NCJ Number
68488
Date Published
1979
Length
277 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY FOCUSES ON THE COURT OUTCOME OF RAPE CASES AND THE EFFECTS OF COURT PROCEEDINGS ON THE VICTIMS.
Abstract
AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHIATRISTS, ATTORNEYS, AND CRIMINOLOGISTS WAS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT. THE STUDY SUBJECTS WERE 1401 FEMALE RAPE VICTIMS IN PHILADELPHIA, PA., WHO REPORTED TO THE POLICE AND WERE BROUGHT TO A HOSPITAL BETWEEN APRIL 1973 AND JUNE 1975. COURT DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, AND SOCIAL WORKERS CONDUCTED HOME INTERVIEWS FOR INFORMATION ON THE PARTICULARS OF THE RAPE, ON THE VICTIM'S INTERACTION WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS, ON THE VICTIM'S SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND ADJUSTMENT. THE CASES EITHER WENT THROUGH A PRELIMINARY HEARING OR DIRECTLY TO THE COMMON PLEAS COURT. HOWEVER, ONE-FIFTH OF THE CASES DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE PRELIMINARY HEARINGS BECAUSE VICTIMS DID NOT SHOW UP OR WERE UNABLE TO TESTIFY. IN ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF THE CASES BEFORE THE HIGHER COURT, PROSECUTION WAS WITHDRAWN OR A GUILTY PLEA RESULTED. OVER ONE-HALF OF THE CASES LED TO A GUILTY DISPOSITION. WITH ONE CASE IN FOUR RESULTING IN AT LEAST ONE DEFENDANT BEING SENTENCED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO TO TWENTY YEARS. FURTHERMORE, RAPE CASES FARED NEARLY AS WELL AS ROBBERY OR BURGLARY CASES IN TERMS OF CONVICTION RATES. REASONS FOR NON-CONVICTIONS AND FOR SHORTER SENTENCES ARE GIVEN. THE IMPACT OF THE TRIAL ON THE VICTIM IS DISCUSSED: MOST VICTIMS CONSIDERED THE TRIAL A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE. AN INDEX, FOOTNOTES, CHARTS, TABLES, DIAGRAMS, APPROXIMATELY 200 REFERENCES, AND APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED.