NCJ Number
44709
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS OF RAPE VICTIMS ARE DISCUSSED AND ILLUSTRATED IN A HYPOTHETICAL CASE STUDY COMBINING THE EXPERIENCES OF FOUR VICTIMS.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION DRAWS ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE CALGARY (CANADA) RAPE CRISIS CENTRE, WHICH PROVIDES PEER COUNSELING AND CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES TO RAPE VICTIMS. THE PRIMARY IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE VICTIM REGARDLESS OF HER DECISION TO REPORT OR NOT TO REPORT HER RAPE IS STRESSED. RAPE COUNSELORS SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE STAGES OF REACTION TO RAPE: ACUTE DISTRESS AND GRIEF; PSEUDOADJUSTMENT AND SUPPRESSION; AND, FINALLY, RESOLUTION AND INTEGRATION. RAPE VICTIMS PERCEIVE THEIR ASSAULT AS AN ACT OF VIOLENCE, NOT SEX. WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOCUS ON THE SEXUAL ASPECT OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED, THEY ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING THE VICTIM'S PROBLEM. RAPE COUNSELORS SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MEDICAL TREATMENT PROVIDED THEIR CLIENTS. BASIC ISSUES INCLUDE WHO SHOULD PROVIDE SUCH TREATMENT, HOW IT SHOULD BE FUNDED, WHETHER POLICE SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE CALLED IN, AND WHAT SORT OF SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED. QUESTIONS THAT RAPE CRISIS WORKERS SHOULD ASK ABOUT EMERGENCY ROOM CARE ARE LISTED. THE ACCOUNT OF THE COMPOSITE VICTIM'S EXPERIENCE DESCRIBES IN DETAIL THE CRIME, THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM EXPERIENCE, THE VICTIM'S EXPERIENCE AS A WITNESS AT THE PRETRIAL HEARING AND THE TRIAL, AND HER COUNSELING SESSIONS AT THE RAPE CRISIS CENTRE.