2021/01/23 by Olivia Smith, Ellen Daly, Charlotte Herriott +1 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis #Sex work and related issues #Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
paper · doi:10.1332/239868020x16057277095797
openalex publication_date 2021/01/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
The British state’s mechanism for compensating victim-survivors of sexual offences has been critiqued as retraumatising. However, a recent review preliminarily rejected calls to loosen the eligibility rules, stating that the current criteria reflect public attitudes. This article outlines the first empirical study of public opinion on the UK Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS), drawing on data from over 2,000 survey participants. The findings show ambivalence among members of the public, but also reveal the current rules are not strongly supported and are in some cases highly unpopular. The article then examines some difficulties with relying on public opinion for criminal justice reform, and ultimately argues that there are stronger justifications for reforming the CICS than popularity with the public. Specifically, loosening the eligibility criteria would create more legitimate policy through the protection of core societal values such as fairness and dignity.