NCJ Number
38480
Date Published
1977
Length
111 pages
Annotation
A MANUAL WHICH DETAILS THE OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES OF A RAPE CRISIS CENTER WHICH OFFERS MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORTIVE AID TO VICTIMS, AIDS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTION EFFORTS, AND PROVIDES COMMUNITY EDUCATION.
Abstract
IN MANY JURISDICTIONS, THE VICTIM OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT HAS GOOD REASON TO REFRAIN FROM COOPERATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTION. DURING A PERIOD OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA SHE MUST TELL HER STORY TO A MALE AUDIENCE WHOSE QUESTIONS MAY BE BOTH INVENTIVE AND SKEPTICAL. DURING TRIAL SHE MAY BE MADE TO FEEL AS IF SHE, AND NOT HER ATTACKER, WERE THE GUILTY PARTY. IN POLK COUNTY, IOWA, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AND CONCERNED GROUPS HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO LESSEN THE BURDEN ON THE VICTIM AND TO INCREASE THE CHANCE OF ULTIMATE CONVICTION AND SENTENCING IN RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. THE POLK COUNTY RAPE/SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE CENTER (R/SACC) HAS THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: TO PROVIDE VICTIMS WITH COUNSELING SUPPORT; TO REFORM STATE STATUTES; TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES WITH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE; TO TRAIN AND ASSERT POLICE AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL; AND TO PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION ON RAPE. ALTHOUGH FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE CENTRAL IOWA AREA CRIME COMMISSION THROUGH THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THE R/SACC IS A COMMUNITY ORIENTED FACILITY, WORKING WITH AND SUPPORTED BY HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, AND VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. LEAA'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE HAS DESIGNATED THE POLK COUNTY R/SACC AN EXEMPLARY PROJECT IN RECOGNITION OF ITS EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT LAW REFORM, TO IMPROVE MEDICAL TREATMENT, AND TO INSTITUTIONALIZE MEDICAL, POLICE, AND PROSECUTORIAL PROCEDURES DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF VICTIM SERVICES AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION. THIS MANUAL PROVIDES AN IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATIONS, PROCEDURES, AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE POLK COUNTY R/SACC. IT IS INTENDED TO AID THE STAFF AND PLANNERS OF RAPE CRISIS CENTERS NOW OR SOON TO BE IN EXISTENCE ACROSS THE NATION, IN DEVELOPING TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES THAT ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF THE RAPE VICTIM. AFTER AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE R/SACC, THE SUPPORTIVE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN INVESTIGATING THE ASSAULT AND THE PROSECUTOR IN ASSIGNING HIGH PRIORITY TO RAPE CASES, AND THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION EFFORTS OF THE R/SACC. AMONG THE SPECIFIC SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE R/SACC ARE 24-HOUR PHONE AND CONTACT SERVICE AND CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIM FROM A CONTACT WORKER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION STAGES. THE FINAL SECTIONS OF THIS MANUAL REPORT ON THE R/SACC COSTS AND RESULTS. IT IS NOTED THAT SINCE THE CENTER WAS CREATED, POLICE CLEARANCE RATES FOR RAPE HAVE RISEN FROM 50 PERCENT TO 69 PERCENT; VICTIMS HAVE SHOWN INCREASED WILLINGNESS TO PRESS CHARGES, AND CHARGES ARE NOW FILED IN THREE-FOURTHS OF THE CASES WHERE AN OFFENDER WAS IDENTIFIED; AND THE CONVICTION RATE IN RAPE CASES HAS RISEN FROM 40 PERCENT TO 82 PERCENT. THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO ISSUES OF REPLICATION AND INTERAGENCY COOPERATION. THE BY-LAWS OF THE CENTER ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)