Rape And The Criminal Justice System

This work examines the ways in which the criminal justice system deals with rape and its after-effects in the victim (PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder). Considerable coverage is given to research findings in the United States, findings of the police themselves and other investigations.

This book explores the burgeoning interest in alternative and innovative justice responses to sexual violence both within and outside the legal system. It explores the limits of criminal law for achieving 'rape justice' and highlights possibilities for expanding how we think about justice in the aftermath of sexual violence.

Cassia Spohn and Katharine Tellis assess the criminal justice system¿s response to sexual assault, exploring the complex dynamics that shape the actions of police and prosecutors. The authors draw on unparalleled access to Los Angeles detectives, prosecutors, and case files to make sense of the factors that affect the outcomes of sexual assault claims. Following cases from victim report, to police investigation, to the decision to charge¿or not to charge¿they provide new insights into why shockingly few sexual assault claims lead to an eventual criminal conviction.

Sexual Assault in Canada is the first English-language book in almost two decades to assess the state of sexual assault law and legal practice in Canada. Gathering together feminist scholars, lawyers, activists and policy-makers, it presents a picture of the difficult issues that Canadian women face when reporting and prosecuting sexual violence. The volume addresses many themes including the systematic undermining of women who have been sexually assaulted, the experiences of marginalized women, and the role of women’s activism. It explores sexual assault in various contexts, including professional sports, the doctor–patient relationship, and residential schools. And it highlights the influence of certain players in the reporting and litigation of sexual violence, including health care providers, social workers, police, lawyers and judges. Sexual Assault in Canada provides both a multi-faceted assessment of the progress of feminist reforms to Canadian sexual assault law and practice, and articulates a myriad of new ideas, proposed changes to law, and inspired activist strategies. This book was created to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Jane Doe’s remarkable legal victory against the Toronto police for sex discrimination in the policing of rape and for negligence in failing to warn her of a serial rapist. The case made legal history and motivated a new generation of feminist activists. This book honours her pioneering work by reflecting on how law, legal practice and activism have evolved over the past decade and where feminist research and reform should lead in the years to come.

This book offers a comprehensive guide to the international policies developed to stop rape, together with case studies on their effectiveness in practice. Engaging with the legal and criminal justice systems, health services, specialized services for victim-survivors, educational and cultural outreach, and more, it brings together both theory and real-world evidence to build a thorough picture of worldwide efforts to fight rape in all its contexts.

This book provides an overview of the crime of sexual assault and its related issues. It provides a synthesis of the most current information relating to sexual assault. Authors Reddington and Kreisel approach the topic of sexual assault in a unique way by examining it from a criminal justice perspective. In giving an overview of sexual assault, examining its victimology, discussing the sexual offender, and looking at the role the criminal justice system plays, this book presents a comprehensive and thoroughly informative study of the crime. "The editors did a good job fitting together the different articles on this important subject in a relatively seamless manner. This well-written, straightforward book should be easily read and understood by anyone with an interest in the subject. Summing Up: Recommended." -- Choice Magazine, September 2005

Rape: The Misunderstood Crime is an excellent resource for professionals and students of psychology, sociology, education, social work, criminal justice, and law who seek to dispel "rape myths" and wish to better understand the nature and dynamics of both the rapist and the victim.