A REFORMED CHARACTER?
Should we reform the legal system to protect all the victims in rape cases?
The major reform being debated in UK law at the present time is whether or not to make a ruling on how to judge cases in which alcohol has played an important factor (see case study).
However, the move is being resisted by the Council of Circuit Judges (COCJ) who feel that such cases should be left to the discretion of the judge and jury in each individual case.
Many believe that this attitude of resistance runs throughout the criminal justice system and the slow pace of change has lead some to think creatively about new ways to reform.
The links below provide an outline of some of the ideas being suggested.
Lords Push for Anonymity for the Accused
Members of the House of Lords propose measures to protect those falsely accused of rape
Bring in the Professionals
Different legal systems in most other countries world-wide have lead to higher conviction rates than those we see in the UK. In this piece, experts look into the systems in place in the USA and Europe, in an attempt to make the sytem easier for those making rape allegations.