Criminal Investigative Effort in Sexual Assaults: Findings from a Sample of Cases with Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits

Increasing numbers of female victims of violent sexual assaults are being murdered with the aim of concealing the identity of the perpetrator. Proper handling and analysis of evidence is very important in gaining a conviction in many criminal cases. After evidence is collected, due precautions must be taken to ensure that the integrity of the sample is maintained, and chances of contamination are minimised. This paper presents a case study where improper handling of biological evidence led to loss of evidentiary value, and the semen could not be located on the vaginal swabs and victim’s garments due to improper preservation of samples. However, the DNA from the nail of a decomposed finger helped identify the victim, and the suspect was apprehended based on the clues given by her family.

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Making the Call: College Students’ Legal Consciousness and Hypothetical Activation of Police for Sexual Assaults

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/10778012211021121 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107780122110211

Author(s):

Trish Oberweis ◽

Dayna Henry ◽

Stacey Griner ◽

Ekaterina Gorislavsky

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Sexual Assault ◽

Sexual Contact ◽

Legal Consciousness ◽

Sexual Assault Prevention ◽

Sexual Assaults ◽

Assault Victims ◽

Definition Of ◽

Willingness To Report ◽

Assault Prevention

Research has identified the necessity of sexual assault victims to label their experience as criminal to initiate reporting. However, barriers exist in labeling uninvited sexual contact as criminal. This study examined college students’ assessments of whether eight nonconsensual behaviors met the legal definition of sexual assault, and whether such behaviors should be reported to police. Results indicated students acknowledged the nonconsensual behaviors as criminal; however, gaps were identified between awareness that the acts were criminal and willingness to report to police. Findings demonstrate a need for continued efforts for sexual assault prevention among college students.

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Sexual Assault: Social and Stranger Rape

Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health ◽

10.7870/cjcmh-1987-0003 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 49-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

K. Edward Renner ◽

Carol Wackett

Keyword(s):

Social Context ◽

Sexual Assault ◽

Cultural Values ◽

High Frequency ◽

Relative Frequency ◽

Medical Attention ◽

Physical Injury ◽

Sexual Assaults ◽

Assault Victims ◽

To Receive

The Service for Sexual Assault Victims in Halifax reviewed 474 cases of sexual assault handled over a three-year period to determine the nature and relative frequency of social and stranger sexual assault. Women are most likely to be sexually assaulted by a man who is known to and often trusted by them. Women who are raped in a social context are less willing than those raped by a stranger to seek help at the time of the assault, to receive medical attention, or to report the rape to the police. They are also less likely to be threatened with physical harm or to receive physical injury. The cultural values which are responsible for the high frequency of sexual assaults by men who are known to their victims, and for the reluctance of the women to disclose the assault, are discussed.

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College students’ alcohol expectancies and sexual assault bystander behavior

American Journal of Health Studies ◽

10.47779/ajhs.2017.88 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer R Boyle

Keyword(s):

Sexual Assault ◽

Online Survey ◽

Alcohol Expectancies ◽

Sexual Assault Prevention ◽

Sexual Assaults ◽

Bystander Behavior ◽

Related Factors ◽

Assault Prevention ◽

College Sexual Assault ◽

Linear Regressions

Many college sexual assault prevention efforts have focused on the bystander approach. Whilemost sexual assaults among students occur within the context of alcohol, no studies have examined theimpact of alcohol-related factors on bystander behavior. This exploratory study assessed relationshipsbetween students’ alcohol expectancies and the likelihood of intervening in a potential sexual assault.Students(n=220) completed an online survey. Linear regressions were performed. Among men, greateroverall expectancy scores(Stnd.ß=0.375,p=.008) and greater sociability scores(Stnd.ß=0.354,p=.012)were related to greater likelihood of action. Among women, greater self-perception scores were related toless likelihood of action(Stnd.ß=-0.215,p=.010). Explanations for differences between sexes are explored.

