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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:42 am
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Results for sexual assaults
17 results foundAuthor: Rosay, Andre B. Title: Alaska Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Study Summary: This study identified the characteristics of sexual assault victimizations in Alaska, as recorded by sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in eight cities, with attention to the key factors that impacted victims' gential injury and case legal resolutions. Details: Anchorage, AK: University of Alaska at Anchorage, Justice Center and the Forensic Nurse Services of Anchorage, 2008. 128p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 25, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/224520.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/224520.pdf Shelf Number: 113545 Keywords: InjurySexual AssaultsSexual ViolenceVictims |
Author: Beck, Allen J. Title: Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2008-2009 Summary: This report resents data from the National Inmate Survey (NIS), 2008-09, conducted in 167 state and federal prisons, 286 local jails, and 10 special correctional facilities (operated by U.S. Armed Forces, Indian tribes, or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) between October 2008 and December 2009, with a sample of 81,566 inmates ages 18 or older. The report provides a listing of facilities ranked according to the prevalence of sexual victimization, as required under the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-79). The prevalence of victimization as reported by inmates during a personal interview is based on sexual activity in the 12 months prior to the interview or since admission to the facility, if less than 12 months. Included are estimates of nonconsensual sexual acts, abusive sexual contacts, inmate-on-inmate and staff sexual misconduct, and level of coercion. The report also presents findings on reported sexual victimization by selected characteristics of inmates, including demographic characteristics, sexual history and orientation, and criminal justice status. It includes details on victims’ experiences and the circumstances surrounding incidents of sexual victimization. Highlights include the following: 1) An estimated 4.4% of prison inmates and 3.1% of jail inmates reported experiencing one or more incidents of sexual victimization by another inmate or facility staff in the past 12 months or since admission to the facility, if less than 12 months; 2) Female inmates in prison (4.7%) or jail (3.1%) were more than twice as likely as male inmates in prison (1.9%) or jail (1.3%) to report experiencing inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization; and 3) Among inmates who reported inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization, 13% of male prison inmates and 19% of male jail inmates said they were victimized within the first 24 hours after admission, compared to 4% of female inmates in prison and jail. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 24, 2010 at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/svpjri0809.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/svpjri0809.pdf Shelf Number: 119678 Keywords: InmatesJailsPrison RapePrisonsSex OffensesSexual AssaultsSexual Victimization |
Author: Winokur, Kristin Parsons Title: Child on Child Sexual Abuse Needs Assessment - White Paper. Summary: Cases involving children engaged in sexual assaults against other children are of growing concern in Florida. Research indicates that sexual assaults of children under the age of 12 are most commonly committed by adolescents who are 14 years of age (Chaffin, 2008). The sexual victimization of these youths puts them at greater risk for a multitude of anti-social behaviors including sexualized behaviors (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; Paolucci et al., 2001). Tragic events, such as the Gabriel Myers case involving a 7-year old boy who had previously been sexually assaulted by another child and later ended his own life, underscore the importance of understanding and addressing childhood sexual behavior problems. In addition, results from the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente, involving more than 17,000 study participants, found that childhood maltreatment dramatically increased the risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and several other major illnesses later in life (Dube, Anda, Whitfield, Brown, Felitti, Dong, & Giles, 2005). In an effort to understand and effectively address sexual abuse among children, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has funded a Needs Assessment to examine the breadth and scope of these abuse cases, including an assessment of the factors relating to the context, frequency, impact, treatment, effects and recovery from such abuse. The state of Florida has defined these incidents as child-on-child sexual abuse (COCSA). Various terms are used to refer to the children involved in these incidents including, for example, alleged juvenile sex offenders, sex offenders, abusers, perpetrators, sexually reactive children, children with sexual behavior problems, victims, and alleged victims. In an effort to avoid confusion with legal definitions of sexual offending and given the complex nature of COCSA cases, youth engaging in these activities are referred to here as children with sexual behavior problems (SBP). Children victimized in these cases are referred to here as alleged victims.1 Understanding the children involved in incidents of child-on-child sexual abuse is critical to effective prevention and intervention efforts. However, the causal pathways associated with perpetration and victimization are complex. Some