Victims Of Assault Research Articles

"That is Not Behavior Consistent With a Rape Victim": The Effects of Officer Displays of Doubt on Sexual Assault Case Processing and Victim Participation.

Despite the prevalence and severity of sexual violence, case attrition has been identified as a significant issue. Of the cases that are reported to police, only a small portion result in arrest, prosecution, or conviction. Research has revealed that much of this attrition occurs early in the process and that a number of theoretically supported legal (e.g., physical evidence, victim participation) and extralegal (e.g., demographics, victim credibility) factors influence how and whether a case progresses through the criminal justice system. However, few researchers have directly examined the impact of officer doubt on case processing. Whereas legal and extralegal factors represent case characteristics, doubt represents officer cognition about these characteristics. These perceptions can affect how victims are treated, how police investigate the case, and ultimately, the case's progression through the system. A random sample of sexual assault reports from one police department in a medium-sized jurisdiction in the western U.S. was drawn to examine the expression of officer doubt, as well as its impact on victim participation, arrest, and referral for prosecution while controlling for relevant legal and extralegal factors. The findings suggest that officer doubt is an important consideration in sexual assault case processing, independent of other legal and extralegal factors, and that it significantly impacts the likelihood of arrest and referral for prosecution. Consistent with previous research, police decision-making was also impacted by certain legal factors. Victim participation was not directly affected by officer doubt but it was predicted by extralegal factors. Implications for future sexual assault research and practitioner training are discussed.

Use of SARC services by victims of sexual violence: Auditing the ethnicity of Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre's clients

IntroductionSaint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Manchester provides services to adults and children who have suffered sexual assault. The ethnic composition of those who attended the centre was audited in 2001 and 2003 to measure how well it serves different ethnic groups. This paper provides an updated audit using 2019 data. MethodologyCensus data for Greater Manchester, and data from the Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW) showing rates of sexual assault for different ethnic groups, were used to predict the ethnic composition of sexual assault victims in Greater Manchester. These predicted figures were then compared with the ethnic composition of Saint Mary's SARC 2019 client base to measure how well the SARC is serving different groups. This comparison was repeated using data from the 2001 SARC client base to explore change over time. ResultsThe analysis shows that South Asians and Chinese individuals are underrepresented in the SARC client base, and that this issue has become more pronounced over time. Every other group is overrepresented. ConclusionThe underrepresentation of South Asian and Chinese clients at Saint Mary's SARC is concerning. Making the service more accessible to those from these ethnic groups should be a priority for the centre.

Victim Centered, Aggressor Focused, and Bystander Friendly: A Qualitative Analysis of Bystander Intervention Strategies and Outcomes for Sexual Harassment or Assault.

Limited qualitative research has been conducted to understand the experiences of victims of sexual harassment or assault (SHA) when a bystander intervenes. Even less research has focused on the consequences of bystander actions from the victim's perspective, particularly regarding the aggressor's subsequent behavior toward the victim and occurrence of verbal or physical harm to those involved. This qualitative study aimed to address these limitations with the following research questions: (a) what strategies did victims of SHA identify bystanders use when intervening? (b) what strategies were present when the aggressor's behavior was stopped, paused, or continued toward the victim? and (c) what strategies were present when verbal or physical harm occurred to someone involved? Adult women between the ages of 18 to 30 (N = 25, college student = 80%) were interviewed about one situation of bystander intervention during SHA since the age of 16 years. Findings suggest that victims identified direct, distance, distract, delegate, and proximity strategies by bystanders. Most participants reported that the aggressor's behavior stopped or paused following bystander action, and in these cases, at least one distance or direct strategy was reportedly used most frequently. Approximately, 24% and 8% of participants reported verbal or physical harm, respectively, to at least one party. Direct and distance strategies were most frequently mentioned in experiences of SHA that involved harm. When the aggressor's behavior continued (i.e., was not altered during the event) despite bystander actions, strategies most frequently reported included distract, delegate, and proximity. Together, results suggest that bystander intervention training programs and future research may be needed to understand under what contexts certain strategies successfully prevent or thwart SHA while maintaining emotional and physical safety for those involved.

