Victims of Crime in Northern Ireland Feel 'Traumatized' by Long Delays in Criminal Justice System

Long delays in criminal cases are causing victims to feel traumatized and put their lives on hold, with some cases taking five years or longer to conclude.

A recent case involving child cruelty took eight and a half years to be resolved.

The victims' commissioner has warned that delays in the justice system are causing victims to withdraw from cases and that the system is "not fit for purpose." A report by the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland has found that police evidence files of "poor quality" are contributing to delays in court cases, and the Public Prosecution Service has also been found to have files that do not meet standards.

Both organizations are working to address the delays caused by increased complexity of cases and disruptions caused by the pandemic.