studies have suggested that a pattern of juvenile sexual offending at an early age may serve as a precursor to later victimization and/or offending (Abel et al., 1987; Hunter and Figueredo, 2000; Knight and Prentky, 1993). Others have found that prior peer sexual victimization does not increase the likelihood for later sexual abuse (Maker, Kemmelmeier and Peterson, 2001). For example, a recent examination of a historical official data set found no increased likelihood for adult sexual offending among a cohort of juvenile sex offenders (Zimring et al., 2009). These complex factors can inhibit child welfare and protection efforts in providing appropriate services and establishing state policies that would mitigate current or future incidents of child-on-child sexual abuse. Those efforts may be limited to treating diagnosed risk factors as opposed to the actual underlying causes. The current paper is intended to provide an overview of COCSA cases in the State of Florida. Such abuse can encompass various age-ranges (early childhood, preteen, and teenage years) and legal/official categorizations (juvenile sex offender, child sexual behavior, dependent child, etc.). While teens engaging in child-on-child sexual behaviors and juvenile sex offenders are generally discussed here, the emphasis is on sexual abuse and sexual behavior problems among children under the age of twelve. This group represents the primary child-on-child sexual abuse service population of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Details: Tallahassee, FL: Justice Research Center and Deptartment of Children and Families, 2010. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 15, 2011 at: http://www.thejrc.com/docs/Child%20on%20Child%20Sexual%20Abuse%20Needs%20Assessment%20-%20White%20Paper.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.thejrc.com/docs/Child%20on%20Child%20Sexual%20Abuse%20Needs%20Assessment%20-%20White%20Paper.pdf Shelf Number: 122388 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse (Florida)Juvenile Sex OffendersSexual Assaults |
Author: Wainer, Lisa Title: Understanding the Extent and Nature of Serious Sexual Violence in the London Borough of Hackney Summary: Recent increases in the levels of serious sexual violence (SSV) in the London Borough of Hackney prompted its Community Safety Partnership (CSP) to commission – with financial assistance from the Home Office – a research project to look at this crime problem in more detail. More specifically, we were tasked to find out more about the real extent and nature of these offences in the Borough, through the analysis of various data sources. The main concern was that, due to high levels of under-reporting, any information that could be gathered from police recorded data alone would be limited. This is why we combined the analysis of these data with information provided by various partner agencies, who not only gave us an insight into the type of scenarios they were dealing with (and how often these occurred – sometimes supplemented with their own recorded data) but also offered their views as to what the barriers to reporting may be. This document, the final report, summarises the findings from these analyses. First, a brief overview of the literature is provided, which aims to set the research in context and give an indication of what is already known about this crime problem and why it is often under-reported. We then describe the data sources employed in the research, within the Methodology section. After this, the findings from the analyses of, first, the police recorded crime data and, second, the interviews are presented. The last section of the report offers a set of summary and conclusions, which incorporate recommendations for policy and practice. Details: London: UCL Department of Security and Crime Science Jill Dando Institute, 2011. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 11, 2011 at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/scs/publications/downloads/hackney-march2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/scs/publications/downloads/hackney-march2011.pdf Shelf Number: 122745 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseProstitutesProstitutionSexual AssaultsSexual Violence (London)Violence Against Women |
Author: Ricardo, Christine Title: Men, Masculinities, Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Violence: A Literature Review and Call for Action Summary: This paper explores possible linkages between masculinities and different forms of sexual exploitation and sexual violence. Specifically, it seeks to answer the question: How do prevailing norms and views of manhood, or masculinities, contribute to some men’s use of sexual violence, and the “demand-side” of sexual exploitation? We critically review existing literature on the topic, with a particular focus on recommendations for action. From what we know about how prevailing gender norms contribute to some men’s use of sexual violence and sexually exploitative practices, what can we propose to reduce sexual exploitation by working with men and boys to question salient gender norms that drive the demand? In terms of programs to reach men and boys on this issue there are a few examples – some which address sexual exploitation specifically, others which address questions of masculinities and gender equality more broadly. However, most of these projects have been small-scale, and with little impact evaluation to date. There are also examples of policies that have incorporated an understanding of the demand side of sexual exploitation and the need to move beyond a mostly punitive model toward a more comprehensive one that includes sanctions as well as preventive approaches, such as engaging men and boys with messages that question sexual exploitation and the “commodification” of women and girls (and boys and men). Overall, we affirm the need to increase attention and action to engage men and boys in questioning and overcoming gender norms that contribute to sexual violence and exploitation. Details: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Promunda and MenEngage, 2008. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 6, 2011 at: http://www.promundo.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Homens-Masculinidades-Explora%C3%A7%C3%A3o-Sexual-e-Viol%C3%AAncia-Sexual-ING.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://www.promundo.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Homens-Masculinidades-Explora%C3%A7%C3%A3o-Sexual-e-Viol%C3%AAncia-Sexual-ING.pdf Shelf Number: 122999 Keywords: GenderMasculinityRapeSex OffendersSexual AssaultsSexual ExploitationSexual Violence |
