Criminal Procedure and Crimes Against Women - Efforts at Solutions in One American City

• NCJ Number: 87363
• Journal: Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1983) Pages: 3-7
• Author(s): G Kassebeum
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: India

Annotation

In Honolulu, Hawaii, rape victims have been helped by the establishment of a sex abuse treatment center and changes in police and evidence policy, while spouse abuse victims have been assisted through shelters, victim programs, and the use of conflict resolution centers.

Abstract

The Sex Abuse Treatment Center provides 24-hour coverage of a telephone line which can send a crisis worker to the emergency room of the hospital where a rape victim has been taken. The crisis worker ensures that an immediate medical examination and needed treatment are provided and that physical evidence of an attack is identified and preserved. The crisis worker also guides the taking of testimony so as to minimize the recounting of traumatic details and prevent unreasonable efforts to discredit the victim's story. Also, the worker invites the victim to have subsequent contact with the center as the need for help arises. Women's groups have contacted the police to advocate changes in the way rape victims are handled in initial police contacts. This has helped to reduce the insensitive questioning of victims. Further, as the result of considerable lobbying, the State penal code has been revised to eliminate the requirement of overt resistance to prove rape. Assistance to spouse abuse victims includes the provision of a shelter that provides emergency housing and protection for victims and their children as well as group counseling. The victim-witness program helps victims obtain restraining orders which enjoin abusers from contacting the victim for a given period of time. Services also include guiding the victim in initiating and persisting in legal action to deal with the abusive situation. The use of conflict resolution centers to deal with spouse abuse cases may result in either a reconciliation or an agreement to avoid abuse or further contact between the abuser and the victim. The long-term effect of such unenforceable agreements has yet to be determined. Eight references are provided.