NEW TREATMENT FOR SEX OFFENSE VICTIMS

• NCJ Number: 52440
• Journal: POLICE LAW QUARTERLY Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (APRIL 1976) Pages: 17-23
• Author(s): B L GLADDEN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Illinois Institute of Technology
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES AND DISCUSSES THE NEW PROCEDURES BEING USED BY THE CHICAGO ILL. POLICE DEPARTMENT IN DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS INVOLVING SEXUAL OFFENSES.

Abstract

THE NEW PROCEDURES ARE THE RESULT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CHICAGO HOSPITAL COUNCIL, THE CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE FOR VICTIM ASSISTANCE, AND THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AFTER TWO YEARS OF DISCUSSIONS AND STUDIES, A PAMPHLET ENTITLED 'WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAPE' WAS PUBLISHED WITH FUNDS OBTAINED FROM THE ABOVE AGENCIES AND IT MAY BE OBTAINED THROUGH ANY ONE OF THE AGENCIES. THE NEW PROCEDURES OFFER DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW THE POLICE AND OTHER CONCERNED PERSONS (E.G. WITNESSES, HOSPITAL ATTENDANTS AND PHYSICIANS) SHOULD DEAL WITH A SEXUAL OFFENSE FROM BEGINNING TO END. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO ADVISING HOW TO TREAT THE VICTIM IN AS HUMANE A FASHION AS POSSIBLE, HOW TO OBTAIN EVIDENCE FOR PURPOSES OF INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION, AND HOW TO DEAL WITH ALLEGED SEX OFFENDERS. EXPEDITED JUDICIAL PROCEDURES DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE VICTIM SUFFERING ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. NEW PROCEDURES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INVESTIGATION INCLUDE APPOINTING PERSONNEL WHOSE JOB IT IS TO REVIEW CASES TO IDENTIFY CRIME PATTERNS AND TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION THUS OBTAINED. THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO EXPERIMENTING WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF TEAMS, SOME ALL FEMALE AND SOME CONSISTING OF MEN AND WOMEN, WHO ANSWER THE COMPLAINT, ESCORT THE VICTIM TO THE HOSPITAL, AND FOLLOW HER THROUGH MUCH OF THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS; IT IS HOPED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO WHOM THE VICTIM MUST RELATE HER EXPERIENCE. TWENTY-EIGHT HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAVE AGREED TO STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR CARING FOR THE VICTIM AND PRESERVING EVIDENCE. A STREAMLINED ARRAIGNMENT PROCEDURE ELIMINATES THE NECESSITY FOR A VICTIM TO TESTIFY AT BOTH A GRAND JURY HEARING AND THEN AT A TRIAL. SUSPECT IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. (MPK)