Author: Anderson, Jessica Title: Evaluation of the ACT Sexual Assault Reform Program (SARP): Final report Summary: In 2005 the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) produced a report, Responding to sexual assault: The challenge of change (DPP & AFP 2005), which made 105 recommendations for reforming the way sexual offence cases are handled by the ACT’s criminal justice system. The Sexual Assault Reform Program (SARP) is one key initiative developed in response to these recommendations. Managed by the ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate (JACS), SARP’s main objective is to improve aspects of the criminal justice system relating to: processes and support for victims of sexual offences as they progress through the system; attrition in sexual offence matters in the criminal justice system; and coordination and collaboration among the agencies involved. In November 2007 the ACT Attorney-General announced $4 million of funding for several SARP reforms. This funding provided for additional victim support staff; a dedicated additional police officer, prosecutor and legal policy officer; and an upgrade of equipment for the Supreme Court and Magistrates Court, including improvements in technology to assist witnesses in giving evidence, and the establishment of an off-site facility to allow witnesses to give evidence from a location outside of the court. In addition, the reform agenda included a number of legislative amendments that changed how evidence can be given by victims of sexual and family violence offences, children and other vulnerable witnesses. The primary objectives of these legislative changes are to provide an unintimidating, safe environment for vulnerable witnesses (including sexual offence complainants) to give evidence and to obtain prompt statements from witnesses to improve the quality of evidence captured (DPP 2009: 13). The funding for SARP reforms also provided for a preliminary evaluation of the reforms; this report outlines findings from the evaluation. The evaluation sought to address whether the program has met its key objectives: better support for victims, lower attrition rates and improved coordination and collaboration among agencies involved in administering SARP. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2012. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Technical and Background Paper Series no. 51: Accessed February 21, 2013 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tbp/41-60/tbp051.html Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tbp/41-60/tbp051.html Shelf Number: 127693 Keywords: RapeSex OffensesSexual Assault Reform Program (SARP)Sexual AssaultsSexual Violence (Australia) |
Author: McCallion, Gail Title: Sexual Violence at Institutions of Higher Education Summary: In recent years, a number of high-profile incidents of sexual violence at institutions of higher education (IHEs) have heightened congressional and administration scrutiny of the policies and procedures that IHEs currently have in place to address campus sexual violence and how these policies and procedures can be improved. Campus sexual violence is widely acknowledged to be a problem. However, reported data on the extent of sexual violence at IHEs varies considerably across studies for a variety of methodological and other reasons. Victims of sexual violence may suffer from a range of physical and mental health conditions including injuries, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, suicidality, and substance abuse. College students who are the victims of sexual violence may experience a decline in academic performance, and they may drop out, leave school, or transfer. Currently, there are two federal laws that address sexual violence on college campuses: the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act, P.L. 101-542) and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX, P.L. 92-318). These two statutes differ in significant respects, including in their purpose, coverage, enforcement, and remedies. The Clery Act requires all public and private IHEs that participate in the student financial assistance programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA, P.L. 89-329) of 1965 to track crimes in and around their campuses and to report these data to their campus community and to the Department of Education (ED). EDs Federal Student Aid (FSA) Office oversees educational institutions compliance with Title IV student financial aid requirements, including requirements related to the Clery Act. In this role, FSA conducts program reviews of IHEs compliance with student aid and Clery provisions. Title IX is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex under any education program or activity that receives federal funding. Under Title IX, sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, is a form of unlawful sex discrimination. Unlike the Clery Act, whose coverage is limited to IHEs that