Barbados must move beyond simply prosecuting offenders and place greater focus on supporting victims.
That was the case put by Minister of Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice Michael Lashley, as Government moves to strengthen the country’s criminal justice system through major reforms.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day National Consultation On Victim Support at the Radisson Aquatica Resort, St Michael, yesterday, he said victims often faced significant emotional, psychological and practical challenges after crimes were committed against them, yet there was no coordinated national mechanism dedicated to guiding and supporting them through the process.
“I understand and fully support the need to have a coherent national framework and ultimately a unit to spearhead the cause and spearhead a national response. It does not mean that a unit will be all things to people, but it can assist in pointing persons in the right direction, advocate where necessary and fill some of the gaps that need to be filled by the State,” he said.
Lashley told stakeholders from Government agencies, law enforcement, social services, nongovernmental organisations and the legal fraternity that victim support was a critical component of the criminal justice system and must be treated as such.
While Barbados has traditionally focused on investigating crimes and prosecuting offenders, he argued that the needs of victims had not received the same level of attention.
“We have built our criminal justice system around the investigation of offences and the prosecution of offenders. That is natural, and one thing we can say about our system is that it is fair and impartial, but we have not focused centrally on victims. Victims are a crucial part of the criminal justice system because they are often the ones who begin the process by making complaints and giving statements,” he said.
Lashley, a King’s Counsel with many years of experience as a criminal defence attorney, said victims were frequently required to relive traumatic experiences while giving evidence and might face intense cross-examination during court proceedings.
“It is not an easy task because victims have to revisit painful experiences in order to give statements and participate in the process. They then have to go into court and sometimes face rigorous cross-examination. We have to ask ourselves what happens to a victim after the police report is made and whether there is adequate support available to them throughout the journey.”
The minister recounted instances from his legal practice which highlighted the vulnerabilities victims continued to face, particularly in domestic violence matters.
He told of speaking to a woman who had obtained legal protection from an abusive partner but remained fearful for her safety.
“She had already sought protection through the law, but she was still living in fear because the perpetrator was able to find her. She had to seek additional protection and alternative arrangements. Those experiences showed me that legal orders alone are not enough. Victims also need practical support systems that help ensure their safety and well-being.”
He submitted that victims should have access to clear pathways for assistance, whether through counselling, emergency accommodation, support organisations or dedicated victim services.
“Where is the mechanism that allows a victim to say, ‘I can go here for help, I can call this agency, I can access this support’? There must be something tangible that ensures the safety and welfare of victims. Those are important issues that we have to address,” he said.
Lashley revealed that a series of criminal justice reforms were already under way, including legislative changes aimed at strengthening protections for victims and witnesses.
He also hinted at significant changes to the Magistrates’ Courts and wider criminal justice framework, saying further details would be announced in due course.
He said victims who lose confidence in the justice system were less likely to engage with it, making support services an essential element of public trust.
“We have learned that victim services currently exist in many places, but they are not always connected. Without coordination, people can feel that the system is not there for them. They can lose confidence in the criminal justice system and in the agencies that are meant to protect them,” he said.
Lashley pointed to international examples, including victim support systems in England, where compensation mechanisms exist for some victims of crime. While stopping short of proposing such a programme for Barbados, he said the idea was worthy of future consideration.
“It is something we can look at in the future because there are victims who suffer life-changing injuries and are unable to work again. We have to think about how society supports those individuals, particularly when they do not have strong family networks behind them.”
The minister pledged that the consultation would not become another exercise ending with recommendations that are never implemented.
Chair of the proceedings, Marilyn Rice-Bowen, said the consultation was taking place because Barbados could no longer ignore the realities faced by victims of crime.
“Every crime has a visible victim, but its aftershocks travel through households, workplaces and entire communities, often in silence and often without support. That silence is what we are here to end,” she said.
Rice-Bowen told participants the objective was not to determine whether a national victim support framework was needed but to collectively design one.
(TRY)
