ABSTRACT

This chapter examines what justice means to victim-survivors of image-based sexual abuse. It explores victim-survivors’ experiences of the criminal justice system and considers the extent to which justice extends beyond the bounds of the (criminal) law. To this end, several themes are explored that have emerged from this study: Justice as criminal punishment; justice as enforcement; justice as recognition; and justice as reclaiming control. While conceptions of justice vary from person to person, the authors found that at every stage of the criminal justice process, victim-survivors are commonly being denied justice. They argue that a multi-stranded, multi-institutional and multi-agency response is needed to adequately address image-based sexual abuse. Such an approach will enable victim-survivors to “reclaim control” of their images, bodies, life, careers and physical and mental health.