receive student financial aid funds under the HEA, Title IX is applicable to recipients of any type of federal education funding, including any public or private elementary, secondary, and postsecondary school that receives such funds. Although each federal agency enforces Title IX compliance among its own recipients, ED, which administers the vast majority of federal education programs, is the primary agency conducting administrative enforcement of Title IX. Such enforcement by EDs Office for Civil Rights (OCR) may occur as part of a routine compliance audit or in response to a complaint filed by an individual. Members of Congress have been actively involved in seeking ways to improve how IHEs respond to, investigate, and adjudicate incidents of campus sexual violence. Several bills that would strengthen existing laws pertaining to campus sexual violence have been introduced during the 113th Congress. In January 2014, the Obama Administration established a White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. In April 2014, the Task Force issued its first reportNot Alone and created a website that addresses campus sexual violence. Among other things, the report included an extensive list of actions that the Administration will take (or has already taken) to address campus sexual violence. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2014. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: CRS R43764: Accessed November 3, 2014 at: http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43764.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43764.pdf Shelf Number: 133948 Keywords: Campus Crimes (U.S.)Clery ActColleges and UniversitiesRapeSexual AssaultsSexual Violence |
Author: Commission on Sex in Prison (U.K.) Title: Women in prison: coercive and consensual sex Summary: Key points - Women in prison are particularly vulnerable and are more likely than men to have a history of being a victim of violence or sexual abuse. Many women seek comfort in prison to cope with their vulnerabilities - Relationships between women prisoners are very different to those found in men's prisons. Relationships with staff also differ - There is evidence that some women have sexual relationships with other women prisoners - Prison staff reported that women were more overt than men about their friendships and relationships with other prisoners - The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman found that intimate relationships between women could be a source of comfort or of bullying or abuse - Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons found that there was a lack of tolerance in some prisons to non-sexual physical contact between women - Women are at greater risk than men of entering prison with a sexually transmitted infection including HIV - Women in prison have different sexual health needs to men in prison. They should have access to dental dams to prevent the spread of STIs - Some women prisoners had been coerced into sex with prison staff in return for favours such as cigarettes or alcohol - There is evidence that assaults known as 'decrotching', where women prisoners forcibly retrieve drugs hidden inside a woman's vagina, occur in women's prisons. Details: London: Howard League for Penal Reform, 2014. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing paper 2: Accessed April 1, 2014 at: http://www.commissiononsexinprison.org/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Publications/Women_sex_commission.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.commissiononsexinprison.org/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Publications/Women_sex_commission.pdf Shelf Number: 135101 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale Prisoners (U.K.)Prison RapeSex in PrisonSexual Assaults |
Author: Cantor, David Title: Report on the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct Summary: Members of the Association of American Universities (AAU) are working to combat sexual assault and misconduct on their campuses. As an association of research universities, AAU decided in 2014 that the best way to help its members address this issue was to develop and implement a scientific survey to better understand the attitudes and experiences of their students with respect to sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The survey's primary goal was to provide participating institutions of higher education (IHEs) with information to inform their policies to prevent and respond to sexual assault and misconduct. In addition, members hoped that the survey would provide useful information to policymakers as well as make a significant contribution to the body of academic research on this complex issue. In the fall of 2014, AAU contracted with Westat, a research firm, to work with a university team of researchers and administrators to design and implement the survey, entitled the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct. The survey was administered at the end of the spring 2015 semester on the campuses of 27 IHEs, 26 of which are AAU member universities. This report provides a description of the survey methodology and key results. The survey was designed to assess the incidence, prevalence and characteristics of incidents of sexual assault and misconduct. It also assessed the overall campus climate with respect to perceptions of risk, knowledge of resources available to victims, and perceived reactions to an incident of sexual assault or misconduct. The report provides selected results for five questions: - How extensive is nonconsensual sexual contact? - How extensive is sexual harassment, stalking and intimate partner violence? - Who are the victims? - To whom do students report or talk about the incidents? - What is the campus climate around sexual assault and