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From Report to Court: Digital Guide

This guide is for adult survivors of sexual violence. It explains the stages of the legal process, from deciding whether to report the incident to the police, through to the trial, the outcome of the trial and sentence. It sets out the relevant law and what obligations the different agencies in the criminal justice system have to survivors.

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Before you use this guide…

From Report to Court is a legal guide that provides information to people who have experienced sexual violence, as well as to their families, friends and the organisations that support them.

It explains the different sexual offences, what you can do if you have experienced sexual violence (recently or in the past) and where you can get help. It also explains the stages of the legal process, from deciding whether to report the incident to the police and the investigation through to the trial and sentencing.

This is not an emergency resource. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent medical help, please call 999 or visit your local A&E department.

If you are looking for legal advice, we give free and confidential legal advice to women in England and Wales. You can send us a message through our online FLOWS Answers service or you can call us on our Criminal Law Advice Line.

If you are looking for someone to talk to you can call the Rape Crisis 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line.

 

Language used in this guide

Sexual violence is most commonly perpetrated by men against women. In this guide we refer to the perpetrator of sexual violence throughout as he and the person who has experienced it as she. However, the information in this guide may be helpful to all survivors.

Depending on the stage of proceedings we will use the terms perpetrator, suspect and defendant to describe the abuser, and complainant or victim to describe the survivor of sexual violence. These are the terms most often used in the criminal justice system.

WARNING: The guide contains information and descriptions of sexual assault and violence.

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We are here for you

I'm sorry this happened to you and that you're here. Just know that you have thousands of people by your side going through it too.

Lived Experience Panel member who helped design this guide

Table of Contents

Click on the boxes below to access sections of this guide

Something has happened to me. Is it a criminal offence?

This section explains a number of sexual offences. It is also provides information on where you can get more help if you have experienced sexual violence, whether it was recently or a long time ago.

A sexual offence has been committed against me. What are my options?

This section provides information about what you can do if you have experienced sexual violence, whether it was recently or a long time ago.

I have reported a sexual offence to the police. What will happen now?

This section explains what should happen during the police investigation, including being interviewed and giving a statement, identification of an offender, arrest and interview, and more.

The person I reported has been charged. What next?

This section explains what happens once a decision to charge has been made.

The person I reported has not been charged. What are my options?

This section explains your options if your abuser is not charged by the police. It covers ways to challenge this decision, protective orders, alternatives to charging, private prosecutions, and more.

There is going to be a trial. What will happen?

This section explains the trial process, preparing for court and being a witness at the trial.

The defendant was found not guilty. Can anything be done?

This section explains what a not guilty verdict means, action you may be able to take to protect yourself and where you can seek support.

The defendant was found guilty. What happens next?

A guilty verdict means that the jury, judge or magistrates have decided that the defendant did commit the offence he was charged with. This page explains what happens after a guilty verdict.

Compensation for people who have been subject to sexual violence

If you have experienced sexual violence you may be eligible to apply for compensation. This page gives you information about claims and compensation options, who can apply for them and how.

Further Information

The truth about sexual violence

This section busts common myths about sexual violence.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication  may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of Rights of Women.
The information in this guide is correct to April 2024. The law is complex and may have changed since this guide was produced. This guide is designed to provide general information only for the law in England and Wales and is not legal advice. If you are affected by any of the issues in this handbook you should seek up- to-date, independent legal advice.
Rights of Women does not accept responsibility for any reliance placed on the legal information contained in this guide.
© Rights of Women 2024