Psychological Evidence Toolkit - A Guide for Crown Prosecutors
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This guidance provides an extensive overview of the psychological impact of sexual assault, relevant mental health conditions, and considerations for effectively interacting with victims, particularly children. It aims to assist prosecutors in understanding how these factors influence witness reliability and the judicial process, ensuring sensitive handling of cases involving vulnerable victims. It covers expert evidence and approaches to support victims throughout their interactions with the criminal justice system.
Key points
- Understanding psychological health is crucial for fair trials.
- Prosecutors should be aware of the complexities of mental health in victims.
- Expert evidence can enhance case presentations.
- Special measures and adaptations are often necessary for vulnerable witnesses.
- Cultural and developmental factors affect victim testimony.
- Education on mental health issues should be a priority for prosecutors.
Public-interest factors
- Support for vulnerable victims
- Promotion of justice
- Reduction of victimization barriers
- Improved witness credibility
- Enhancing public confidence in the legal system
- Ensuring fair handling of cases involving mental health
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.