Police corruption and crime: Evidence from Africa

AbstractUsing data from the Afrobarometer surveys, this paper finds that people living in regions in which police corruption is more prevalent are more likely to report that they or someone in their family have been victims of physical assault. People living in more corrupted regions are also more likely to report that they or someone in their family has had something stolen from their home. We find no statistically significant gender differences in the average marginal effects. Controlling for the incidence of corruption in other domains reduces the size of the estimated association but does not render it insignificant in terms of statistical significance or magnitude. Non‐police corruption is also strongly associated with an increased risk of crime. For both types of crime, the evidence points to “transactional” police corruption (having to pay bribes to get help) rather than “predatory” police corruption (having to pay bribes to avoid problems) as driving the relationship. Finally, we show that, controlling for whether the respondent reports being a victim of either type of crime, police corruption predicts an increase in the probability that the respondent reports feeling unsafe while walking in their own neighborhood thus imposing a cost even on those who have not been victims.

Intrapersonal Predictors of Physical Violence Toward and Sexual Assault of Lesbian and Bisexual Women and the Associated Mental Health Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to identify the prevalence and intrapersonal predictors of physical violence toward and sexual assault of lesbian and bisexual women and the associated mental health outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 497 U.S.-based lesbian and bisexual women, who completed an online survey during January-February 2022, to investigate physical violence and sexual assault and mental health outcomes. Chi-square, independent-samples t-tests, logistic regression, and multiple linear regression were utilized. Results: More than 25% of the sample reported being the victim of physical violence or sexual assault because of their sexual orientation in the past 12 months. Social support decreased the probability and being out increased the probability of all forms of physical violence and sexual assault (all p < 0.01). Having less educational attainment increased the probability of being punched, hit, kicked, or beaten; assaulted with a weapon; or being sexually assaulted, while living in the Northeast increased the probability of being punched, hit, kicked, or beaten; assaulted with a weapon; or having objects thrown at them (all p < 0.05). Significantly higher mean scores for suicidal ideation were reported by those who had been victims of sexual assault because of their sexual orientation in the past 12 months (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Interventions to address physical violence toward and sexual assault of lesbian and bisexual women should include increasing social support and protections for those who are out about their sexual orientation. In addition, lesbian and bisexual women who experience sexual assault may need resources to address suicidal ideation.

5·18 당시 계엄군에 의한 여성 성폭력 사건에 대한 국제형사재판소(ICC) 및 국내법원에의 제소 가능성

State-level investigations into state violence that occurred during the May 18 Democratization Movement were conducted several times. So far, the investigation has focused on the truth about excessive suppression, firing and shooting from helicopters by martial law forces. However, the fact-finding of the case of sexual violence against women committed by martial law troops at that time was not properly investigated. In this situation, courageous testimonies of women victims of sexual violence were reported in the media, including the Hankyoreh Newspaper, Yonhap News and SBS Broadcasting in May 2018. As a result, society became aware of the seriousness of the problem.&#x0D; The Ministry of National Defense, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family launched the “Joint Investigation Team for Sexual Violence by the May 18 Martial Law Forces” in June 2018. As a result of the investigation, a number of violations of women's human rights, such as sexual harassment, were found, including 17 cases of sexual assault by martial law troops at the time. And the May 18 Democratization Movement Truth Committee, which was launched in January 2020, is closely investigating cases of sexual violence against women by martial law forces. According to the May 18 committee's investigation results, at least two of the victims of sexual assault were revealed to be high school girls, and it was found that group sexual assault occurred at least twice.&#x0D; In particular, after the results of the investigation by the Joint Investigation Team were announced in 2018, the public demanded that not only the direct perpetrators of sexual violence, but also the commanders of related units be identified and punished criminally. It is expected that the demand for such criminal punishment for those involved will increase even more after the results of the investigation by the May 18 committee are finally announced.&#x0D; In this regard, the statute of limitations has been completed at the present time. Therefore, there is no longer a right to prosecute, and criminal punishment is impossible. On the other hand, some have suggested that cases of sexual violence against women by martial law forces can be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court(ICC) because they fall under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In addition, even if it is difficult to prosecute the ICC, there is a view that the perpetrators of sexual violence can be prosecuted and punished in domestic courts based on the criminality of ‘crime against humanity’, which was an international crime in 1980, based on customary international law.&#x0D; Therefore, in this paper, first, in relation to the case of sexual violence against women by martial law troops at the time of the May 18, the results of the Joint Investigation Team's investigation of sexual violence against women by martial law troops were briefly reviewed(Ⅱ). Second, as a result of the investigation by the Joint Investigation Team and the May 18 committee, if the substantive true of the case of sexual violence against women by martial law forces was revealed, and the direct perpetrators and related martial law commanders were identified, the possibility of prosecuting them to the International Criminal Court was reviewed(Ⅲ). Thirdly, if criminal punishment through the International Criminal Court is difficult for the relevant person, the possibility of prosecuting them in a domestic court and punishing them was reviewed(Ⅳ).

