NCJ Number
18246
Date Published
1975
Length
0 pages
Annotation
AN AUDIOVISUAL PRESENTATION DEALING WITH RAPE INVESTIGATIONS THAT STRESSES THE DUAL OBJECTIVES OF HELPING THE VICTIM AND AMASSING THE EVIDENCE NECESSARY TO CONVICT THE CULPRIT.
Abstract
IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN A RAPE CASE, INVESTIGATORS MUST BE ABLE BOTH TO HELP THE VICTIM AND TO COLLECT THE EVIDENCE THEY NEED TO CONVICT THE CULPRIT. RAPE INVESTIGATION, AN AUDIOVISUAL TRAINING AID, BEGINS BY DEFINING FORCIBLE RAPE AND BY POINTING OUT THAT THE WELFARE OF THE VICTIM MUST ALWAYS BE THE POLICE OFFICER'S FIRST CONSIDERATION. THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURE DIVIDES NATURALLY INTO EIGHT PHASES. THE FIRST STEP IS TO PROTECT THE SCENE. SINCE MUCH OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE IN RAPE CASES IS SMALL AND FRAGILE, THE AREA MUST BE ISOLATED PROMPTLY. THE NEXT STEP IS THE PRELIMINARY INTERVIEW WITH THE VICTIM. THE OFFICER IS CAUTIONED TO SHOW THE VICTIM ALL POSSIBLE KINDNESS AND CONSIDERATION WHILE HE TRIES TO ELICIT FROM HER THE MAJOR DETAILS. THE PRESENTATION GOES ON TO ILLUSTRATE THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING EVIDENCE FROM THE VICTIM'S PERSON AND FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRIME. THE VICTIM'S MEDICAL EXAMINATION IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL TO FAMILIARIZE THE OFFICER WITH THE TYPE OF EVIDENCE THAT IS AVAILABLE. THE LAST TWO PHASES OF THE INVESTIGATION ARE CONCERNED WITH TAKING THE COMPLAINANT'S STATEMENT AND WITH EXAMINING THE SUSPECT. IN PRACTICE MOST CHARGES OF RAPE ARE COUNTERED BY THE DEFENSE ON ONE OF TWO GROUNDS: MISTAKEN IDENTITY OR CONSENT BY THE COMPLAINANT. THE PROGRAM ENDS BY POINTING OUT THAT THE ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVE OF THE INVESTIGATION IS TO AMASS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO DISPROVE EITHER OR BOTH OF THESE DEFENSES. (SNI ABSTRACT)