Creating a More Complete and Current Picture: Examining Police and Prosecutor Decision-Making When Processing Sexual Assault Cases

• NCJ Number: 239766
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 18 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2012 Pages: 525-551
• Author(s): Megan A. Alderden; Sarah E. Ullman
• Date Published: May 2012
• Length: 27 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined case processing decisions for sexual assault cases reported to a Midwestern police department.

Abstract

This study sought to identify factors that predicted outcomes for sexual assault cases involving female victims across several decisionmaking points and compare these findings to prior studies. The results indicate that there continues to be a high attrition rate in the handling of sexual assault cases. Only 9.7 percent of cases examined resulted in charges. In regards to processing decisions, most of the factors that predicted whether cases were founded, resulted in arrest, presented to the prosecution, or resulted in felony charges were extralegal factors. One factor appeared to influence several decisionmaking points: whether officers noted discrepancies in victim statements. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.