sexual misconduct? This study is one of the first to provide an empirical assessment of these questions across a wide range of IHEs. Prior studies of campus sexual assault and misconduct have been implemented for a small number of IHEs or for a national sample of students with relatively small samples for any particular IHE. To date, comparisons across surveys have been problematic because of different methodologies and different definitions. The AAU study is one of the first to implement a uniform methodology across multiple IHEs and to produce statistically reliable estimates for each IHE. It was designed to provide separate estimates for incidents involving two types of sexual contact (penetration and sexual touching) and four tactics (physical force, drugs and alcohol, coercion, absence of affirmative consent), as well as behaviors such as sexual harassment, stalking, and intimate partner violence. Providing this level of detail allows campus administrators to tailor policies by these very different types of sexual assault and misconduct. Details: Rockville, MD: Westat, 2015. 288p. Source: Internet Resource: Prepared for: The Association of American Universities: Accessed September 21, 2015 at: https://www.aau.edu/uploadedFiles/AAU_Publications/AAU_Reports/Sexual_Assault_Campus_Survey/Report%20on%20the%20AAU%20Campus%20Climate%20Survey%20on%20Sexual%20Assault%20and%20Sexual%20Misconduct.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.aau.edu/uploadedFiles/AAU_Publications/AAU_Reports/Sexual_Assault_Campus_Survey/Report%20on%20the%20AAU%20Campus%20Climate%20Survey%20on%20Sexual%20Assault%20and%20Sexual%20Misconduct.pdf Shelf Number: 136848 Keywords: Campus CrimesColleges and UniversitiesIntimate Partner ViolenceRapeSexual AssaultsSexual HarassmentSexual MisconductStalking |
Author: Leclerc, Benoit Title: Adult sex offenders in youth-oriented institutions: Evidence on sexual victimisation experiences of offenders and their offending patterns Summary: There is significant interest in the issue of child sexual abuse committed in institutional settings. This study uses information collected from a sample of 23 convicted Canadian sex offenders to examine key elements of the offending. Issues explored include the nature of the offender's involvement with institutions, their own prior sexual victimisation experiences, factors influencing the selection of victims and the locations where the sexual assaults occurred. Particularly telling was the length of time offenders spent at an institution prior to initiating the assaults and the potential to avert offending by reducing opportunities to offend, as well as the associated danger evident in allowing staff - without supervision - to transport children outside of an institutional setting, given the frequency of the assaults that occurred offsite. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2015. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice, no. 497: Accessed September 30, 2015 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi497.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi497.pdf Shelf Number: 136929 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseSex OffendersSexual Assaults |
Author: National Crime Agency (UK) Title: Emerging new threat in online dating. Initial trends in internet dating-initiated serious sexual assaults Summary: The National Crime Agency's Serious Crime Analysis Section (SCAS) has identified a significant increase in the number of reports to UK police forces about serious sexual assaults carried out by strangers that have been initiated through online dating. Reports indicate that these offences took place during the first face-to-face meeting between the victim and the offender after they initially met online. This emerging threat appears to be a result of the increasing popularity of online dating - including free and subscription services, dating websites, apps and 'hook up' services - combined with the behaviours and expectations fostered by an online environment. Early analysis indicates that the online dating phenomenon has produced a new type of sexual offender. These offenders are less likely to have criminal convictions, but instead exploit the ease of access and arm-chair approach to dating websites. This is aided by potential victims not thinking of them as strangers, but someone they have got to know. Details: London: National Crime Agency, 2016. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 24, 2016 at: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/670-emerging-new-threat-in-online-dating-initial-trends-in-internet-dating-initiated-serious-sexual-assaults/file Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/670-emerging-new-threat-in-online-dating-initial-trends-in-internet-dating-initiated-serious-sexual-assaults/file Shelf Number: 137948 Keywords: Computer CrimesInternet CrimesOnline DatingOnline VictimizationSexual AssaultsSocial Media |
