Mandate pre-trial training for jurors in rape and sexual assault trials

Background

Research shows that misconceptions about rape and trauma can influence jurors’ decisions. The UK Government must introduce mandatory training for jurors serving on rape and sexual assault trials to help ensure fairer, evidence-based verdicts, and to reduce the risk of unconscious bias.

Additional details

Rape and sexual assault cases often rely on witness testimony, making jurors’ understanding of trauma and consent particularly important. Academic research has shown that rape myths can influence jurors’ decisions, with jurors who hold these beliefs being less likely to find defendants guilty. Mandatory, evidence-based training on trauma, consent and victim behaviour should be introduced to jurors serving on sexual violence cases, to help ensure verdicts are based on evidence rather than misconceptions

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