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The District Court has released the evaluation report for the sexual violence court pilot in Auckland and Whangārei.
The findings from the evaluation confirm a number of successful outcomes, including shorter wait times for cases to go to trial and reduced trauma to complainants (victims/survivors).
Key findings from the evaluation are outlined in a media release by Acting Chief District Court Judge John Walker:
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“Pilot cases progress more efficiently, faster and with fewer delays overall;
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Stakeholders perceive that trial quality has improved, with fewer adjournments and better quality evidence;
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Complainants are generally better prepared for attending trial, reducing anxiety;
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Judges are more alert to unacceptable questioning and intervene more frequently;
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Judges are more actively involved with cases from an earlier stage, and case review hearings are considerably more thorough and comprehensive;
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Giving defendants firm trial dates earlier is resulting in more and earlier guilty pleas;
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Dedicated case managers are critical to success; and
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There is unanimous support among stakeholders to roll the pilot model out nationally.”