NCJ Number
46315
Date Published
1975
Length
22 pages
Annotation
A STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN TO EXAMINE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF RAPE, VICTIM TREATMENT NEEDS, COMMUNITY SERVICES AVAILABLE, AND FACTORS AFFECTING RAPE REPORT DECISIONS OF VICTIMS IN SAN FRANCISCO, (CALIF).
Abstract
SEVERAL RESEARCH TECHNIQES WERE UTILIZED TO STUDY THE MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN. THESE INCLUDED INTERVIEWS, QUESTIONNAIRES, PROGRAM EVALUATIONS, AND STATISTICAL ANALYSES. DATA SOURCES INCLUDED RAPE VICTIMS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, POLICE, HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES STAFF, ATTORNEYS, JUDGES, AND JURORS. INTERVIEWS WITH 80 FEMALE RAPE VICTIMS 8 TO 55 YEARS OLD REVEALED THAT 80 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS EXPERIENCED FEAR FOR THEIR BODIES AND LIVES DURING THE ATTACK, THE REMAINING 20 PERCENT REPORTED OUTRAGE/ANGER OR DETACHMENT. FOLLOWING THE ATTACK MOST VICTIMS WENT THROUGH A COPING STAGE WHICH IVOLVED DENIAL, REPRESSION, DISPLACEMENT, AND ANGER. PERSISTENT FEAR WAS REPORTED BY 39 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS, AND 35 PERCENT REPORTED CONTINUING DISTURBANCE IN SEXUAL OR INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, SOCIAL PRESSURES AND OTHER VARIABLES AFFECTING THE IMPACT OF RAPE ARE REVIEWED. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS VIEWED RAPE AS A TRAUMATIC, LIFE-THREATENING AND PSYCHE-THREATENING EXPERIENCE, WHICH HAS DEFINITE SHORT-TERM EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH, AND MANY POSSIBLE LONG-TERM EFFECTS. THE NEED FOR RESPONSIVE, SYMPATHETIC CRISIS INTERVENTION AND FOLLOWUP SERVICES FOR RAPE VICTIMS WAS EMPHASIZED. EVALUATION OF CENTRAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL'S HANDLING OF RAPE VICTIMS REVEALED THAT HOSPITAL STAFF WERE OFTEN UNSYMPATHETIC, THAT RAPE VICTIMS WHO FAILED TO FILE A POLICE REPORT WERE REFUSED MEDICAL TREATMENT, THAT THE FACILITIES WERE ILL-EQUIPPED, THAT RECORDS WERE INCOMPLETE, AND THAT THE EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR RAPE WAS CARELESS AND INSENSITIVE. EVALUATION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO REVEALED INADEQUATE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AND A LACK OF REPORTING COORDINATION. SEX CRIME DETAIL INSPECTORS WERE PRAISED AND FOUND SYMPATHETIC BY RAPE VICTIMS, BUT PATROL OFFICERS WERE GENERALLY FOUND UNSYMPATHETIC AND INADEQUATELY TRAINED. EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE TRAINING. A NUMBER OF COMPLEX PROBLEMS PERTAINING TO THE HANDLING OF RAPE VICTIMS WERE FOUND IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S ATTITUDES TOWARD VICTIMS RAPED BY SOMEONE KNOWN TO THEM WAS THAT THEY REPRESENTED AN EMOTIONAL PROBLEM, RATHER THAN A LEGAL PROBLEM, FOR WHICH COUNSELING WAS INDICATED. ATTITUDES OF JUDGES AND JURORS TOWARD RAPE VICTIMS WERE GENERALLY POSITIVE AND APPEARED UNBIASED. CALIFORNIA LAW PERTAINING TO RAPE AND RECENT LETGISLATIVE REFORMS ARE REVIEWED. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER LEGAL REFORM ARE MADE. COMMUNITY MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND LEGAL SERVICES WERE FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE AND OFTEN UNRESPONSIVE TO VICTIMS' NEEDS. SAN FRANCISCO WOMEN AGAINST RAPE IS THE ONLY AGENCY PROVIDING SERVICES EXCLUSIVELY FOR RAPE VICTIMS. VICTIM COMPENSATION STATISTICS PERTAINING TO RAPE VICTIMS ARE SUMMARIZED. THE STUDY INDICATED A NEED FOR BROAD PUBLIC EDUCATION REGARDING THE PROBLEM OF RAPE. QUEEN'S BENCH FOUNDATION, INITIATOR OF THE STUDY, HAS ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC INFORMATION/EDUCATION ACTIVITIES. AN APPENDIX PRESENTS ADDITIONAL DATA ON THE IMPACT OF RAPE ON VICTIMS. (JAP)