NCJ Number
161172
Journal
Law and Social Inquiry Volume: 19 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1994) Pages: 853- 890
Date Published
1994
Length
38 pages
Annotation
Data from interviews and observations in 130 Florida organizations that process rape cases form the basis of a comparison of six types of organizations on eight criteria and an analysis of their frameworks and frames of activity relative to the issue of unresponsiveness to rape victims.
Abstract
The organizations included law enforcement prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, hospital emergency rooms, and rape crisis centers. Most of the data were collected in the mid-1980's. The analysis was guided by Goffman's theory of organizational frameworks and frames of activity and March and Olsen's institutional theory of organizations. The issue of victim legitimacy was used to illustrate the usefulness of the model. Results revealed that well-meaning personnel in legal organizations are oriented to be routinely unresponsive to victims. Instead, their organizations routinely orient them to be concerned with such issues as public approval, the avoidance of losing, and expediency more than with victims' needs. Findings suggested two areas in which legal organizations can improve their responsiveness. First, fairly modest changes in philosophy, protocol, procedures, evaluation, and recordkeeping can, when supported by powerful leaders, lead to substantial improvements for victims. Second, external groups may need to pressure legal organizations whose leaders do not want to change. On a practical level, responsive processing can increase both organizational effectiveness and community cohesion. Further research is also needed. Footnotes (Author abstract modified)