Debates about court backlogs, jury trials, and sexual violence are becoming louder — and more urgent.

We are told:

• the courts are overwhelmed,
• sexual offence cases take too long,
• victims and survivors are being harmed by delay, and
• the system must modernise, even if that means curbing jury trials.

These concerns are real. Delay causes harm.

But the solutions now being discussed risk targeting the wrong part of the system.

This discussion paper explores:

• what is actually causing delay,
• why sexual violence cases — particularly non-recent child sexual abuse — place different demands on the justice system, and
• how reform can improve outcomes without weakening safeguards.

What this paper does

This paper:

• explains how the criminal justice system works in plain English,
• sets out the history and purpose of jury trials,
• examines sexual violence, sexual abuse, and non-recent child sexual abuse clearly and distinctly,
• explores why court backlogs are largely created before cases reach trial,
• considers current reform proposals, including jury trial curtailment and specialist courts, and proposes a constructive, low-risk alternative focused on making cases genuinely court-ready.

Who this paper is for

This paper is written for:

• survivors and victims,
• members of the public,
• policymakers and ministers,
• journalists, and
• professionals working across the justice system.

No prior legal knowledge is assumed.

All key terms are explained, and a full glossary is included.

Why this matters

• Rising reporting of rape and sexual abuse — including adults reporting abuse suffered as children — does not reflect new harm.
• It reflects long-hidden harm finally coming into view.
• A justice system designed around immediacy struggles when faced with delayed disclosure, complex evidence, and historic abuse.
• When that reality is misunderstood, pressure builds to prioritise speed over legitimacy.

This paper argues that:

• curbing jury trials will not fix delay,
• it risks undermining trust and survivor confidence, and
• it may push cost and harm further down the line.

Reform should focus first on how cases enter the court system, not on weakening what happens at the end of it.

How to use this page

If you are short on time, start with the Executive Summary.

If you want full context, depth, and explanation, read the Comprehensive Discussion Paper.

Both documents are designed to stand alone, but they are best read together.

About the author

This paper is informed by both systems analysis and lived experience of navigating the criminal justice system as an adult survivor of non-recent child sexual abuse.

It is not a complaint or a campaign.

It is an attempt to make a complex system understandable, so reform decisions are made with full awareness of their consequences.

Written by Chris Tuck, Founder & CEO of Survivors of Abuse, and former member of the Victims & Survivors Consultative Panel of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (2015–2022).

The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the views of any statutory body or inquiry.

> Executive Summary

> Rethinking Court Backlogs Jury Trials Sexual Violence