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Co-morbidity of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis, among victims of sexual assaults in Transkei region, South Africa

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine ◽

10.4102/phcfm.v1i1.54 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Banwari L. Meel

Keyword(s):

Sexual Assault ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Immune Deficiency Syndrome ◽

Deficiency Syndrome ◽

Sexual Assaults ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Mode Of Transmission ◽

Record Review ◽

Syphilis Serology

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis B and syphilis have a common mode of transmission, which is through sexual intercourse. These are also transmitted percutaneously and by blood transfusion. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis among victims of sexual assault by analysing serology results.Method: This is a record review of victims of sexual assault who attended the Sinawe Centre (a clinic for victims of sexual assault) between January and December 2004.Results: A total of 188 victims of sexual assault was reported. 35 (19.8%) tested HIV sero-positive. Hepatitis B antibodies were detected in seven (7.6%) and syphilis serology (RPR) was positive in five (2.9%). All were under 50 years of age, except one victim. Of the 35 who tested positive, 30 were below 30 years of age. Of those who were 30 years and younger, 12 were between 21 and 30 years old, 16 were between 11 and 20 years old and two were younger than 10. None was positive for all three tests. Two were positive for hepatitis B and HIV and two were positive for RPR and HIV.Conclusion: No significant co-morbidity of HIV, hepatitis B or syphilis was observed in this study, even though these diseases have the same mode of transmission.

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Enacting an Improved Response to Sexual Assault: A Criminal Justice Practitioner’s Guide

10.3768/rtipress.2020.op.0066.2007 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Patricia A. Melton

Keyword(s):

Domestic Violence ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Law Enforcement ◽

Sexual Assault ◽

Best Practices ◽

Violent Crime ◽

Sexual Assaults ◽

Law Enforcement Agencies ◽

Violent Crimes ◽

Serial Offenders

Sexual assault is a violent crime that traumatizes individual victims and endangers entire communities. Every victim of sexual assault deserves an opportunity for justice and access to the resources they need to recover from this trauma. In addition, many perpetrators of sexual assaults are serial offenders who also commit other violent crimes, including armed robberies, aggravated assaults, burglary, domestic violence, and homicides, against strangers and acquaintances. Criminal justice agencies have the power to create a strategic, sustainable plan for an improved response to sexual assault that aligns with current best practices and national recommendations. In this document, we define an “improved response” as an approach that supports effective investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases, holds perpetrators accountable, and promotes healing and recovery for victims of sexual assault. This guide will help prosecutor and law enforcement agencies create a process with milestones, goals, and suggested actions, all designed to support a successful and sustainable approach for addressing sexual assault cases. Improving the criminal justice system’s response to sexual assault ultimately improves public safety and promotes trust between criminal justice agencies and the communities they serve.

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Preliminary report of sexual assaults at Ekiti Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Ado-Ekiti, Southwest, Nigeria (Moremi Clinic)

Tropical Doctor ◽

10.1177/00494755211064654 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 004947552110646

Author(s):

Temitope O Okunola ◽

Babatunde A Olofinbiyi ◽

Olusola P Aduloju ◽

Tolulope Aduloju ◽

Abiodun Obadeji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Assault ◽

Sexual Assaults ◽

Referral Centre ◽

Early Presentation ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Emergency Contraceptive Pills ◽

Contraceptive Pills ◽

Southwest Nigeria ◽

Emergency Contraceptive

There has been a surge in the incidence and severity of sexual assaults globally with the insurgence of COVID-19 owing to lockdown restrictions. Ekiti Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Ado-Ekiti also known as Moremi Clinic was established in June 2020 as a multisectoral response centre to this surge. Seventy-four survivors accessed medical services from June 2020 to May 2021. Adolescents made up 54.1% while the median age was 14.5 years. Only seven survivors were seen within 24 h of the event and around a quarter had follow-up visits. A quarter of survivors reported repeat episodes of sexual assault. Complications documented were sexually transmitted infections (13.5%), depression (4.1%) and posttraumatic stress disorder (5.4%). There was a failure of contraception in 4.5% of survivors who had taken emergency contraceptive pills. For improvements in quality of care, strategies to ensure early presentation and encourage follow-up visits must be introduced.

