Stranger Assault Research Articles

Genital injuries and allegation of digital vaginal penetration – A retrospective examination of forensic case notes

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of genital injuries following alleged sexual assault by digital penetration of the vagina in the absence of penile penetration of the vagina or anus in women age 16 and over; and to compare with the prevalence of genital injuries following alleged sexual assault by penile vaginal penetration in the absence of penile penetration of the anus or digital penetration of the vagina and/or anus. Population1428 adults and children attending a forensic medical examination between September 2017 and January 2020 at the Haven sexual assault referral center situated in Paddington, London, UK. DesignRetrospective review of forensic notes. MethodsEligible cases were identified through the standardized forensic notes and relevant data was extracted. Results109 cases of women 16 years and over alleging digital penetration only and 110 cases of women 16 years and over alleging penile vaginal penetration only were included. The 110 cases of penile vaginal penetration only were randomly selected for comparison purposes. 7.6% of Haven attenders fulfilled the digital penetration only category. In this category, the patients mean age was 27.2 years. Thirteen patients (11.9%) sustained genital injuries; of those with genital injuries, eleven (84.6%) sustained one or more abrasions. The most common site of injury was the labia minora (46.2%). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups (digital penetration only and penile vaginal penetration only) in terms of number of patients with genital injuries, type or location of injury. There were differences regarding the relationship between patient and assailant: more stranger assaults in the digital penetration group 27/109 (29%) vs 13/110 (12%) in the penile penetration group. There was one assault by multiple assailants in the digital penetration group and 8 (7.3%) in the penile penetration group. In the digital penetration group there was more alcohol use [71/109 (65.1%) vs 62/110 (56.4%)] but less drug use [21/109 (19.3%) vs 30/110 (27.3%)] than in the penile vaginal penetration group. ConclusionThe majority of patients examined following an allegation of digital vaginal penetration without penile penetration sustained no injuries. Of those who did, abrasions were the most common type of injury, with the inner labia minora being the most common location for injury. There were no significant differences with the injuries seen in the penile vaginal penetration group in terms of number of patients with genital injuries, type or location of injury.

Recorded Withdrawal from The Police Investigation Among Victims of Rape: A Mixed Method Approach to Identifying Case Characteristics and Police Documented Reasons

According to police records, many rape cases are closed because victims withdraw from the police investigation. However, little is known about the causes of victim withdrawal, and findings need to be replicated in other cultural contexts, as existing literature primarily stems from the US and UK. Based on a sample of rapes reported in a Danish police district, the present study was aimed at enhancing our understanding of the characteristics and causes of recorded victim withdrawal from the police investigation following rape using a mixed-methods approach. The objective of the study was twofold. The first objective was to investigate the impact of selected case characteristics on the likelihood of recorded victim withdrawal using a logistic regression analysis. Results showed that stranger assaults and cases with no verbal or physical victim resistance or no forensic examination were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of recorded victim withdrawal. The second objective was to qualitatively explore police documented reasons for victim withdrawal in files using content analysis. Results indicated that victims may withdraw from the investigation for several reasons, for instance due to psychological distress associated with participating in an investigation. The findings underline potential barriers for the cooperation between victims and police in the investigation of rapes and should be used for establishing initiatives toward reducing the risk of victim withdrawal in rape investigations.

Characteristics of precollege sexual violence victimization and associations with sexual violence revictimization during college

Objective: To examine the prevalence and characteristics of precollege sexual victimization (SV) experiences and associations with revictimization and recent substance use behaviors among a sample of college students who reported precollege SV. Participants: A sub-sample of 931 college students who reported precollege SV at baseline data collection for an ongoing multi-site clinical trial. Methods: Data were collected via electronic surveys between September 2015 and March 2017. Measures included precollege and during college SV, recent substance use, and alcohol-related harm reduction behaviors. Results: Precollege SV characteristics associated with revictimization included: Nonpenile penetration (aOR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.04–2.19); pressured sex (aOR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.06–2.01); and stranger assault (aOR: 2.03, 95%CI: 1.22–3.40). Past 30-day binge drinking was also associated with revictimization (aOR: 1.86, 95%CI: 1.36–2.54). Conclusions: The relationship between precollege SV and alcohol, especially binge drinking, may require a more integrated approach to preventing subsequent revictimization.