Author: Bileski, Matthew Title: The Reporting of Sexual Assault in Arizona, CY 2003-2012 Summary: Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) - 41-2406, which became law in July 2005, requires the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) to compile information obtained from all Arizona disposition reporting forms on sexual assault (A.R.S. - 13-1406) and the false reporting of sexual assault involving a spouse (A.R.S. - 13-2907.03). The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides the ACJC with the necessary records to meet the requirement. Utilizing DPS arrest and disposition data, ACJC is mandated to provide an annual sexual assault report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of State, and the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records. The data used to complete this report are extracted by DPS from the Arizona Computerized Criminal History (ACCH) records system and provided to ACJC in January on an annual basis. By statute, local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the courts are required to submit to the ACCH repository information on all arrests and subsequent case disposition information for felonies, sexual offenses, driving under the influence offenses, and domestic violence-related offenses. This report focuses on data from calendar years (CY) 2003 to 2012 and updates data reported in the CY2002 to 2011 report. The ACJC is required to report on law enforcement reporting, charge filings, and subsequent case disposition findings (specifically convictions) and sentencing of A.R.S. - 13-1406 sexual assault charges, A.R.S. - 13-1406.01 sexual assault involving a spouse charges, and - 13-2907.03 false reporting of sexual assault of a spouse charges. In addition to the mandatory sexual assault statutes, data in the report include A.R.S. - 13-1423 violent sexual assault arrest and disposition information reported to ACCH. The following summarizes some of the latest findings in year-over-year change from CY 2011 to CY 2012 for all sexual assault-related2 arrest and disposition information available in the ACCH: - The total number of arrests involving sexual assault increased from 277 in CY 2011 to 306 in CY 2012, and arrest charges also increased from 562 to 584 over the same period. A total of two arrests were made involving violent sexual assault in CY 2012, accounting for 14 violent sexual assault charges. - Over 99 percent of sexual assault-related arrestees in CY 2012 were male, an increase from 98.1 percent reported in CY 2011. The majority of arrestees continued to be white/Caucasian and under the age of 25. - Sexual assault-related arrests flagged for domestic violence increased from 33 arrests in CY 2011 to 42 arrests in CY 2012. - Convictions for sexual assault-related charges decreased from 219 in CY 2011 to 126 in CY 2012. Also in CY 2012, court dismissals outnumbered convictions at 132. - Convictions for sexual assault charges involving domestic violence remained unchanged at eight in CY 2011 and CY 2012; however, court dismissals rose from 10 to 28 during the same period. No convictions were reported for violent sexual assault and sexual assault involving a spouse charges in CY 2011 and CY 2012. - The percentage of sexual assault convictions that resulted in a sentence of probation fell from 85.4 percent in CY 2011 to 73.8 percent in CY 2012. The percentage of convictions that resulted in a sentence to prison fell from 51.1 percent in CY 2011 to 50.8 percent in CY 2012, and sentences to jail fell from 3.7 percent to 2.4 percent over the same period. Further, sentences were all, or in part, suspended for 45.2 percent of convictions in both CY 2011 and CY 2012. Details: Phoenix: Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, 2014. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 30, 2016 at: http://www.azcjc.gov/ACJC.Web/Pubs/Home/2014%20ARS%2041-2406%20Report%20Final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.azcjc.gov/ACJC.Web/Pubs/Home/2014%20ARS%2041-2406%20Report%20Final.pdf Shelf Number: 140089 Keywords: Crime StatisticsRapeSex CrimesSex OffendersSexual AssaultsSexual Violence |
Author: Ritter, Nancy Title: Down the Road: Testing Evidence in Sexual Assaults Summary: A few years ago, NIJ published The Road Ahead: Unanalyzed Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases, a special report that explored the issue of untested sexual assault kits that were stored in law enforcement evidence facilities around the nation. Since then, we have learned a lot about the role of testing biological evidence in solving sexual assaults. This report, Down the Road: Testing Evidence in Sexual Assaults, discusses the results of recent studies supported by NIJ. Through scientific research, we have gained greater understanding that: Although a sexual assault kit (SAK) may contain biological evidence - more than two-thirds of the cases in two recent studies did - there can be other important physical evidence that is not stored with the SAK, such as bedding, toxicology reports, or weapons. - One kit does not equal one biological sample: In an ongoing SAK-testing partnership between NIJ and the FBI, for example, 597 kits (tested as of October 2015) contained 8,694 discreet biological samples; therefore, when speaking about the "number" of SAKs, it is important to keep in mind that each kit likely contains many separate pieces of evidence that could be tested to determine the identity of a suspect. - Although testing SAK evidence may lead to the identification of a suspect, evidence of serial rapes, or the exoneration of a wrongly convicted person, it is only one part of the investigative process. Testing may not result in a new lead if, for example, the identity of the suspect is already known or there is not enough biological evidence in the kit to yield a DNA profile. Some of the most recent scientific findings about the role of evidence testing in sexual assaults come from two major NIJ-supported projects. After a competitive solicitation process, NIJ awarded research grants in 2011 to the Houston Police Department (HPD) and the Wayne County (Detroit), Michigan, Prosecutor's Office to form multidisciplinary teams to examine the issue of unsubmitted SAKs in their jurisdictions. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 2016. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 29, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/249805.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/249805.pdf Shelf Number: 140505 Keywords: Criminal InvestigationForensic EvidenceRapeSexual Assaults |