“Something has to change”

“Something has to change”

Effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on domestic violence in Los Angeles

AbstractFrom the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, policymakers and news reports warned that restrictions on individual mobility and commercial activity could lead to a surge in domestic violence (DV). Some initial studies found evidence of greater DV incidence during the pandemic, but findings were inconsistent across locations and DV measures. This paper focuses on a single major city, Los Angeles (LA), to study the impact of the initial pandemic shutdown. We use three DV measures from police data (911 calls, crime incidents and arrests) as well as two measures from non‐police administrative sources (the county DV hotline and hospital records). We find an increase in DV calls to the police and calls to the hotline. However, we find that DV crimes recorded by police and hospital visits by female assault (and DV) victims decreased significantly, suggesting that the increase in calls came from higher reporting rates. The decrease in DV crimes is not attributable to reductions in policing intensity, as the arrest rate for DV crimes was higher during the shutdown. We conclude that the initial LA shutdown increased the rates at which people contacted authorities about DV, but decreased the overall incidence of physical DV crimes in the population.

The Relationship Between Rape Myths, Revictimization by Law Enforcement, and Well-Being for Victims of Sexual Assault.

Relationships between rape myths, revictimization, and postassault well-being were examined in a sample of adult victims of sexual assault (n = 88). Correlation, multiple regression, and path analyses investigated whether conformity to stereotypes of "real rape" or "real victim" was associated with revictimization and well-being. A possible mediating effect of revictimization on the relationship between rape myth conformity and well-being was assessed. The relationship between specific revictimization behaviors and emotions was also analyzed. Questioning victims' resistance to the assault was correlated with revictimization emotions. "Real victim" characteristics were associated with well-being, but no mediating effect of revictimization was observed.

Declining Trends in Crime Reporting and Victims’ Trust of Police in the United States and Major Metropolitan Areas in the 21st Century

Victims’ willingness to report crime and their opinions about the police are important indicators of police performance, police legitimacy, and trust in the justice system. This study examines two decades of trends in police notification and victims’ perceptions of the police in the United States and major metropolitan areas since 2000, using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). In contrast to previous studies indicating an increase in police notification in the 1980s and 1990s, the present study shows a progressive decline in police notification observed in the last two decades, especially since 2010. Furthermore, there has been a marked increase in victims’ mistrust of police responsiveness since the mid-2000s. Using multivariable regression models that control for potential changes in the characteristics of crime and survey methodology, we find that the victims’ rising distrust of the police is widespread in many metropolitan areas, in all racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups, and especially so for victims of theft, burglary, and simple assault. In the discussion, we suggest that the changing policing strategies and the evolving economic, political, and social environments of the 21st century may help explain the trends identified by this research. Understanding victim reporting trends and victims’ opinions of the police may affect data and policy and help the justice system to better serve victims and enhance public safety.

Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in sexual assault victims attending an Accident and Emergency Department in Hong Kong

Objective: The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in Hong Kong is not high. The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors that associated with occurrence of sexually transmitted infections in local sexual assault victims, so as to facilitate the counseling and management of victims upon their initial attendance at an Accident and Emergency Department. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort of sexual assault victims presented to Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2021. The outcome was the occurrence of sexually transmitted infections. Variables were analyzed using univariate and multivariable analyses. Results: A total of 190 victims were included in the study. Univariate analysis indicated that sexual assault involving multiple perpetrator, oral penetration, and anal penetration were associated with increased occurrence of sexually transmitted infections in the victims (all with p &lt; 0.05). Among these, multiple perpetrator was the only statistically significant risk factor on multivariable analysis ( p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Multiple-perpetrator sexual assault was identified as a significant risk factor of sexually transmitted infections. Emergency physicians should consider explaining to victims of multiple-perpetrator sexual assault that they have a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and emphasizing on the importance of complying with medical treatments, attending follow-up and observing symptoms of sexually transmitted infections. Proper clinical assessment, adequate follow-up, and reassurance for the victims with lower likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted infections are suggested for managing sexual assault victims.

Victimogenic Behavior of an Underage Victims in the Mechanism of Committing an Intra-Family Crime

The official criminal statistics on criminal assaults against children are shown . Violent and mercenary specifics of intra-family crime of the given category are reflected . The features of victimogenic behavior of a child in the family are presented . Legal categories such as “the mechanism of committing a crime”, “victim act”, “the mechanism of victim act” and “the composition of victim act (behavior)” are considered . The considered legal categories are interpreted in the light of family relations in which a child becomes a victim of criminal assault . The concept of “victim act of a child in the family” is revealed, the elements of the composition of a victim act are investigated, namely: object, objective side, subject and subjective side . The positions of scientists on the classification of conflict situations associated with increased victimization of victims are reflected

But Someone Was Right There: An Examination of How Third-Party Presence Is Associated With Rape and Sexual Assault Victim Help-Seeking Behavior and Reports to Police.

This research evaluates whether third-party presence is associated with rape and sexual assault (RSA) victims help-seeking and reporting to police, addressing a gap in the literature about how the presence of a third-party is associated with victim behavior. This research uses secondary data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Findings indicate that third-party presence has no statistically significant association with help-seeking and marginal significance with police reporting. This research focuses on third-party presence as a precursor to understanding victim help-seeking behaviors and reports to police. This research raises questions about the expected role of third parties in RSA victimizations.

Analysis of injuries in 702 cases of sexual assault in Alicante (Spain) during the years (2016–2020)

IntroductionThe aim of this paper is to analyse the characteristics of the victims and the circumstances of sexual violence related with the risk of physical lesions, as well as to determine the frequency and severity of the injuries. Material and methodsDescriptive study of 702 cases of sexual assault attended at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Alicante between the years 2016 and 2020. A comparative study was carried out between victims with and without injuries, to identify the variables associated to their presentation. Results314 victims attended showed physical injuries (44.8%). Profile of the victims with injuries were women (95.5%), aged 18–27 years (31.3%), and previous alcohol consumption (50%). Injuries physical were mainly extragenital (38.6%), anogenital (15%), or both, and most cases were mild in severity (97.5%). Recovery was less to 1 week (83.4%) and without aftermath (97.1%). When the victim showed aftermath (9 cases), the most frequent were psychological type (1.6%). ConclusionsPhysical injuries in sexual violence is related with circumstances of victim vulnerability: women, age between 18 and 27 years, and previous alcohol consumption.Our study shows that anogenital lesions are absent in a significative number of victims of sexual assault, so this absence cannot exclude sexual violence. The lesions found are mild in severity, and the absence of physical aftermath in most of the victims may be conditioned by the scarce follow-up of them.

