NCJ Number
44708
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
CATEGORIES OF ASSISTANCE REQUESTED BY RAPE VICTIMS WHO WERE TREATED AND COUNSELED AT THE BOSTON CITY HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE VICTIMS INCLUDED 109 ADULT WOMEN AND 37 CHILDREN. ALL WERE CLIENTS OF A CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDING IMMEDIATE AND FOLLOWUP COUNSELING SERVICES. THE CRISIS REQUESTS OF THE VICTIMS WERE ANALYZED BY CONSIDERING HOW THE VICTIMS GOT TO THE HOSPITAL AND WHAT THEY HOPED WOULD BE DONE FOR THEM AT THE HOSPITAL. FIVE CATEGORIES OF CRISIS REQUESTS EMERGED: MEDICAL INTERVENTION (57 VICTIMS); POLICE INTERVENTION (38); PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION (31); UNCERTAIN (14); AND CONTROL (6). CATEGORIES OF COUNSELING REQUESTS WERE DETERMINED FROM RECORDS OF FOLLOWUP TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH VICTIMS. FOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICE CATEGORIES ARE IDENTIFIED: CONFIRMATION OF CONCERN (47 VICTIMS); VENTILATION OF FEELINGS (42); CLARIFICATION OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED (24); AND ADVICE (11). TWENTY-TWO OF THE VICTIMS INTERVIEWED AT THE HOSPITAL HAD NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE COUNSELING PROGRAM. THE COUNSELORS FOUND THAT ANALYZING AND UNDERSTANDING THE VICTIMS' REQUESTS ENABLED THEM TO PROVIDE BETTER INTERVENTION. A COPY OF THE INTERVIEW GUIDE USED BY THE COUNSELORS IS INCLUDED.