NCJ Number
49614
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS AUDIOCASSETTE PRESENTATION CONSIDERS THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA FACED BY THE RAPE VICTIM WHEN REPORTING A RAPE TO THE POLICE.
Abstract
A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF RAPES ARE UNREPORTED, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE RAPE VICTIMS PREFER TO AVOID THE PROBLEMS THEY WOULD FACE WHEN REPORTING A CASE. A WOMAN WHO IS RAPED BY SOMEONE SHE KNOWS IS LESS LIKELY TO REPORT IT THAN ONE WHO IS RAPED BY A STRANGER. IN ONE CASE, A MAN CONFESSED HIS CRIMES TO THE POLICE, BUT BECAUSE NONE OF THE RAPES HE CLAIMED TO HAVE COMMITTED HAD BEEN REPORTED, THE POLICE COULD NOT ARREST HIM. NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS TAKEN TO HOSPITALS AFTER BEING RAPED ARE BROUGHT IN BY POLICE OFFICERS, AND THE POLICE ARE NOTIFIED WHEN A VICTIM GOES TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT WITHOUT REPORTING THE ATTACK. BESIDES TREATING HER INJURIES AND COLLECTING EVIDENCE, POLICE AND HOSPITAL STAFF MUST QUESTION THE VICTIM PROPERLY SO THAT SHE DOES NOT CONFUSE THE FACTS OF THE STORY AND SO THAT THE POLICE DO NOT MISINTERPRET THE VICTIM'S ACCOUNT. AFTER AN OFFENSE HAS BEEN REPORTED AND THE VICTIM IS INTERVIEWED, THE POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD EXPLAIN TO THE VICTIM THAT THE PROSECUTION OF THE RAPIST WILL BE DIFFICULT. THEY ALSO WARN THE VICTIM OF THE EMOTIONAL STRESS SHE WILL BE PUT UNDER DURING THE INVESTIGATION. MANY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND THE POLICE DO NOT WANT THE CASE TO GO TO TRIAL BECAUSE OF THIS STRESS. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS USUALLY DO NOT LIKE TO UNDERTAKE A RAPE INVESTIGATION AND BECAUSE OF THE APPARENT LACK OF CONCERN, MANY VICTIMS PREFER THAT THE INVESTIGATION BE DISCONTINUED. IF THE POLICE WERE MORE SUPPORTIVE, MORE RAPES WOULD BE REPORTED TO THEM. (BAC)