Chapter 16 - Sexual Assault: Issues in Evidence Examination and Interpretation

Abstract

This chapter discusses various aspects of issues in evidence examination and interpretation of sexual assault. An applied understanding of the variety of physical evidence involved in cases of alleged rape and sexual assault, how to evaluate it, and how to interpret it, is provided. A small percentage of sexual assault reports will be false allegation which include untruthful statements, accusations, or complaints to authorities asserting that a crime occurred, which in reality did not. The witness may be lying, may be telling the truth, or may be mixing truth with select fictions. Each of these possibilities must be considered without prejudice as a function of both good science and the accused's right to due process. An investigation of an alleged sexual assault case should include the sexual assault examination protocols such as complainant history, physical examination, full body photos, documentation of physical injuries, documentation of bruising and other injury patterns, and genitalia examination. It is suggested that reconstructionists are more likely to be involved in the examination of an alleged sexual homicide, which is any homicide with a sexual component, to include sexual assault.