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Reported Cases of Sexual Assault in Civil Hospital Sanghar

10.53350/pjmhs211592251 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (9) ◽

pp. 2251-2252

Author(s):

Muhammad Qasim Ahmed Khan Memon ◽

Pardeep Kumar ◽

Nadia Aslam ◽

Ejaz Ahmed Awan ◽

Shabir Ahmed Cheena ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Sexual Assault ◽

Study Design ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Time Lapse ◽

Sexual Assaults ◽

Male And Female ◽

Civil Hospital ◽

Assault Victims

Aim: To evaluate the sexual assault against male and female. Study design: Retrospective study Place and duration of study: Civil Hospital Sanghar from 1st January 2020 to 31st December, 2020 Methodology: Forty two cases of sexual assault and recognize the associated factors were enrolled. The age between 6-35 years and either gender were included. Result: There were 28.6% females and 71.4% males, highest victims were among age between 6-18 years was 17(40.5%), illiterate was 23(54.7%), assaulted by a neighbour was 30 (71.4%) and time lapse <1-2 days was 19(45.4%) sexual assaults. Conclusion: Majority of victims were males, assailant relationships of neighbour and illiterate. Keywords: Sexual assault, Victims, Assailants

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Unfounded Sexual Assault: Women’s Experiences of Not Being Believed by the Police

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520978190 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052097819

Author(s):

Jodie Murphy-Oikonen ◽

Karen McQueen ◽

Ainsley Miller ◽

Lori Chambers ◽

Alexa Hiebert

Keyword(s):

Sexual Assault ◽

Police Officers ◽

Well Being ◽

Analysis Data ◽

Sexual Assaults ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Sexual Assault Survivors ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Women's Experiences ◽

The Impact

One in four women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. Although less than 5% of sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement, one in five cases reported to police are deemed baseless (by police) and therefore coded as “unfounded.” Police officers are in a unique position to act as gatekeepers for justice in sexual assault cases, given their responsibility to investigate sexual assault reports. However, high rates of unfounded sexual assaults reveal that dismissing sexual violence has become common practice amongst the police. Much of the research on unfounded sexual assault is based on police perceptions of the sexual assault, as indicated in police reports. Women’s perspectives about their experiences with police are not represented in research. This qualitative study explored women’s experiences when their sexual assault report was disbelieved by the police. Data collection included open-ended and semi-structured interviews with 23 sexual assault survivors. Interviews covered four areas including the sexual assault, the experience with the police, the experience of not being believed, and the impact on their health and well-being. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and entered into NVIVO for analysis. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s analytic method, resulting in the identification of four themes, including, (a) vulnerability, (b) drug and alcohol use during the assault, (c) police insensitivity, and (d) police process. The women in this study who experienced a sexual assault and reported the assault to police were hopeful that police would help them and justice would be served. Instead, these women were faced with insensitivity, blaming questions, lack of investigation, and lack of follow-up from the police, all of which contributed to not being believed by the institutions designed to protect them. The findings from this research demonstrate that police officers must gain a deeper understanding of trauma and sensitive communication with survivors of sexual assault.

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Sexual Assault

Encyclopedia of Social Work ◽

10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.357 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Judy L. Postmus

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Sexual Assault ◽

Social Workers ◽

Social Problem ◽

Crucial Role ◽

The United States ◽

The State ◽

Sexual Assaults ◽

Legal Remedies ◽

Education And Awareness

Sexual assault or rape affects millions of women and men in the United States; however, it is only in the last 30 years that it is being considered a social problem. During this period, many policies at the state and federal levels have attempted to address sexual assault and provide legal remedies for victims. However, sexual assaults are still the most underreported crime in the United States and are accompanied by bias and misinformation that plague our response. Social workers play a crucial role in offering services to survivors and advocating for more education and awareness in our communities and universities.

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