NCJ Number
28395
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 57 Issue: 4 Dated: (AUGUST 1974) Pages: 193-198
Date Published
1974
Length
6 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF 140 CASES, SELECTED AT RANDOM, AS TO TYPE OF OFFENSE, MANNER OF PERETRATION, AND PSYCHSOCIAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE CHILDREN INVOLVED.
Abstract
THE CASES WERE TRIED IN THE MARBURG STATE (LAND) COURT DISTRICT IN 1964, 1965 AND 1966. THE MAJORITY OF THE OFFENSES WERE OF LOW INTENSITY (51 PERCENT) AND NOT AGGRESSIVE ((9 PERCENT), AND THE OFFENDERS WERE RESISTED BY THE CHILDREN IN ONE-THIRD OF THE CASES. 90 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN WERE OVER SEVEN AND MOST OF THEM CAME FROM THE LOWER SOCIAL LEVEL. ONE-THIRD OF THEM WERE FEEBLE MINDED, AND ALMOST HALF OF THEM SHOWED PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS. EXPERT OPINION AS TO CREDIBILITY WAS OBTAINED ON 22 PERCENT OF THEM, BUT THESE DID NOT DIFFER SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE OTHERS. THE VICTIMS' NEED FOR TREATMENT AND THE NEED FOR A REDEFINITION OF SEXUAL OFFENSES ACCORDING TO MANNER OF PERPETRATION ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WHERE THE MANNER IS RELATIVELY NONAGGRESSIVE THE OFFENSE BE TREATED AS A COMPLAINT OFFENSE UNDER THE WEST GERMAN PENAL CODE TO SPARE THE VICTIM FURTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE ORDEAL OF THE JUDICIAL PROCESS, IF POSSIBLE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) --IN GERMAN