NCJ Number
73667
Date Published
Unknown
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Cultural conditioning and aspects of criminal justice processing that hinder reduction in the commisssion of rape and other crimes against women are identified, and suggestions for improving the criminal justice systems dealing with such crimes are offered.
Abstract
Rape, sexual abuse of children, and wife battering have been scarcely recognized as crimes except in the most extreme instances. These and other crimes against women are taboo subjects, concealed by victims and ignored by the criminal justice system. These crimes against women, unlike most crimes, do not derive from economic motives. They spring from society's dictum that exercise of power over women is part of the male prerogative. Most rape victims who interact with the criminal justice system receive little satisfaction from making a complaint, because only a small number or rapists receive substantial punishment while victims are subjected to ordeals by insensitive criminal justice processing. The creation and funding of rape counselor programs which coordinate various criminal justice and social agency responses to the rape victim and to the offense are the most substantial means of affecting the system's handling of rape cases. The sexual abuse of children (usually female) is seldom reported; and if reported, charges are rarely brought against the offender. In addition to more vigorous prosecution of such cases, changes needed include the development of local support systems for the child victim. Such systems would include support of her as a witness in criminal proceedings. Wife battering is also poorly handled by criminal justice authorities, with the result that it goes either unreported or unremedied. The establishment of crisis shelters for battered wives outside the legal system appears to be the best hope for improvement of the handling of these cases within the legal system.