The Link Between the SAMFE and Police Perceptions of Victim Credibility

2021 ◽  
pp. 155708512110124
Author(s):  
Lilly Yu ◽  
Kelly Walsh ◽  
Janine M. Zweig
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Important Case ◽  
Case Processing ◽  
Dna Evidence ◽  
Early Case ◽  
Forensic Testing ◽  
Case Characteristics ◽  
Processing Factors

While research has documented the evidentiary significance of sexual assault medical forensic exams (SAMFEs) to case processing, there has been less focus on SAMFEs’ relevance to extralegal case characteristics. This study, through focus groups with police officers and prosecutors, illuminates the link between two important case processing factors: the SAMFE and perceptions of victim credibility. The majority of respondent narratives about the utility of the SAMFE point to how it strengthens or weakens perceptions of victim credibility. This link points to the SAMFE’s important role in early case processing before investigators send DNA evidence for forensic testing.

Tested at Last: How DNA Evidence in Untested Rape Kits Can Identify Offenders and Serial Sexual Assaults

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (24) ◽  
pp. 3792-3814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Campbell ◽  
Hannah Feeney ◽  
Steven J. Pierce ◽  
Dhruv B. Sharma ◽  
Giannina Fehler-Cabral
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Assaults ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Dna Index ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Dna Evidence ◽  
Sexual Assault Case ◽  
Forensic Testing ◽  
Rape Kits

An increasing number of U.S. law enforcement agencies have disclosed that they have large numbers of untested sexual assault kits (SAKs; also called “rape kits”) in police property storage. Whether previously untested SAKs should be tested for DNA evidence has been the subject of considerable public debate. To inform policy and practice regarding rape kit testing, the current study tested a sample of 900 previously unsubmitted SAKs from Detroit, Michigan, and documented the DNA forensic testing outcomes associated with those kits. We assessed how many SAKs yielded DNA profiles eligible for upload into CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), the federal DNA criminal database; how many resulted in a DNA match (termed a “CODIS hit”); and how many of those hits were associated to other sexual assault crimes (i.e., serial sexual assault hits). Overall, there were 259 CODIS hits, 69 of which had DNA matches to another sexual assault case. The potential utility of a DNA profile and CODIS hit may vary depending on whether offender was known or unknown to the victim, so we examined these outcomes separately for SAKs associated with stranger- and non-stranger-perpetrated sexual assaults. We also present six case study examples of how DNA testing and CODIS hits helped identify serial sexual assaults in both stranger and non-stranger sexual assault cases. Implications for rape kit testing policies are discussed.

Identification, Corroboration, and Charging: Examining the Use of DNA Evidence by Prosecutors in Sexual Assault Cases

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 634-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tri Keah S. Henry ◽  
Alicia L. Jurek
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Case Processing ◽  
Dna Evidence ◽  
Biological Evidence ◽  
Sexual Assault Case

This study examines the influence of DNA evidence on prosecutorial decisions in sexual assault cases. Thirty-eight prosecutors experienced with prosecuting sexual violence cases were surveyed regarding the use of biological evidence in sexual assault cases, including the ways in which it is generally used, the cases in which it is most critical to have, and factors impacting case attrition. Results indicate that prosecutors perceive DNA evidence to be extremely valuable in prosecuting sexual assault cases. Several themes related to the perspective, context, process, and conditions under which DNA evidence plays a vital role in sexual assault case processing are identified.

The Results of CODIS-Hit Investigations in a Sample of Cases With Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Wells ◽  
Ashley K. Fansher ◽  
Bradley A. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Police Department ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Dna Testing ◽  
Criminal Cases ◽  
Case Processing ◽  
Dna Index ◽  
Dna Evidence ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Houston Police Department

The use of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) evidence in criminal cases, especially exonerations, has received high levels of public and media attention. Studies show DNA evidence can have a significant effect on case outcomes, whereas other studies have found that police investigators rarely use DNA. Coupled with work in many cities to test large numbers of older sexual assault kits, Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) holds great promise for holding offenders accountable. Despite the potential value of DNA evidence, few studies have measured case processing after forensic matches have been made. This study examines investigation outcomes following DNA testing and forensic matches in a sample of previously untested sexual assault kits in the Houston Police Department. Of 104 CODIS-hit cases, one case resulted in new charges.

scholarly journals [De]-Centering the Victim: Police Perceptions of Victims of Sexual Violence through a Comparative Lens of Evidence Collection and Processing

2021 ◽  
pp. 155708512110319
Author(s):  
Deborah White ◽  
Lesley McMillan
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Evidence Collection ◽  
Police Perceptions

Police are central to the statutory response to sexual violence, shaping the direction an investigation may take. Evidence provided by victims is also key to the processing of sexual assault cases. From a 2013 comparative qualitative study involving interviews with police officers in one province in Canada ( n = 11) and one region in Scotland ( n = 10) who investigate such cases, we discovered striking unanticipated differences between the two groups in terms of how they perceived victims and the evidence they provide. This paper presents a thematic analysis of these data and considers possible implications and explanations.

