NCJ Number
151964
Date Published
1993
Length
0 pages
Annotation
In this video, female victims of stranger rape describe the psychological effects of their victimization and their reactions to treatment by police; police officers present their views on constructive ways to interview rape victims.
Abstract
As rape victims tell about their victimization by strangers, the common themes are fear of being killed, the sense of being under the total control of a stranger who intends to do them harm, humiliation, degradation, and vulnerability. Many of these feelings continue long after the experience. In discussing the response of the police to them, many victims felt the police blamed them for their victimization. Some made irrelevant comments that were demeaning. The victims showed an extreme sensitivity to judgmental, indifferent, and business-as-usual attitudes by the police. Police officers comment on the importance of expressing empathy toward the victim, respecting that the victim has undergone a traumatic experience, and listening to and believing what the victim is saying. A victim who has praise for the officers who handled her case tells what she appreciated about their demeanor and responses. The police officers explain how they viewed the victim and their responsibilities to her.