The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that Izabella LeBlanc will present Master’s research titled, Perceived Legal System Support of Crime Survivors and Attitudes on Justice on 03/06/2026 at 1:15-2:00 pm in Via Zoom (https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/81417711637). Everyone is invited to attend.
Psychology
Chair: Dr. David Ross
Co-Chair:
Abstract:
Past researchers have demonstrated the impact of victimization on mental health outcomes, along with survivor dissatisfaction with legal processes and services. However, previous researchers also have shown the efficacy of sparse, yet successful, restorative justice programs that started because of retributive justice and its inability to directly address survivor harm. Thus, the current study aimed to examine how crime survivors perceive support from the legal system and attitudes towards restorative justice practices. The current study analyzed participant attitudes (N = 347) with an undergraduate sample recruited from a university in the Southeastern United States and an online cloud-survey sample from Tennessee. Participants completed a survey in which crime survivors were asked about their victimization experience(s), and all participants were asked about their attitudes towards restorative justice and the legal system. Analyses were run to examine mean differences between non-victims and victims, and subjective victimization impact groups. The results indicated that survivors maintain less positive attitudes towards the legal system, and some hesitance towards restorative justice. Open responses addressed some of the barriers survivors face, ways the legal system could address these challenges, and holistic approaches to prioritize survivor healing. The implications of this study are that it could be utilized to advocate for greater survivor support within our legal system, informing policy, practice and alternative, victim-focused approaches to justice.