NCJ Number
125496
Journal
Journal of Law and Society Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1990) Pages: 211-233
Date Published
1990
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This article analyzes the media's reporting on judges' comments in rape cases in Great Britain since World War II, with attention to the extent and kind of coverage these comments received during this period.
Abstract
Five selected years were examined: 1951, 1961, 1971, 1978, and 1985. Six newspapers were surveyed for these years, and 6,000 issues of these newspapers were analyzed. Findings show that media coverage of rape cases since World War II has been increasingly selective, as a much narrower range of rape cases have been reported in the British press. Also, an ever lower proportion of the cases reported includes judges' comments on the case. The rape cases reported tend to be highly publicized cases from the beginning, or the disposition of the case has some distinction, such as yielding an acquittal or involving a particularly lenient sentence. Judges' comments are most often reported in the context of the sentence being awarded. From the judges' comments reported in cases over the last few decades, there is apparently a lack of consensus among judges regarding the rationale and severity of sanctions in rape cases. The judiciary should recognize some of the contradictory messages they are giving in their sentencing in rape cases and attempt to mold a consensus regarding issues in such cases. 2 tables, 78 notes.