VOICES of VICTIMS: the Experlence of PREPAFUNG a Viciïm IMPACT STATEMENT for USE XN COURT, AS DESCRIBED by ADOLESCENT SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS
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VOICES OF VICTIMS: THE EXPERlENCE OF PREPAFUNG A VICIïM IMPACT STATEMENT FOR USE XN COURT, AS DESCRIBED BY ADOLESCENT SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS Leslie Margot Walberg-Hegan A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education Graduate Department of Adult Education, ~ornmunit~ Development and Counselling Psychology Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the Unive~ityof Toronto O Copyright by Leslie Margot Walberg-Hegan 1997 National Library 8ibliothèque nationale 1*1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington OttawaON K1AON4 OttawaON KIAOM Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la fome de microfiche/fih, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts Grom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othemise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Voices of Xctims Voices of =ctims: The Experience OfPreparing A VI& Impact Statement For Use In Court, As Describeci By Adolescent Sexual Abuse Suxvivors Doctor of Education, 1997 Leslie Margot Walberg-Hegan Graduate Department of Adult Education, Cornrnunity Development and Counselling Psychology Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto 1 set out to explore, with adolescent fernale victims of sexual abuse, their experiences of preparhg a victim impact statement for inclusion in court at the tirne of their offenders' sentencing. My chosen methodology in the area of qualitative research was a narrative approach. I conducteci indepth intewiews following 12 guiding open-ended questions with four young women who were interesteci in saring these experiences with me. From a detailed transcript of each of these interviews, 1 const~~tedmy interpretation of each participant's story or expience using their words. 1 met with each young woman again for clarity and feedback regarding what I had written. Thek nch stones and my analysis of this data are represented here. Successive reading and carefùl examination of these stones yielded valuable insight into the thoughts and feelings of the narrators. Several themes emerged during this process. 1 have organized these themes under four headings: Prepa~ga Victim Impact Statement; Going Through the Court Process; Delivering a Victim Impact Statement; and Outcornes of Voices of Victims the Experience. Understanding the various themes helps the reader to corne closer to and make meaning of the experiences of these four young women. W~thoutexception, the participants wished for their experiences to be shared in order to support and inforni other survivors through the difficult court process. The completion and publication of this thesis is a signxcant step toward achieving this goal. Another outcome of this research is the production of a booklet entitled We're Not Victims: We're Survivors that compiles excerpts f?om each participant's aory includig insight and suggestions for others. The tabbed pamphlet format is intended to be very user-friendly and is designeci as a tool that helping professionals can eas$ distribute. Copies of this booklet can be requested by contacting E-Md patandlmg.igs.net. Voices of Victims 1 have sweral people 1 wish to thank for their contributions to my completion of this thesis. 1 begin by thanking the four participants who so generously shared their stones with me. I admire their courage, strength, and desire to help others. 1am gratefid to my parents for giving me the gift of a secure and happy childhood that has inspired me to focus on child abuse prevention in my professional and academic We. 1 thank my cornmittee members, Solvega Mezitis and Manin Zuker for their time and input as the research progressed. My supervisor, Ardra Cole, was a fantastic consultant and guide as 1 wnducted the research. Her confidence in me was encouraging and her feedback invaluable. 1appreciate her wisdom and support through this journey. To my husband, Patrick, 1owe enormous thanks for his unending patience, love, and friendship frorn the beginning. 1 celebrate this accomplishment with him. Finally, 1dedicate this work to my newbom son, Cornor, who is ten weeks old at the time of printing. He was not even conceived at the start of this journey, yet is central to it, for he is now the centre of my lie. W~ththis thesis wmplete, and my son in my arms, 1have never felt more cornmitteci to the empowennent and protection of children. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION Melanie's Victim Impact Statement: An Example ....................... 2 Background To The Rescearch ..................................... 4 IntemProgram ........................................... 4 Child Wrtness Preparation Program ........................... 6 Personal Connections With The Research Topic .................. 6 Professional Links ........................................ 7 Stones In My Professionai LXe ............................... 7 Personal Experience With Victim Impact Statements .............. 8 OverviewOfThesis ............................................ 10 Studies Infomiing The Work ............................... 10 Organizational Ove~ew .................................. 10 LITERATURE REVIEW ChildSexualAbuse ............................................ 12 Short Terrn Difficuities .................................... 13 Delayed Disdosure ....................................... 14 Child Sexual Abuse And "The System" ............................. 15 System Stressors ........................................ 17 Societal System Intervention ................................ 21 FacingTheAcnised ...................................... 22 System Supports: Bill C-15 & C-126 ............................... 23 Has Bill C-15 Made A Dserence? ........................... 25 Viaims'Rights .......................................... 26 Victim Impact Statements ........................................ 26 Canadians Against Violence Everywhere Advocating Its Termination (CAVEAT) ............................................ 30 Judge's Reference To VI& Impact Statement ................. 32 Use Of vctim Impact Statements In U.S.A. .................... 33 McOn impact Statement Use In Canada ....................... 34 Verbal Victim Impact Statements ............................ 35 Secondary wctims: French And Mahaffy ...................... 36 Secondary Victims: Sexual Assault ........................... 37 Voices of Victims TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Page Voices Of Victims ............................................. 77 Introducing Melanie ......................................77 Telling Somwne ................................... 77 Thehvestigation .................................. 77 Introduction To Victim Impact Statements ............... 78 WhatIIncluded ................................... 78 WaitingForCourt .................................. 79 Preparing For Court ................................ 79 The Day Of Court .................................. 79 Delivering The Statement ............................ 80 Who Heard Me? ...................................81 Aftenvard: Reflecting On The Expenence ................ 81 Negatives ........................................ 82 Positives ......................................... 82 Suggestions For Others .............................. 83 Introducing Elanor ....................................... 84 TelhgSomeone ................................... 84 TheInvestigation .................................. 84 Introduction To Victim Impact Statement ................ 85 What 1 Included ................................... 85 WaitingForCourt .................................. 86 The Day Of Court .................................. 87 Who Heard Me? ................................... 89 Negatives ..... .-.................................. 90 Positives ......................................... 90 Suggestions For Others .............................. 90 IntroducingFaith ........................................92 Tehg Someone ................................... 92 TheInvestigation .................................. 92 Introduction to A Victim Impact Staternent ............... 92 What 1 hcIuded ................................... 92 Waiting The and Preparing for Court .................. 94 The Day Of Court .................................. 94 Hearing My Victim Impact Statement ................... 96 vii Voices of Vïctims TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont) Page 4 FWDINGS (cont.) Negatives ........................................ 98 Positives ......................................... 98 Suggestions For Others .............................. 98 htroducing Aiiey ....................................... 100 Tellingsomeone .................................. 100 Thehvestigation ................................. 100 Introduction to Victim Impact Statement ............... 100 What 1 Included .................................. 100 Waiting Time: Preparing for Court ...................