RAPE VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS AND CRIME CIRCUMSTANCES - RELATIONSHIP TO THE VICTIM'S PERCEPTION OF THE TREATMENT RECEIVED FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL

• NCJ Number: 67961
• Author(s): L M FORREST
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 142 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SPECIAL PRICES FOR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

THIS DISSERTATION INVESTIGATES THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE RAPE VICTIM AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SUGGESTS THE NEED FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AND RETRAINING OF PERSONNEL WHO HANDLE RAPE CASES.

Abstract

METHODOLOGY INCLUDES PROCEDURES FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF SUBJECTS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF SUBJECTS. A TOTAL OF 146 VICTIMS OF FORCIBLE RAPE WERE INTERVIEWED. OF 67 VICTIMS, 46 PERCENT VOLUNTEERED WHEN CONTACTED BY ONE OF THE AGENCIES (HOSPITAL PROGRAMS AND RAPE CRISIS LINES); THE REMAINING 79 VICTIMS RESPONDED TO A MEDIA REQUEST. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM THE VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS (MARITAL STATUS, RACE, EMPLOYMENT STATUS, AGE AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL), CIRCUMSTANTIAL CONDITIONS PRIOR TO THE RAPE, AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL CONDITIONS DURING THE RAPE. OTHER QUESTIONS WERE CONCERNED WITH THE VICTIMS' PERCEPTION OF THE TREATMENT RECEIVED FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL ARE THE BEHAVIORS IN WHICH THEY ENGAGED PRIOR TO THE ASSAULT. AT PRESENT, NO EVIDENCE EXISTS THAT WOMEN WHO CONSUME ALCOHOL, USE DRUGS, MEET MEN IN BARS, HITCHHIKE, OR WHO WERE RAPED BY MEN THEY KNOW ARE ANY MORE LIKELY TO MAKE A 'FALSE' COMPLAINT THAN WOMEN WHO DO NOT CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN THESE WAYS. CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL UTILIZING THE BEHAVIOR OF VICTIMS PRIOR TO THE RAPE AS THE CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT A RAPE OCCURRED MAY BE MAKING ERRONEOUS JUDGMENTS. FURTHERMORE, IF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL MAKE NEGATIVE JUDGMENTS ABOUT THE VERACITY OF VICTIMS' STATEMENTS ON THEIR BEHAVIOR PRIOR TO THE RAPE, THEIR JUDGMENTS MAY CAUSE THE VICTIMS TO VIEW THEMSELVES IN A NEGATIVE MANNER. IT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO FOREWARN VICTIMS ABOUT PERSONNEL ATTITUDES. ALSO, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOULD CONSIDER ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AND RETRAINING OF PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING RAPE CASES. STATISTICAL TABLES AND OVER 70 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. APPENDIXES PRESENT THE VICTIM QUESTIONNAIRE, SAMPLE FORMS, AND A REVIEW OF IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EDUCATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL. (MFE)