Victim-Oriented Multidisciplinary Responses to Statutory Rape: Training Guide

• NCJ Number: 178237
• Author(s): Sharon G. Elstein; Barbara E. Smith
• Date Published: February 2000
• Length: 41 pages
• Publication Series: OVC Training Guidebooks
• Grant Number(s): 97-VF-GX-K008
• Agencies: OVC
• Publication Type: Training (Handbook/Manual)

Annotation

This training guide contains practical suggestions to increase the reporting of statutory rape, to improve statutory rape investigation and prosecution, to improve the treatment of both statutory rape victims and offenders, and to develop sound sentencing practices for judges.

Abstract

Goals of the training guide are twofold: (1) to improve the response of care providers and the criminal justice system to vulnerable young victims; and (2) to hold adult sex offenders responsible. The training guide is based on a multidisciplinary approach that involves victim advocates, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, mental health providers, health workers, school officials, and other teen program professionals. The training guide recognizes service providers are often reluctant to report cases of young people involved in sexual relationships with older adults to criminal justice officials, law enforcement often assigns statutory rape cases a much lower priority than incest and forcible rape cases involving young children, victim advocates and prosecutors are often frustrated by children's unwillingness to cooperate in the prosecution of their partners, and young people and adults often come from dysfunctional families. The multidisciplinary approach to statutory rape outlined in the training guide focuses on investigative strategies, prosecution strategies, working with and helping victims, and sentencing strategies.