Sexual and Gender Minority Men's Bystander Behaviors and Barriers in Response to Witnessing Minor Sexual Aggression.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) men experience sexual assault victimization. Encouraging people to become involved when they witness high-risk sexual situations as a prosocial bystander is one preventative mechanism to address sexual assault victimization. However, research assessing the extent that SGM men will intervene when they witness a concerning male-to-male sexual situation and barriers that prevent intervention is lacking. We sought to address these gaps. SGM men (n = 323, Mage = 39.4, range 18-77) completed a web-administered survey. Participants were asked if they had witnessed a high-risk sexual situation and, if so, to describe how they intervened; if they did not intervene, they were asked to explain why not. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Nearly 50% (n = 157) of participants reported witnessing a situation that may require intervention, of those men 40% reported involvement. When SGM men intervened, their behaviors included direct and indirect verbal and nonverbal strategies. Reasons for not intervening included not appraising the situation as risky, not viewing it as their responsibility to intervene, or lacking the self-efficacy to act. SGM men reported similar barriers to intervention that heterosexual young adults encounter. Participants also provided a variety of intervention tactics that could be included in bystander intervention initiatives to increase their effectiveness and inclusivity. Additional efforts are needed to modify intervention initiatives at both the individual and community level.

동석 신뢰관계인의 진술증거와 적극적인 증거보전절차의 모색

The unconstitutionality of the 'minor' part of Article 30, paragraph 6 of the Special Sexual Violence Act, which was enacted to prevent secondary damage to minors and victims of sexual violence who are mentally or physically incapacitated, has led to a situation where secondary damage to victims of sexual violence who are minors is feared. The reason was that, the purpose of this provision, to prevent secondary victimization, can be achieved through the use of the video relay method and the proper exercise of the judge's courtroom control, and the admission of evidence based solely on the authenticity of a trusted person present would unduly infringe on the accused's right to cross-examine and defense. However, the decision to exclude the application of Article 30(6) of the Special Law on Sexual Violence to all minors without specifying the age range of minors is not a reasonable decision from the perspective of equity with victims who have not fully formed their personality and are forced to recall the time of the crime by attending the public proceedings in any form, as it is bound to have an adverse effect on their personality formation and development. Moreover, there may be circumventive attempts to admit statements made during the investigation without calling the minor victim of sexual assault as a witness, resulting in a serious violation of the accused's right to defense. Therefore, it would be desirable to limit the scope to minors under the age of 13, and as the Constitutional Court stated in its decision, the active participation of the court, as a neutral body, in the investigation process at an early stage of the damage and granting evidentiary power to the statements obtained will help to discover the truth, prevent secondary damage to the victim, and ensure the defense rights of the accused. This will require courts to establish a dedicated organization to implement evidence preservation procedures and to expand their hardware and human infrastructure.

Study of Victims of Child Sexual Assault at a Tertiary Health Care Center in Western Maharashtra

Study of Victims of Child Sexual Assault at a Tertiary Health Care Center in Western Maharashtra

ATTITUDE AND ACCEPTABILITY TOWARD VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

Abstract &#x0D; The current research was designed to analyze the attitudes and beliefs of people regarding sexual assault. The study was conducted through a mixed-method approach in two phases. The first phase consisted of 12 interviews, whereas the second phase focused on the survey method involving 100 participants. Male and female students from public and private institutions were purposively selected for both phases. All participants were from various socio-economic backgrounds between the ages of 20 to 65 years. The interviews were taped, typed, and coded. The data gathered through interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Colleen Ward's Scale (Attitudes Toward Rape Victims) was used in phase two to measure the attitude toward rape victims of both sexes. The quantitative data was analyzed using ANOVA. The current study sought to investigate the victims of sexual assault in Pakistani society regarding attitudes, acceptance, and rape myths about them.&#x0D; Keywords: Myths about rape, Sexual assault, Rape victims, The Attitudes toward Rape Victims Scale

