HELPING CRIME VICTIMS GET THE JUSTICE THEY DESERVE
WHO WE ARE
We are a Cape Town-based non-profit organization born out of the urgent need to help improve the relationship between the public and the Justice System.
We aim to help ordinary citizens understand their role in getting justice once they have been made a victim of crime.
Our specially trained Project Tracey Liaisons guide victims of crime, step by step, through the daunting maze of obtaining justice and closure.
TO ACHIEVE THE JUSTICE YOU DESERVE, EMPOWER YOURSELF WITH OUR SUPPORT, GUIDANCE & RESOURCES BELOW.
The shocking reality
of crime in South Africa
A research paper from the South African Law Commission looked at conviction rates for violent crimes (murder, rape & robbery with the use of a dangerous weapon). They followed 15,529 cases from the first step of opening of the docket for a period of more than two years.
Their findings were as follows:
Only 5.70% of the sampled violent crime cases had resulted in a conviction.
74.50% of cases reported to the police did not make it to court.
5.40% resulted in acquittal, as opposed to conviction.
There were almost as many withdrawals of the sampled cases of violent crime in court (9.98%) as convictions and acquittals combined. Forty percent of cases that went to court were withdrawn before trial. The State may withdraw a case for a variety of reasons, but it frequently does so when there is insufficient evidence to warrant prosecution. This includes situations where there was inadequate police investigation or where the police docket has been “lost”, stolen or otherwise not at court. Cases are also withdrawn when state witnesses are not at court on the trial day, many of whom simply give up after repeatedly being subjected to the numerous postponements that are common in the lower courts.
After two years, 4.43% of sampled cases of violent crime reported to the police had not yet been finalised and were only partly heard.
At Project Tracey we believe that there is no “one size fits all” and that everyone needs to take responsibility for their safety in a way that suits them. We are constantly on the lookout for new and effective ways to make ourselves safer as individuals and communities.
Neighbourhood Watch helps people protect themselves and their properties and helps reduce the fear of crime by means of active, visible citizen patrols, improved home security tips, greater vigilance, accurate reporting of suspicious incidents and crime, and by fostering a community spirit. All these efforts engender a caring community once again and reduces the opportunities for crime by increasing crime prevention awareness.
Victims of crime are often reluctant to open a case because they believe that nothing will come of it. Most victims only report it because their insurance company requires a case number before they will pay out.
Another major source of frustration is the fact that once caught, the perpetrators are not always taken off the streets, often due to lack of evidence. In reality, SAPS (South African Police Service) is immensely under resourced and sometimes they simply do not have the (wo)man-power to gather sufficient evidence to prepare for the trials.
Reporting and following up on a crime is a bit of a minefield if you don’t understand the correct process.
Enter Project Tracey
Project Tracey Liaisons are trained to work with local resources such as patrollers, security companies and/or street reps, etc, to assist in gathering evidence. This will support the local Police Station to secure convictions. The Liaisons have access to powerful tools and a team of experts who can give them accurate advice. They work closely with victims to offer guidance and support.
To help guide your process in achieving justice, go to the FREE RESOURCES below.