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

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.

“A Rape Is a Rape, Regardless of What the Victim Was Doing at the Time”: Detective Views on How “Problematic” Victims Affect Sexual Assault Case Processing

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-44
Author(s):  
Eryn Nicole O’Neal ◽  
Brittany E. Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Police Department ◽  
Sex Crimes ◽  
Case Processing ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Sexual Assault Case ◽  
Officer Attitudes ◽  
Depth Interviews

Research finds that “problematic” victim behaviors—for example, alcohol consumption—influence sexual assault case outcomes. Questions remain, however, regarding officer perceptions of what constitutes a problematic victim and how these victims complicate case processing. Indeed, most case processing research has relied on quantitative methods and inquiry into officer attitudes has primarily relied on the use of vignettes. Using data from in-depth interviews with 52 Los Angeles Police Department sex crimes detectives, we examine attitudes toward problematic victims. Overall, we aim to determine whether rape culture beliefs and efforts to operate in a “downstream orientation” influence detective views regarding victims who have been deemed problematic.

Driving as an Under-acknowledged Risk in Rural Policing

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 657-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Ricciardelli ◽  
Dale C Spencer ◽  
Elizabeth Andres
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Active Duty ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Canadian Province ◽  
Occupational Risks

Abstract One topic rarely discussed in the policing literature is driving-related accidents, injuries, and deaths, despite the fact that, for example, such deaths vastly outnumber gun-related fatalities for officers on active duty. There is even less literature on automobile-related incidents and deaths in relation to rural policing. Based on 14 focus groups with police officers (n = 49) across a primarily rural Canadian province, we probe the various driving-related risks faced by these officers. Drawing from the literature on automobility, we examine the various aspects of driving that place officers at risk of fatality. We highlight the driving-related occupational risks specific to rural policing and how such risks inhibit their ability to conduct their jobs safely and effectively. We conclude with policy implications and avenues for future research.

Management of DNA evidence collected on adolescents in sexual assault investigations: A 10-year review from a large Italian rape centre

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Piccinini ◽  
Giulia Vignali ◽  
Paolo Bailo ◽  
Giussy Barbara ◽  
Giuseppe Gennari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Female Adolescent ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
Dna Evidence ◽  
Dna Analyses ◽  
Chain Of Custody ◽  
Relevant Role ◽  
Biological Evidence ◽  
Assault Victims

Little research is available on the actual forensic use of genetic analyses performed in sexual violence cases, despite their relevant role in legal processes. The present retrospective study aimed to contribute to filling this gap in research, evaluating the actual number of serological/DNA analyses that followed medical examination of female adolescent victims of sexual violence. The study was performed in a large rape centre in Milan (North Italy) by analysing all medical records of female victims of sexual violence aged 13–19 years in the period from January 2006 to December 2015. The total number of sexual assault victims examined aged 13–19 years was 599. In 473 of the cases, biological evidence had been collected. The gathering of biological evidence was accurately performed (double swab technique) in multiple anatomical regions on the victims’ bodies, and clothes were acquired when biological stains were present or could be present. Proper handling under chain of custody for all the items collected followed in every case. Despite all of this, serological/DNA analyses were requested in only 9/473 (1.9%) cases. Procedural issues possibly affecting the magistrates’ decisions not to use DNA extensively as an investigative tool are also discussed.

A Preliminary Assessment of Police Officers' Knowledge and Perceptions of Persons With Disabilities

2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott J. Modell ◽  
Suzanna Mak
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Police Officer ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Crime Victims ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Number Of Factors

Abstract Individuals with developmental disabilities are 4 to 10 times more likely to become crime victims than individuals without disabilities (D. Sobsey, D. Wells, R. Lucardie, & S. Mansell, 1995). Victimization rates for persons with disabilities is highest for sexual assault (more than 10 times as high) and robbery (more than 12 times as high). There are a number of factors related to individuals' with disabilities susceptibility to interactions with the criminal justice system. In addition to these factors, many significant barriers exist, both real and perceived, that limit investigation and prosecution of these cases. How police officers perceive and understand disability play significant roles in how these cases develop and evolve. The purpose of this study was to assess police officer knowledge and perceptions of persons with disabilities.

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