Testifying in Court: Virtual Reality as a Preparation Strategy for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Iceland
摘要
For survivors of sexual violence, testifying in court can be a stressful experience. For many survivors, preparation has shown to be of importance to improve this process and reduce feelings of secondary victimization. In this study we report findings from a research project in Iceland where survivors have been invited to explore the use of virtual reality (VR) as a preparation strategy for testifying in court. Here we explore how VR, as a preparation strategy, can facilitate survivors’ agency when testifying in court. The data consists of three studies where survivors of sexual violence in Iceland entered a VR courtroom and were subsequently interviewed regarding the VR experience. The results suggest that the VR experience evokes similar negative emotions as the real-life courtroom, and these might decrease with repeated exposures. The VR experience also appears to increase a sense of empowerment, control, and agency. The findings are presented within the framework of Konradi’s theory of witnesses’ agency in the criminal justice process.