The Clinical and Radiological Examination of Acute Intimate Partner Violence Injuries: A Retrospective Analysis of an Italian Cohort of Women

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most frequent type of violence against women. We compared clinical and radiological IPV characteristics to stranger assault (SA). We retrospectively identified 123 women with IPV from court reports and matched them to 124 SA. Clinical and radiological characteristics were evaluated by testing their sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for IPV, and the strength of their association with IPV. IPV women referred with more delay to the emergency department (ED), had more ED accesses, and showed more mismatch between reports to the triage and disclosures to the ED physician. They also displayed more head, neck, and face injuries, and new-plus-old fractures. The identification of specific features may help ED physicians to suspect IPV.

P03 Baseline characteristics and early mental health sequelae in adolescents presenting after sexual assault

<h3>Background</h3> Estimates suggest 29% of rapes and 41% of sexual assaults reported to the police involve victims &lt;17 years. Longitudinal research evaluating outcomes following adolescent sexual assault is lacking. <h3>Aims</h3> To describe the characteristics of adolescent sexual assault and early mental health sequelae in young people (YP) presenting to the sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) serving a large UK city. <h3>Methods</h3> <i>Design</i>: Prospective longitudinal cohort study. <i>Study population</i>: We approached all YP aged 13–17 years presenting to a SARC within six weeks of assault. Baseline data collection included psychological evaluation using the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (depressive symptoms), Self-Report for Childhood Anxiety-Related Disorders (SCARED)-short form (anxiety symptoms) and Impact of Events Scale (post-traumatic symptoms). <h3>Results</h3> 30% of YP consented to take part. Data are available for the first 94 participants (mean [SD] age: 15.16 [1.24] years; 96% female). Those with learning disability and young people of black ethnicity were over-represented compared to the local population (18% <i>vs.</i> 2.5%, and 23% <i>vs</i>. 11%, respectively). 15% had a history of previous non-consensual sex and 44% were known to social services. 39% had sought help for mental health difficulties in the previous year and 37% had previously self-harmed. Participants experienced vaginal rape in 72% of cases, oral rape in 40% and anal rape in 13%. 44% of assaults involved physical violence and 9% involved a weapon. 29% involved alcohol and 14% involved drugs. 36% were stranger assaults, 47% involved an acquaintance and the remainder involved partners or ex-partners (3%), or a relative (5%). Assailants were most commonly aged 15–20 (41%) or 21–30 (22%), with 12% &lt;15 years. Early psychological outcomes: 73% had significant depressive symptoms, 90% had a high likelihood of post-traumatic stress disorder, 69% met criteria for panic disorder or significant somatic symptoms, and 60% met criteria for generalised anxiety disorder. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Adolescents accessing SARCs are a vulnerable population and exhibit high levels of psychological morbidity within six weeks of sexual assault. Longitudinal research is critically important for evaluating outcomes over time and to inform interventions and preventive programmes.

Heterogeneity in interpersonal violence outcome research: An investigation and discussion of clinical and research implications

Abstract The term ‘interpersonal violence’ is used to refer to a wide range of violent acts, including intimate partner violence, child abuse and stranger assaults. Two extensive reviews of interventions to reduce or prevent interpersonal violence published between 1950 and 2008 identified a large literature base reflecting the extensive collective effort of violence researchers over the past 50 years. However, neither review was able to meaningfully synthesize sub-group data due to the high degree of heterogeneity present. This paper interrogates this apparent contradiction by examining three examples of predefined sub-group analyses from these reviews. None of the chosen examples produced groups of studies with adequate homogeneity for meaningful meta-analysis and synthesis, indicating that the violence research literature, while extensive, is currently too heterogeneous to be used to inform policy related to the most appropriate interventions suitable for evidence-based practice. If the literature cannot become more focused via a major topic prioritization exercise, an alternative solution to this problem may be to adopt a realist synthesis approach to determine what works, for whom, and in what context.

On the Use of Crime Rates

Crime rates provide a well-known and easy-to-understand standardized measure of the level of criminal activity of places. However, crime rates are based on several assumptions that are seldom discussed or even mentioned in most scientific analyses of crime. This article builds on a relatively simple observation: residential population is not always an appropriate measure of potential offenders and victims in an area. A typology of spatial relations between offender, victim, and criminal event is used to explore the circumstances under which residential population size is the appropriate denominator of crime rates. Spatial regression models suggest that residential population size is indicative of the number of both potential offenders and victims of domestic violence in a census tract, measures only potential targets of burglary, and was simply not representative of the population at risk of being involved in stranger assaults that took place in Montreal, Canada. This article challenges the traditional use of residential population-based crime rates in criminological research and demonstrates that conventional crime rates only offer accurate information about risk in a limited number of situations.

