Access to Justice for Children with Disabilities who are Victims of Crime in Lithuania

Abstract This article aims to study the situation in Lithuania concerning access to justice for children with mental health conditions, psychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities who are victims of crime. One focus group and 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with children with disabilities, parents, legal guardians, support services and criminal justice professionals. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and data was analysed thematically using maxqda software. The data analysis resulted in six themes: 1. Unaccommodated individual needs; 2. “The contact with them is really only through their parents”; 3. A lack of specific skills and specialised training among professionals; 4. “It’s just like a stamp or a label – that they ‘make things up’”; 5. “First of all, it’s a lack of collaboration”; 6. Systemic and structural challenges hinder better practices. Further research needs to explore access to justice for children with different types of disabilities and in different cultural and legal contexts. Also, to define the most effective interventions to support them in criminal justice systems.