Police Officer Perceptions of Non-consensual Dissemination of Intimate Images.

Liza Zvi,Mally Shechory-Bitton

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02148

Abstract

Non-consensual dissemination of intimate images (NCII) is a major concern in many countries. The increase in the number of NCII cases and awareness of its adverse effects on victims has raised public awareness, with many states enacting legal and non-legal measures to combat this new type of violence. Yet, despite recent legislation, there is a reason to suspect that the majority of NCII cases remain unreported. Thus, research is needed on law enforcement perceptions of victims and identification of victim-blaming attitudes and factors that might affect legal decision-making. The present study addressed this issue by focusing on Israeli police officer perceptions of NCII victims and offenders: 145 police officers and 160 students, who served as a control group, were presented with a scenario depicting an NCII offense in which the stolen intimate material was either self-generated by the victim (selfies) or stealth-taken by the victim’s ex-boyfriend. In both cases, the stolen images were disseminated by the ex-boyfriend without the victim’s permission. The findings indicated victim-blaming attitudes toward NCII victims within law enforcement as well as an effect of the source of stolen images. Although officers perceived NCII as criminal and the offender as highly culpable and punishable, they engaged in victim-blaming. This was especially the case for the self-taken scenario, which elicited negative feelings and less empathy toward the victim. The relevance of emotions in legal contexts is emphasized in light of their contribution to the participants’ punitive judgments. Victim-blaming in NCII offenses and its implications are discussed, and suggestions are made for how to reduce negative and victim-blaming attitudes among law enforcement.

Highlights

Police officers are the “gatekeepers” of the criminal justice system and are usually the first to come into contact with crime victims
The way the victim is perceived may subsequently impact the way the victim is treated, as well as officer decision-making in the case. It has been well-established that the progress of cases through the criminal justice system reflects a highly selective process of elimination, referred to as attrition, and that this is especially true for sexual assault cases (Soulliere, 2005)
A recent study of 250 Israeli students corroborated this premise by showing biased perceptions toward a Non-consensual dissemination of intimate images (NCII) victim whose stolen intimate images were self-taken (Zvi and Shechory-Bitton, 2020)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Police officers are the “gatekeepers” of the criminal justice system and are usually the first to come into contact with crime victims. Rape victims who approached the police have reported low levels of satisfaction, feelings of not being taken seriously and being poorly or negatively treated (Jordan, 2001, 2004; Hammond et al, 2017) This further raises concern as to a possible impact of officer perceptions and judgments. A recent study of 250 Israeli students corroborated this premise by showing biased perceptions toward a NCII victim whose stolen intimate images were self-taken (Zvi and Shechory-Bitton, 2020). Police officers are expected to possess greater awareness of NCII and combating NCII than the non-law enforcement population They are expected to have greater familiarity with recent legislation along with knowledge that unconsented distribution of intimate images, both self-taken and stealthtaken (i.e., taken without the victim’s knowledge), constitutes a criminal act. We assessed participant positive and negative feelings toward the victim and offender, in addition to a direct measurement of their blame attributions

Participants

Procedure

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE

CONCLUSION