Physical impact now more apparent? Emotional impact worsened? Any reason for worsened impact e.g. contact with accused?
- Did they know that they could update their statement?
- If yes - did they consider doing this? Why/why not?
- If no - would they have updated their statement if they had known it was possible?
- Do they know the outcome of the case?
Prompt: was the offender convicted? What sentence did he/she receive?
- If yes - were they in court to see the offender sentenced?
- Do they know whether or not their statement was used by the court at all?
- Were they happy about the use that was made of the statement?
Prompt: if they were in court to see the offender sentenced, did they see their statement being passed to the judge? How did they feel about this?
- At the time of completion, what were they hoping for as a result of completing a VS?
Probe fully - did they think that making a statement would: Result in the offender getting a heavier sentence? Make them feel better? Make the offender sorry for what he/she had done? Result in them getting compensation?
- Were these expectations achieved in reality? Or were they disappointed in any way?
Probe fully in relation to all of the expectations the respondent had.
- Do they think that the decision to make a statement was the right thing to do? Or do they regret their decision at all?
- If a similar thing happened to them in the future, would they make a VS?
- Do they think the VS scheme is a worthwhile scheme?
- Any ideas about how the VS scheme could be improved?
Prompt: Information (quality and method of dissemination), administration, use made of statement during the case, additional support available, different method of collecting the statement (e.g. given face-to-face to someone visiting home, made verbally in court), statement not read by offender.
7. General experience of and views on criminal justice system
- How satisfied were they with their treatment as a victim of crime?
Probe: extent views taken into account, extent kept informed about case progress (if not discussed already), experience of any contact with CJS agencies such as PF office/ VIA, VSS.
- Do they think that victims' views and opinions should be taken into consideration when decisions are being made about the case?
- Is the VS scheme a good way of involving victims in the case?
- If not - what might be a better way of doing this?
THANK RESPONDENT VERY MUCH FOR THEIR TIME
LEAVE VSS INFORMATION LEAFLET IF NECESSARY
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