What You Didn’t Know About Criminal Sexual Assault Trials — Part 1

With guest Pam McClusky, Crown Prosecutor (she/her)Did you know that longstanding trends show that most sexual assaults are not reported to police, and of those that are, only a small fraction are prosecuted? Did you know that though the defence lawyer acts on behalf of the accused, the Crown acts on behalf of the state and not on behalf of those who have made the accusations?Join us to listen in and learn from Pamela McCluskey, a local Crown Prosecutor who has been practicing law for over 20 years. Pamela’s work has often focused on sexual violence offences, including historical and cold sexual violence cases. Speaking from her perspective as a Crown Prosecutor, Pamela will describe the role of the Crown in criminal trials, some of what might be expected in criminal trials about sexual assault, and in the process, unpack common misconceptions about sexual violence and the criminal legal system.Please note that although Pamela speaks from her perspective as a Crown Prosecutor, she is not speaking as a spokesperson of the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service or Alberta Justice. Any opinions expressed by Pamela are her own. Pamela does not discuss any specific case and does not speak to any matter that is presently before the Court in any way.