Regional Differences in Police Officer Misperceptions: A Quasi-experimental Evaluation of Sexual Assault Investigations Training in Kentucky

• NCJ Number: 309678
• Journal: Policing and Society Dated: July 2024
• Author(s): David S. Lapsey Jr.; Katelyn M. McMahon; Bradley A. Campbell
• Date Published: July 2024
• Grant Number(s): 2017-AK-BX-0009
• Agencies: BJA-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

This paper lays out the research methodology and findings from a study that investigated the differences in myths and misperceptions about sexual assault survivors among police officers and that evaluated the effects of sexual assault investigations training, in different geographic contexts.

Abstract

This research study fills an important research gap by investigating the differences in myths and misperceptions about sexual assault survivors among police officers (N = 388) and evaluating the effects of sexual assault investigations training across geographic regions. First, the authors assessed police officers’ pretraining rape myth acceptance and misperceptions of crime victim reporting behaviors. Second, they used a Solomon four-group quasi-experimental design to assess pretesting effects and evaluate the effect of training and jurisdiction type on officers’ adherence to rape myths and misperceptions of trauma. The authors used Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) models to evaluate regional differences in officers’ adherence to myths and misperceptions about survivors, the main effects of training, effects of training when considering jurisdiction type, and the moderating effects of officer jurisdiction type on training outcomes. Results showed lower pretraining scores for urban/suburban officers and significant improvements in post-training scores across geographic regions. In addition, officer jurisdiction type failed to moderate –change—the relationship between training and outcomes. This research improves stakeholders’ understanding of officer misperceptions regarding sexual assault survivors and the impact of specialized sexual assault training in different geographic contexts. (Published Abstract Provided)