Chapter 8 - Forensic Victimology in Cases of Sexual Assault

Abstract

This chapter discusses various aspects of forensic victimology in cases of sexual assault. Forensic victimology is the objective examination of victim information for purposes of addressing investigative and legal issues. A comprehensive understanding of victims and their circumstances will allow for an accurate interpretation of the facts of a case, which will allow for an accurate interpretation of the nature of their harm or loss, and subsequently teach about the crime and offender. Forensic victimology reduces victim bias by examining the victim through an objective, uncompromising lens. Several myths of victim culpability and provocation are presented. Each of these myths reflects an ignorance of the crime of rape, victim responses to being raped, and the motives of rapists. The cumulative effect of these victim capability and provocation myths is tremendous and results in an increased cultural tolerance of rape, less effective investigations for the unrapeable and can even increase the guilt of victims as they buy into these myths themselves. It is suggested that the investigator should be familiar with the last known activities of the victim and subsequently determine how a given victim got to a place and time where an offender was able to access him or her.