Abstract

Access to criminal justice for victim/survivors of sexual violence is rare, as evidenced by poor charge and conviction rates worldwide. The adversarial criminal justice system as experienced by victim/survivors in the general population and the impact of secondary victimisation is well documented. People with intellectual disabilities and/or autism face their own unique barriers to justice. Such a landscape increases vulnerability to further victimisation and enables perpetrators to act with impunity.
This chapter outlines the specific barriers to justice for women victims of sexual violence with intellectual disabilities and/or autism in the UK and examines the attitudes and perceptions of those within the system which affect case outcomes. There is a need to foster inclusive, accessible, and supportive experiences for those who report sexual violence. In evaluating the impact of being denied justice on victim/survivors, this chapter makes the case for fundamental changes to the criminal justice system to increase successful criminal justice outcomes. It is argued that this could serve as an important measure to prevent further violence.