P02-205 - A comparative study related to the effects of alcohol, location and stranger on sexual assault in college women at university of northern colorado (UNC), USA

IntroductionAlcohol involves 50% of sexual assault among college students. Eighty-five percent of on-campus rapes are acquaintance rapes. According to Bohmer and Parrot 25% of college women have experienced forced sex at some time during their college careers.ObjectiveTo determine the relationship between alcohol, location and stranger with sexual assault in college women at UNC.AimTo compare sexual assault in which alcohol was consumed versus assault in which alcohol was not consumed, assault which occurred on campus versus off campus, and friend versus stranger assault.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study. Data was collected from 2003–2007. Students surveyed were undergraduates and graduates selected on the basis of non probability convenient sampling. Sample size calculation was done using the W.H.O. software where α = 0.05, 1-Beta = 90, Po = 0.55, Pa = 0.35, n (sample size) = 52. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for the dependent variable of sexual assault with a threshold for selection of p &lt; 0.05.ResultsFriend assault had a high prevalence of assault than stranger assault (35/84; 41.66% v 17/84; 20.23; p &lt; 0.05). On campus assault had an increased prevalence of assault than off campus assault (33/84; 39.28% v 19/84: 22.61%; p &lt; 0.05). Friend assault was the strongest predictor for assault and was 2.35 times (95% CI, 2.27 – 2.40) more as compared to stranger assault.ConclusionAlcohol increases the probability of sexual assault if the students are on campus and have friendship with the perpetrator.

The Gender Gap in Violent Victimization, 1973–2004

In this paper, data from the NCS and NCVS are developed for the purpose of describing long-term trends in male and female violent victimization for the period 1973–2004. More specifically, gender-specific trends in violence are compared according to crime type and victim–offender relationship. Despite their potential usefulness, these data have not been published previously. The data reveal that the gender gap in robbery victimization has remained relatively stable while the gender gaps in aggravated and simple assault victimization have narrowed over time. Results varied when the data were disaggregated by victim–offender relationship. Male and female rates of nonstranger simple assault and nonstranger robbery were roughly equivalent throughout the period, and the greater risk for male nonstranger aggravated assault that was evident three decades ago has largely disappeared. The gender gap persists in stranger assault, but has narrowed somewhat because male rates of victimization have declined more than female rates. In addition, male and female trends and the gender gap in nonlethal intimate partner violence differ from the patterns established in intimate partner homicide studies. The paper concludes with a discussion of research that is needed to understand why the gender gap in violent victimization has changed for some types of violence but not others, and how greater attention to gender will improve efforts to understand crime trends.

Methamphetamine use and violence among young adults

The current research analyzed the relationship between methamphetamine use and violence among young adults eighteen to twenty-five years old. Interviews were conducted with a sample of 106 respondents. The research was based primarily on in-depth, life-history interviews with individuals who used methamphetamine for a minimum of three months and who resided in Los Angeles County. Of the 106 respondents, 37 (34.9 percent) had committed violence while under the influence of methamphetamine. Males comprised two-thirds of the 37 respondents (N = 24). Of the total sample, 38 percent of males and 30 percent of females committed methamphetamine-related violence, respectively. Overall, the 37 respondents reported fifty-four separate violent events while using methamphetamine. Of these fifty-four events, thirty-three (61.1 percent) acts of violence involved domestic relationships, nine (16.7 percent) of the violent events were drug related, seven (13 percent) were gang related, and five (9.3 percent) involved random acts of violence (e.g., road rage, stranger assault). The findings suggest that methamphetamine use is a risk factor for violence. There was, however, no evidence of a single, uniform career path that all chronic methamphetamine users follow. Violence is not an inevitable outcome of even chronic methamphetamine use.

