A survey among the heads of courts with jurisdiction in violence against women highlights «the existence of widespread deficiencies as well as significant interterritorial differences,» according to a report from the Observatory against Domestic and Gender Violence.
This was announced on Wednesday by the Plenary of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) after becoming aware of the study and agreeing to transfer it to territorial members to «take the necessary measures to improve the functioning of these judicial bodies,» and to the Presidents of the Superior Courts of Justice.
The questions directed to the heads of 477 judicial bodies (121 Courts of Violence against Women; 314 compatible courts, and 42 Criminal Courts) focus on facilities, duty lawyers available to act in these procedures, Integral Forensic Assessment Units, the existence of Victim Assistance Offices and courses for aggressors, telematic devices, and personnel resources.
Regarding facilities, the overall satisfaction index is 2.9 points (out of a maximum of 5), with those in the Balearic Islands (2), followed by those in Andalusia (2.6) and Asturias (2.8) being the least satisfied judges. 79% of judicial bodies in Spain do not have specific spaces for victims, and 90.5% do not have a family meeting point, as highlighted by the CGPJ.
Additionally, 38.9% of facilities have waiting rooms for victims accompanied by minors, and 31.2% have Gesell rooms. By type of court, exclusive courts for violence against women show the highest satisfaction index (3.1), followed by criminal courts (2.9) and compatible courts (2.7).
Regarding the availability of duty lawyers specific to procedures for violence against women, the study indicates that it is high throughout the territory, with an average percentage of judicial bodies having them at 83.7%.
In this regard, the worst data is found in Extremadura, with duty lawyers available in 58.3% of judicial bodies. On the other hand, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Community, and Madrid have 100% of courts with these professionals. Close to one hundred percent are also Aragon (92.9%), Andalusia (92.5%), and the Basque Country (92.3%).
INTEGRAL FORENSIC ASSESSMENT UNITS
Satisfaction with integral forensic assessment units has an average score of 2.9, with the most common criticism being the delay in issuing reports, often due to a lack of professionals in these units. In 44.3% of judicial bodies, the average delay exceeds six months.
As highlighted by the CGPJ, the lowest scores are in the Balearic Islands (1.9) and Madrid (2.1), while Andalusia, Aragon, and Navarra reach 3 points and surpass them in Castilla-La Mancha (3.3), Catalonia (3.3), the Valencian Community (3.5), and the Basque Country (3.1).
Regarding this issue, the highest rating is from criminal courts. In 20% of these types of bodies, the delay in issuing reports exceeds six months, a situation that occurs in 48.5% of exclusive courts for violence against women and in 44.3% of compatible courts.
Furthermore, 51.7% of judicial bodies have a Victim Assistance Office, with an average satisfaction index in this area of 3.8 percent. Respondents’ ratings are positive in almost all territories, with the lowest scores in the Balearic Islands (2.8) and the Canary Islands (3). Above four points are Navarra (4.7), the Valencian Community (4.5), Galicia (4.3), La Rioja (4.2), and Catalonia (4.1).
COURSES FOR AGGRESSORS
The average satisfaction index of judges surveyed with courses for aggressors is 2.2 points, a rating that corresponds to the lack of availability of this resource in 71.6% of judicial bodies. In the Balearic Islands, Madrid, and Navarra, the percentage of bodies without courses for aggressors is less than 50 percent.
Electronic devices also receive a low average score (2.2) among judges. The highest rating is from the Basque Country (2.9) and the lowest (1.7) is obtained in Andalusia and the Valencian Community. The most frequent complaints are about the delay in installing requested devices, with delays between three and five hours in 39.1% of cases and over five hours in 30% of cases.
Additionally, 69.4% of respondents are not satisfied with the communication and incident resolution procedure with telematic devices, according to the study reported by Europa Press.
The average satisfaction of judges with the personnel resources of the judicial body is 2.6. The highest ratings are from Madrid (3.3) and Galicia (3), and the lowest are from Castilla y León (2), the Balearic Islands (2.1), and Andalusia (2.2). In 50.7% of judicial bodies, there is a high turnover rate of personnel.
The survey, conducted by the Observatory, was answered during the months of February and March by nearly half of the judges to whom it was addressed, a sample considered sufficient to assess the situation of these judicial bodies based on the direct experience of their heads.