Author: Mitra-Kahn, Trishima Title: Invisible women, invisible violence: Understanding and improving data on the experiences of domestic and family violence and sexual assault for diverse groups of women: State of knowledge paper Summary: Women from all cultures, ages and socio-economic groups are affected by domestic and family violence and sexual assault, but the extent, nature and impact is not evenly distributed across communities in Australia. Women from diverse backgrounds are disproportionally affected by violence. The differential nature and effects of this violence is often compounded by various forms of marginalisation for diverse groups of women such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse and women with disability. Invisible women, invisible violence establishes the state of knowledge about the experiences of domestic and family violence and sexual assault among women from diverse groups. Reviewing existing knowledge and data on the experiences of violence and identifying key gaps in data as they relate to diverse women, it also affirms the more complex message that, while we know there is disproportionate impact, the exact nature and scale of this difference is extremely difficult to quantify. Despite not knowing the exact quantum of the violence, there is significant evidence that expressions of violence in these communities are distinct, and that these differences require considered and specific service and policy responses, for which data that is coherent, accessible, relevant and accurate is needed. This paper finds there are challenges within the Australian research and data landscapes in understanding the experiences of domestic and family violence and sexual assault for the diverse groups. Four key gaps in information in the current Australian research landscape were identified: · Limitations in quantitative evidence on the prevalence and perpetration of violence; · The complexity and specificity of violence; · Multiple, intersecting barriers to reporting violence and accessing appropriate services and; · "Diversity within diversity" the intersections of identity and disadvantage. In the process of mapping the current Australian data landscape, this paper identified that while a wide range of data are currently being collected administratively and via surveys, there are limitations of individual data sources and across the Australian data landscape as a whole. The analysis identified the following five key data gaps as they relate to the diverse experiences of domestic and family violence and sexual assault: 1) Design and methodological gaps in data sources; 2) Definitional complexities within data sources; 3) Gaps in the quality of existing data sources; 4) Gaps in recording and reporting of data; and 5) Gaps in the leveraging of existing data for the creation of new statistical information. This project provides 36 options for enhancing Australia's domestic and family violence and sexual assault data landscape in the short to medium term. Options for improvement range in cost from under $250,000 to several million dollars and provide both discrete and ongoing improvements. While each option provides valuable enhancements to the data landscape, decisions regarding which options to progress will always reflect complex policy and budgetary considerations and, as such, may or may not align with these suggestions. A long term commitment to fit-for-purpose data collection and analysis through the implementation of the Foundation for a "National Data Collection and Reporting Framework for family, domestic and sexual violence" (DCRF) is also crucial to ensuring systemic change and improvement in policy and practice. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2016. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: ANROWS Landscapes: Accessed December 21, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/DiversityData_UPDATED191216.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/DiversityData_UPDATED191216.pdf Shelf Number: 147777 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceSexual AssaultsSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Murphy, Sandra Tibbetts Title: Police Body Cameras in Domestic and Sexual Assault Investigations: Considerations and Unanswered Questions Summary: Over the last several years, as the public demand for law enforcement's use of body cameras has increased dramatically, much has been written about body cameras as a law enforcement tool, including constitutional analyses, recommended protocols and procedures and even assessments of differing body camera models. Communities in the United Kingdom and United States have initiated pilot programs to determine the appropriate and most effective use of body cameras by policing agencies. Research regarding how body cameras are used, in what situations and their effect, if any, on law enforcement response and citizen behavior, however, remains very limited. "There remains insufficient empirical research to fully support or refute many of the claims made about the police body-worn cameras." If research on body camera programs in general is limited, the use of body cameras when responding to and investigating cases of domestic violence and sexual assault is almost nonexistent. In the few articles and studies that even mention body cameras in the context of law enforcement response to domestic violence and sexual assault, such references carry the connotation of being afterthoughts, tagged on to a larger argument or recommendation as a means of further support. This paper identifies and addresses the various issues – those known and unresolved – that may arise when law enforcement equipped with body cameras respond to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, including issues of privacy and confidentiality, witness intimidation, possible evidentiary challenges when using body camera footage in trial, and unintended consequences such access and use may create for victims. Details: Minneapolis, MN: The Battered Women’s Justice Project, 2015. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 7, 2017: http://www.bwjp.org/assets/documents/pdfs/police-body-cams-in-domestic-and-sexual-assault-inve.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.bwjp.org/assets/documents/pdfs/police-body-cams-in-domestic-and-sexual-assault-inve.pdf Shelf Number: 146018 Keywords: Body-Worn CamerasCriminal InvestigationsDomestic ViolencePolice AccountabilityPolice Body Worn CamerasSexual Assaults |