Statute of Limitation on Civil Actionfor Child Sexual Abuse in the United States

In the case of sexual infringement against a minor, even if the victim muster up the courage to face the memory of past sexual violence and try to heal the wounds through legal remedies after becoming an adult, the civil statute of limitations has expired since the sexual infringement occurred long time ago. There is a problem of not being able to file a lawsuit due to the statute of limitation. In particular, in the case of sexual infringement against minors, in many cases, the perpetrator is a family member, teacher, religious person, etc. The victim, a minor, is economically and emotionally dependent on the perpetrator, so they do not easily think of filing civil lawsuits even as adults. Fortunately, South Korea established Article 766, Paragraph 3 of the Civil Act in 2020, and legislative improvements have been made so that the statute of limitations does not proceed until a minor becomes an adult in the case of sexual infringement. However, despite these good intentions, there are still limits to the relief, so this article will examine the US system. First of all, in the United States, state and federal laws operate different statute of limitations, and since the 1980s, the discovery rule has been applied so that victims can file lawsuits even after a considerable amount of time has elapsed after they become adults. For example, if the victim of a sexual assault is a minor and the victim has not yet discovered the injury after reaching adulthood, from the time he or she discovers the injury and the causal relationship between the injury and the sexual assault Legislative examples such as the requirement to file a claim for damages within four years reflect the discovery principle. However, despite these laws, there are many cases where the requirements are not met, and the relief of victims has not been smoothly carried out. Thus, California and New York State further extended the statute of limitations, and furthermore, through window legislation, even if the statute of limitations had expired, a period of one or two years was allowed to file a civil lawsuit. This legislation provides an opportunity to sue the victims of Jeffrey Epstein's decades of sexual exploitation of minors. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Windows Act is not unconstitutional. While retroactive legislation is “an identifiable injustice”, civil actions based on sexual abuse of minors are rather reasonable in light of the injustice done to the victims. Under these retroactive legislation, some religious organizations are actively raising their own funds for the relief of victims, and are paying settlements on the condition that they do not file a lawsuit against the religious organizations. The basis for such retroactive legislation is that if society has previously borne the cost of damages incurred to the victim, the perpetrator must bear the cost.

Study of Victims of Alleged Sexual Assault

BACKGROUND: Sexual assault has been a major concern to our society. It is one of the most underreported offences to the law enforcement agencies. Such offences are multi-faceted and certain details of the offence may be hard to be unearthed even after a thorough investigation.&#x0D; AIMS: To study factors associated with reporting of sexual assault cases and to correlate findings with the alleged history.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College Bangalore from January 2018 and December 2020. All victims of alleged sexual assault brought for medical examination to the Department of Forensic Medicine were interviewed through a detailed questionnaire after taking consent. Relevant information was sought from the victim and the consent from victims. Descriptive statistics for qualitative type of data were summarized using frequency and percentage.&#x0D; RESULTS: 82 victims those who had come to or brought by the parents or guardian or police with alleged history of sexual assault were subjected for medical examination. All of them were females except two juveniles. Majority of the victims (n=71, 86.5%) were less than 18 years of age and were considered as juvenile / minors under Indian law. Either the victims or their parents reported to the police in most of the cases (n=76, 92.7%). In 53.65% of the cases the alleged assaults were reported to the police after three days of alleged recent sexual assault. The purpose of reporting to the police was because of honour or pride of the parents / guardian in 59.75% of the cases. It was observed that only in four cases there were positive findings of recent penetrative sexual assault in the form of fresh hymeneal tears or presence of spermatozoa in the swabs taken during genital examination.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: Majority of the victims of alleged sexual assault were minors. Only 12% of them reported to the law enforcement directly without anybody persuading. More than 50% of victims presented to the hospital after 3 days of the alleged sexual assault. In most of minor victims the sexual intercourse was consented, but it was invalid since the girl below 18 years cannot consent for sexual intercourse. Majority of adult victims had consented for sexual intercourse on promise of marriage. In view of these, no physical injuries were seen on victims and positive evidence of sexual assault was detected only in 5% of cases.