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Rape convictions

CiaranM

Entry posted by CiaranM ·

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how seriously taken is the crime of rape ?? article in todays guardian has some staggering statistics ..... they reckon between 75% and 95% of cases are never even reported (although i'm not sure how they get that figure). but more disturbingly of the cases that are reported only 6.5% result in convictions against 34% for general criminal cases. full article below !! 

Conviction rates for rape remain appallingly low

It is a figure that is often quoted, and yet never fails to shock: of all the allegations of rape recorded by the police, only 6.5% result in a conviction. The figure is 34% in general criminal cases. Between 75% and 95% of rapes are not reported.The low rate persists despite a string of initiatives, including new policy guidelines, specially trained police officers and prosecutors, and an increase in referral centres, where victims go for forensic examination and medical care. Experts and campaigners say the problem stems from failures and prejudices at all stages of the system, from initial complaint to trial. It may start with police officers who are sceptical about the victim's story, perhaps because she has been drinking or was attacked by her partner, and either dismiss the complaint or make little effort to investigate. Prosecutors might be reluctant to take a case to court where they fear the victim lacks "credibility". Juries, reflecting a belief among the public in a number of "rape myths", can be reluctant to convict. Research has found that a third of people in the UK believe a woman is partially or totally responsible for being raped if she has been flirtatious. Almost the same number think she should shoulder some blame if she was drunk. It is telling that while around 60% of cases that reach court lead to a conviction, most of these result from a guilty plea. Less than a quarter of all those charged with rape are convicted following a successful trial.But the worst area for the attrition rate is during the police investigation, after the report of the crime but before any charge. Only a quarter of allegations end up in court. Home Office research found that the most common reasons charges were not brought were insufficient evidence - in 40% of cases - and the victim withdrawing her complaint, in 35% of cases.The Without Consent report, published in 2007 by the independent inspectorates for the police and Crown Prosecution Service, was highly critical of the way police and prosecuting authorities deal with rape cases, finding that many officers had little specialist training and lacked awareness of the need to follow the relevant guidance.Delays, "unpleasant environments", inappropriate behaviour by professionals, insensitive questioning and "judgmental or disbelieving attitudes" were all found to have been inflicted on victims.
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CiaranM

how seriously taken is the crime of rape ?? article in todays guardian has some staggering statistics ..... they reckon between 75% and 95% of cases are never even reported (although i'm not sure how they get that figure). but more disturbingly of the cases that are reported only 6.5% result in convictions against 34% for general criminal cases. full article below !! 

Conviction rates for rape remain appallingly low

It is a figure that is often quoted, and yet never fails to shock: of all the allegations of rape recorded by the police, only 6.5% result in a conviction. The figure is 34% in general criminal cases. Between 75% and 95% of rapes are not reported.The low rate persists despite a string of initiatives, including new policy guidelines, specially trained police officers and prosecutors, and an increase in referral centres, where victims go for forensic examination and medical care. Experts and campaigners say the problem stems from failures and prejudices at all stages of the system, from initial complaint to trial. It may start with police officers who are sceptical about the victim's story, perhaps because she has been drinking or was attacked by her partner, and either dismiss the complaint or make little effort to investigate. Prosecutors might be reluctant to take a case to court where they fear the victim lacks "credibility". Juries, reflecting a belief among the public in a number of "rape myths", can be reluctant to convict. Research has found that a third of people in the UK believe a woman is partially or totally responsible for being raped if she has been flirtatious. Almost the same number think she should shoulder some blame if she was drunk. It is telling that while around 60% of cases that reach court lead to a conviction, most of these result from a guilty plea. Less than a quarter of all those charged with rape are convicted following a successful trial.But the worst area for the attrition rate is during the police investigation, after the report of the crime but before any charge. Only a quarter of allegations end up in court. Home Office research found that the most common reasons charges were not brought were insufficient evidence - in 40% of cases - and the victim withdrawing her complaint, in 35% of cases.The Without Consent report, published in 2007 by the independent inspectorates for the police and Crown Prosecution Service, was highly critical of the way police and prosecuting authorities deal with rape cases, finding that many officers had little specialist training and lacked awareness of the need to follow the relevant guidance.Delays, "unpleasant environments", inappropriate behaviour by professionals, insensitive questioning and "judgmental or disbelieving attitudes" were all found to have been inflicted on victims.
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DarkPrince77

I had a friend that was raped and Sadly she feel like it was somehow her fault for being raped;that she brought it on herself. She exclaimed maybe i shouldn't have dressed a certain way. She never reported it because she just didn't want to deal with it.

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PJack

if you were raped, would you report it? what if the offender was someone you knew?

asking myself this......since I am male it is a bit strange to admit but I can sympathize with someone who might answer no to this question.

my gf was raped in college just after we broke up (we were 20 at the time). i remember my reaction was "well, why did you not scream or call police or fight him?" and after a while I could see that such a reaction assumes she did not do something to stop it or avoid it and by extention that she bears some responsibility for it happening. I would assume many victims have such thoughts.

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Stramash

Very sad. What is possibly worse is that incidences of male rape are reckoned to be even less reported than female rape (and added in is that until recently male rape was only classed as sexual assault by law) Male rape is often more violent and can cause as many psychological problems as female rape...

Slightly off topic, but a disturbing trend I have noticed on TF is how acceptable the word 'rape' seems to be. I am not singling anyone out, nor am I naming anyone, but I have seen numerous instances of the word being used flippantly and humorously in a range of contexts.

Given the high incidences of rape worldwide, it is probable that even if you dont know someone directly who has been raped, then someone you know does. (reported or unreported)

Although not naming anyone here, I will now reply to any posts where the word is used out of context...

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condotown

Women are raped in men's minds way more than in reality.

Every man reading this has raped multiple women with his eyes.

Women should just wear signs when they are ready to be "taken".

That would clear up the misunderstanding. That way potential rapists would just go look for a woman wearing the right sign.

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garlic

it's very hard to second guess what any girl does in a rape...they are all different and will act in different ways...

no matter how you look at it, rape just sucks under any circumstance...

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PeterH61

Pjack: "Did you not scream or fight?" Put yourself in the victim's position, walking home after a night out with a few friends then a 180 pound guy leaps out of the bushes, holds a kniofe to your throat and starts ripping at your underclothes. You'rte alone, he's too strong for you to fight off and if you make too much noise you migtht get your throat slit. And on top of that there's the sheer numbing shock of being assaulted at all, let alone sexually. There can be no excuse for rape, but it's one of the most difficult attacks to defend yourself against. Also, because of the attitudes of officials like the police or courts, it can also be one of the most difficult crimes to prosecute. The fasilure of the criminal justice system to respond to a complaint of rape in anything like an appropriate way is one of the worst crimes of all

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