Survivors Speak: How the Criminal Justice System Responds to Sexual Violence

Abstract

Studies show that one in five Australian women has been sexually assaulted in her lifetime. How well does our criminal justice system deal with this problem? Three prominent survivors of sexual violence—Nina Funnell, Bri Lee and Saxon Mullins—shared their experiences with the legal system at a panel discussion hosted by the Faculty of Law at Bond University on 6 June 2019. The panellists discussed the three main stages in the process—police, prosecutions and the courts—and reflected upon the challenges they encountered in their cases, as well as offering suggestions for reform. The panel was chaired by Professor Jonathan Crowe of Bond University and introduced by Professor Nick James, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law. This is an edited transcript of the discussion.