Evaluation of the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot: process evaluation report

Abstract

The Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot (the Pilot) represents a key initiative by the NSW Government to strengthen the criminal justice response to child sexual abuse. The Pilot seeks to introduce measures to reduce the difficulties for child witnesses so as to lessen the stress and duration of court proceedings for the child victim without unfairly impinging upon the defendant’s right to a fair trial. The Social Policy Research Centre at UNSW Sydney, together with Professor Judy Cashmore and Associate Professor Rita Shackel from the University of Sydney Faculty of Law were commissioned to undertake a rigorous evaluation of the Pilot.