NCJ Number
95334
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1984) Pages: 67-78
Date Published
1984
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Cases drawn from the Magistrates' Court in Melbourne, Australia, illustrate the value of a court crisis intervention service for both defendants and victims and their families.
Abstract
A defendant's alleged illegal behavior is often the symptom of other personal problems, and a victim's readjustment depends largely on past experiences of coping with anxiety and stress. Both may feel confused and powerless when summoned to appear in court. Moreover, fear and personal turmoil inhibit useful open discussion with lawyers and the police. The court hearing is a time of anxiety and crisis, and at this point an individual frequently is willing to disclose important information that a crisis worker can use to encourage personal responsibility in decisionmaking. A voluntary organization started a crisis intervention service at the Prahran Magistrates' Court in 1980 which has since expanded to 12 additional courts. One case study taken from this court shows how crisis intervention workers were able to help a boy who had been sexually assaulted cope with testifying and help the mother deal with her feelings about the incident. At the same time, the crisis intervention service counseled the defendant's wife who had just had a baby and was both angry and frightened. Other case examples discuss how crisis counseling helped a woman charged with drunk driving deal with family problems that caused her to drink, supported the parents of a young woman who had been murdered and whose character was being attacked by the defense attorney, and assisted migrants. In all situations, the most important aspect was the worker 'being there' to enable defendants, families, and victims express their grief, anger, and frustration which in turn enhanced their abilities to cope. The paper includes 14 footnotes and 2 references.