Author: Gammill, Erica Title: A Texas-Sized Failure: Sexual Assaults in Texas Prisons Summary: Every person, including individuals in jail or prison, deserves to be free from sexual violence. Sexual victimization is not included in a prison sentence, and it should not be part of the punishment. States bear legal responsibility under the Constitution and federal law for protecting prisoners in its facilities from sexual violence and other serious harm. Yet, people in prison are at heightened risk of sexual assault. In particular, the State of Texas and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) have failed to protect prisoners in their custody from sexual assaults. Despite more than a decade of federal legislative efforts and oversight by the U.S. Department of Justice—including the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)—the prevalence of sexual assault remains high in Texas prisons. Several prisons in Texas have among the highest rates of sexual victimization in the nation. Regardless of claims that PREA standards are being implemented in Texas prisons, reports from prisoners themselves indicate that sexual assaults in Texas correctional facilities remain a serious problem. The alarming frequency of sexual assault in Texas prisons not only contributes to conditions in Texas facilities that are abhorrent to human dignity, but also violates the constitutional and human rights of prisoners in the TDCJ. Details: Austin, TX: Prison Justice League and Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, 2016 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2017 at: http://taasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/BK_A-Texas-Sized-Failure-SA-in-TX-Prisons-Final.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://taasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/BK_A-Texas-Sized-Failure-SA-in-TX-Prisons-Final.pdf Shelf Number: 147769 Keywords: Prison RapePrison ViolenceSexual AssaultsSexual Violence |
Author: UNICEF Title: An Everyday Lesson: #ENDviolence in Schools Summary: Nqobile is taking a stand against violence in and around her school. And she is starting by speaking up about what happened to her. At age 13, Nqobile was sexually assaulted on her way home from school in South Africa. In the aftermath, she struggled with self-confidence and feelings of shame. "In school, I never told anybody," Nqobile said. "It was so difficult. In my culture, it's such a taboo." Now a peer counsellor and Deputy President of her school, Nqobile, 18, encourages others to speak out and offers support to students who have experienced violence. One day, she hopes to study psychology so she can counsel children who have faced trauma. "I'm opening up to people about this for the first time," she said. "I knew what I needed the moment that I needed it at school," she added. "I dont want any other girl to go through what I went through at school." For millions of students around the world, the school environment is not a safe space to study and grow. It is a danger zone where they learn in fear. For Nqobile and many others, the trip to and from school is perilous. In school, they face dangers that include threatening teachers, bullying, cyberbullying, sexual assault and violence that pushes into schoolrooms from the world outside. Far too often students are forced to take cover as gunfire invades their classroom. Sometimes this violence is caused by war or community conflict; other times it is a student with a gun. A UNICEF analysis of data underscores how common violence is in schools around the world. Globally, half of students aged 13-15, about 150 million, report experiencing peer-to-peer violence in and around school. This number includes students who report having been bullied in the last month or having had a physical fight within the past year. But bullying and physical fights are only two types of violence. Students routinely deal with corporal and other degrading forms of punishment, physical and sexual attacks and gender-based violence. For example, about 720 million school-age children live in countries where they are not fully protected by law from corporal punishment at school. Indeed, violence in schools puts bodies, minds and lives at risk. It causes physical injury and can lead to depression, anxiety and suicide. It has short-term effects on students' educational achievement and leaves a long-term impression on their futures. In El Salvador, 23 per cent of students aged 13-15 said they had not attended school on one or more days in the past month due to safety concerns. The impact of violence in schools places an economic burden on society. It has been estimated that the global costs of the consequences of violence against children are as high as US$7 trillion per year. Details: New York: UNICEF, 2018. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2018 at: https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/An_Everyday_Lesson-ENDviolence_in_Schools.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/An_Everyday_Lesson-ENDviolence_in_Schools.pdf Shelf Number: 152856 Keywords: Costs of ViolenceCyberbullyingSchool BullyingSchool CrimeSchool ViolenceSexual Assaults |