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ANNEX 3 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS
Data collection fields used at courts
141. This shows the data fields collected from case papers in the 8 study sheriff courts and in the High Court. The following are column headers in an Excel spreadsheet, to be completed in situ on laptops at court, with reference to the case papers. The freeze panes function was used to ensure that column and row headers were always visible to users. Each subset of witnesses (child baseline/year 1/year2 and adult baseline/year1) had a separate spreadsheet within one file (with one file for each Sheriff court and for the High Court). This meant the sheets could be amalgamated for calculations on overall population while maintaining data by court and year. Children cited more than once (for example if cases returned) were removed from the calculations.
- Court if HC/Glasgow SC B number/register number (if any court register maintained)
- Name of witness
- Name of accused
- PF no.
- HCIN or SCCOP no.
- Charges on indictment
- Cited by def/prosecution (D/P)?
- CWN/ WN, petition or nothing?
- Any reference report (specify- teacher/ SW/none)?
- Date;
- WN/petition lodged
- WN/petition heard
- Per witness-
- Victim (Y/N)
- M/F
- DOB/age
- Witness relationship to accused (or none, or n/k)
- SMs sought-
- CCTV
- Screen
- Other (specify- eg supporter/none/remote site/cleared court)
- What does witness wish (or n/k)?
- SM granted? Y/N
- Notes (eg withdrawn/why refused)
- Plea accepted Y?
- Gave evidence? Y/N
- If witness gave evidence, how?
- Without any SM
- TV
- screen
- other (specify- remote/supporter/cleared ct/removed wigs and gowns)
- Date case first called
- Numbers of delays (total adjournments plus postponements, excluding daily adjs)
- Date of disposal
- Guilty Y/N
- Notes (eg on the CWN, or if previously cited)
Research summaries for witnesses and children
142. This was developed for the WS to provide to witnesses being referred to the research.
RESEARCH STUDY
MorrisRichards is a small research company from Aberdeen, with three team members; Sue Morris, Patsy Richards and Eddie Richards. For more information about us please see www.morrisrichards.co.uk.
We are working for the Scottish Executive, trying to see how people who have to give evidence in court are helped by the system, and about their experiences and feelings. The Witness Service has agreed to help too.
In 2004, the Scottish Parliament made a law which is meant to help witnesses who are 'vulnerable' to give their best evidence. Since April 2005, this has included all witnesses under the age of 16 in the High Court and in sheriff and jury cases. From April 2006 some adult witnesses have been included in the same cases.
The research is trying to see what difference (if any) this is making. One important thing is to talk to witnesses, including witnesses under the age of 16 and their parents or carers, to ask about their experiences.
We do not want to know about the case itself or why someone had to go to court as a witness, but only about what it was like to be a witness. For instance, we would talk to you about;
- Help and support that was offered
- Who and what helped, or didn't help
- What happened at court
- Feelings beforehand, at court and afterwards
- Anything else you want to tell us
We could come and talk at a time and place that suits you, including at home, or at court, or at another convenient place.
The research is confidential; we will not include your name or address anywhere so no-one will be able to identify you. Only the research team will hear what you have to say. We may use quotes in the final report without giving your name, if you agree to this.
143. A further leaflet was developed to provide to children in advance, who were considering talking to the researchers. (A second version of this leaflet was produced for children who had been cited but had not gone to court to give evidence.)
Research Project
"In your own words"
Why do we want to talk to you?
We want to talk to you because you have seen or heard something about a crime, or perhaps you have been a victim of a crime, and you have agreed to talk to a court about what you know. We hope that by talking to you and other young people like you, we can make things better for young people in the future who have to talk to a court.
What do we want to talk to you about?
Talking to a court is not always easy, especially for young people. The Scottish Parliament has passed a law which aims to make it easier for young people to give their evidence to a court. We want to find out how well this new law is working by talking to you about:
- Any help and support that was offered to you
- What helped and what didn't help
- What happened at court
- Anything else you want to talk to us about
WE WILL NOT ASK YOU ABOUT WHY YOU HAD TO GO TO COURT - WE JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR YOU WHEN YOU TALKED TO THE COURT
What happens next?
Your parent or carer will check if you are happy to take part, and if you are, we will arrange a time to come to your house and talk to you. It's OK to change your mind later. Another person from the research team will talk to your parent or carer but it's really important to hear from you in your own words. If you like, you can ask for your parent to be present but the interview will be fun and informal and you can decide to stop at any time.
Who will talk to me and how can I find out more?
Gill Highet is a researcher who has talked to lots of young people. She works at Edinburgh University in a centre that does research with young people and their families. If you want to know more you can contact Gill by phone or e-mail:
0131-651-3981 Gill.Highet@ed.ac.uk
What will happen when Gill comes to talk to me?
Gill will come to your house and will check that you still want to take part. She will also explain that you don't have to answer any questions that you don't want to. She will ask if she can tape record the interview but it's OK to say 'no'. She will then talk to you about what it was like when you talked to the court.
Will anyone else find out what I've said?
NO - the research is CONFIDENTIAL - this means that the tape will not be played back to anyone apart from the research team. We will ask if it's OK to quote from what you say in our research report but we will not use your real name.
Thanks for your help!
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