NCJ Number
108530
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1987) Pages: 186-191
Date Published
1987
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A self-report, attitudinal questionnaire on child sexual abuse was completed by 27 police in a county sexual assault unit, 5 officers in a city sexual assault unit, and 17 municipal officers outside the principle city (79-percent overall response rate).
Abstract
Results indicate that officers generally held positive attitudes toward the reliability of child victims and did not hold the victim culpable (although eight officers consistently felt that victims invited or played a collaborative role in their victimization). Officers were ambivalent toward offender responsibility or culpability, with about half feeling that the offender was sick and not in control, while half felt that offenders knew what they were doing and hoped they would not be caught. They also felt that child molesters deserved more punishment, not less. Statistically significant correlations were found between victim credibility and victim culpability, victim credibility and crime seriousness, and victim credibility and punishment. Correlations also were found between victim culpability and crime seriousness and punishment. Officers with a higher level of education perceived the crime as more serious than those with lower education levels. 2 tables and 23 references.