NCJ Number
51272
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 227-240
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
FEMALE RAPE VICTIMS, FEMALE VICTIMS OF NONSEXUAL ASSAULTS, AND CONTROLS COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. VICTIM CONFIDENCE DECLINED WITH TIME.
Abstract
THE 26 RAPE VICTIMS COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES 1 WEEK, 2 WEEKS, 6 MONTHS, AND 1 YEAR AFTER THE ASSAULT. THE 26 WOMEN WHO WERE ASSAULTED BUT NOT RAPED COMPLETED SIMILAR QUESTIONNAIRES AT 2 WEEKS, 6 MONTHS, AND 1 YEAR AFTER ATTACK. APPROPRIATE CONTROLS WERE PROVIDED FOR EACH GROUP. ALL THE SUBJECTS WERE FROM THE SEATTLE, WASH., AREA. RAPE VICTIMS' CONFIDENCE IN THE POLICE, THE COURTS, AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE 1-YEAR PERIOD, WHILE THE RATINGS OF NONVICTIMS DID NOT VARY SIGNIFICANTLY FROM QUESTIONNAIRE TO QUESTIONNAIRE. ASSAULT VICTIMS HAD A SLIGHTLY MORE FAVORABLE IMPRESSION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AT THE BEGINNING, BUT THEIR CONFIDENCE, TOO, ERODED OVER THE 1-YEAR PERIOD. THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAPE VICTIMS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS IN CONFIDENCE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AFTER 1 YEAR. A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OF THE DECLINE IN CONFIDENCE OF RAPE VICTIMS IS THE FACT THAT ONLY 1 OF THE 26 SAW THE RAPIST CONVICTED AND IMPRISONED. NONE OF THE ASSAULT CASES RESULTED IN CAPTURE OF A SUSPECT, WHICH MAY EXPLAIN THE DECLINING CONFIDENCE OF THESE WOMEN. BOTH VICTIMS AND CONTROLS SAW THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS BEING INEFFECTIVE IN HANDLING A VARIETY OF CRIMES. BOTH GROUPS FELT THE SYSTEM WAS MOST EFFECTIVE IN HANDLING MURDER, LEAST EFFECTIVE IN HANDLING RAPE. NONVICTIMS FELT THE SYSTEM WAS MODERATELY EFFECTIVE IN HANDLING ASSAULT, VICTIMS FELT IT WAS INEFFECTIVE. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS FOR NONREPORTING OF CRIME ARE DISCUSSED. GRAPHS ILLUSTRATE STUDY DATA. NOTES AND REFERENCES BUT NOT THE STUDY INSTRUMENT ARE APPENDED. (GLR)