Methamphetamine use and Violence

The current research analyzed the relationship between methamphetamine use and violence. Interviews were conducted with a sample of 205 respondents. The research was based on life history interviews with individuals who used methamphetamine for a minimum of three months and who resided in Los Angeles County. Of the 205 respondents, 55 (26.8%) had committed violence while under the influence of methamphetamine. Males comprised two thirds of the 55 respondents (N=36). Of the total sample, 30% of males and 23% of females committed methamphetamine-related violence, respectively. Overall, the 55 respondents reported 80 separate violent events while using methamphetamine. Of these 80 events, 41 (51.4%) acts of violence involved domestic relationships, 28.6% (N=23) of the violent events were drug related, 8.6% (N=7) were gang related, and 11.3% (N=9) involved random acts of violence (e.g., road rage, stranger assault). The study findings suggest that methamphetamine use heightens the risk for violence. Everyone interviewed agreed that methamphetamine has clear abuse and violence potential. Having said this, it is crucial to state that there was no evidence of a single, uniform career path that all chronic methamphetamine users follow. Progression from controlled use to addiction is not inexorable. Furthermore, a significant number of sample members experienced limited or no serious social, psychological, or physical dysfunction as a result of their methamphetamine use. Most germane to this study, we found that violence is not an inevitable outcome of even chronic methamphetamine use.

The Role of Offender Alcohol Use in Rape Attacks

The role of offender preassault alcohol use (as perceived by victims) in the outcomes of rape incidents (N = 362) was analyzed using data from the 1992-1996 National Crime Victimization Survey. Offender preassault alcohol use was hypothesized to be related to more risky assault characteristics (e.g., stranger assaults and weapons) and more severe assault outcomes (e.g., completed rapes and physical injury). As predicted, offender alcohol use was associated with stranger assaults, night assaults, outdoor locations, and greater victim resistance. Logistic regression analyses showed that offender alcohol use was associated with less likelihood of rape completion and unrelated to physical injury when demographic variables and assault characteristics were controlled. Suggestions for future research on the role of alcohol in rape incidents are presented.

Treating Spousal Violence ‘Differently’

Commentators maintain that the criminal justice system deals differently, and therefore unfairly, with victims of spousal assault. Quantitative and qualitative studies supporting this contention, however, generally fail to make appropriate comparisons with the processing of like crimes. Police arrest rates for spousal violence, for example, are inappropriately compared with those for crime in general. Extrapolating from police arrest practices to other criminal justice processes involves the unwarranted assumption that what is true of one aspect of the system applies throughout. This study compares the processing of cases of spousal assault with that of acquaintance and stranger assaults. An examination of 332 cases in two regional courts of summary jurisdiction in Australia reveals no evidence that spousal assault cases were treated differently to other assaults at the charging, plea, or sentencing stages. The study concludes that the goal of parity of treatment may not promote fairness, nor be appropriate to spousal assault cases.

Long-term psychological distress associated with marital rape and aggravated assault: A comparison to other crime victims

This study compared four groups of women who reported being the victims of a single violent crime (total N = 47) and a group of non-victimized women (N = 96). Victims were divided into groups based on the type of assault (rape vs. aggravated assault) and the identity of their assailant (husband vs. stranger). The groups were compared on measures of psychological functioning and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Crime victims reported higher levels of psychological distress than did the non-victimized women across a variety of symptom areas. There were no group differences among the four victim groups on any of the measures. Women assaulted by their husbands were more likely to report that the assault was one of a series of similar attacks. Victims of aggravated assault were more likely than rape victims to report that they feared for their lives during the assault. Results are discussed with respect to societal views on the comparative severity of marital and stranger assaults.

When is an assault not an assault? The Canadian public's attitudes towards wife and stranger assault

There is no distinction in the Canadian Criminal Code between assaults committed on strangers and assaults of spouses. Traditionally, however, wife assault has been considered a private affair, and it has been argued that this attitude continues to be reflected in the police response to domestic disputes. In this study of 240 adults'written responses to assault scenarios, the victim-offender relationship produced variations in ratings of seriousness, in the relative amounts of blame attributed to the victim and offender, and in the recommended police response. In general, nondomestic recidivist offenders tended to be treated most harshly by the subjects, as did offenders who assaulted their victims inside a private house. Additionally, female subjects gave higher ratings of seriousness of the offense, and considered future violence by the offender to be more likely, than did male subjects. The findings are explained in terms of the subjects' ability to identify with the offender, although the decision-making process in judging cases of assault is evidently complex. The implications of these findings for police officers with discretionary powers are considered.