How Do Investigation Experiences Shape Views of the Police? Qualitatively Exploring Sexual Assault Survivors’ Interactions With Police Detectives and Subsequent Views of the Police

Abstract

Little attention has been paid to views of the police among sexual assault survivors. Understanding views of the police among a large population of crime victims who have historically been silenced and mistreated by our criminal-legal system can help inform recent and ongoing conversations about police funding and criminal justice reform. Qualitative interview data from a community sample of sexual assault survivors explored how police-detective interactions during sexual assault investigations shape views of the police. Negative interactions led to negative views of the police and for some were based on a culmination of positive and negative experiences. I share recommendations for responding to sexual assault that consider sexual assault survivors’ experiences with and views of the police.

Justice Perceptions, Sexual Identity, and Race: Likelihood of Police Reporting Intentions Following Sexual Assault

“…The converse is also true: harmful responses from law enforcement can exacerbate psychological distress and silence disclosure, and decrease the likelihood that they would report a sexual assault to police (Lorenz, 2023). In their qualitative analysis, Lorenz (2023) operationalizes interpersonal justice as expectations of police mistreatment and police insensitivity and find that respondents with a more interpersonally fair perception of police were more likely to indicate that they would report a sexual assault to police. Thus, interpersonal treatment is vital for sexual assault survivors, suggesting that more positive perceptions of the fairness of police will result in an increased likelihood of reporting (Hypothesis 1c).…”

“…Furthermore, some women choose not to report to police based on their perceptions of the justice system, including concerns of police mistreatment (Fisher et al, 2000; Lorenz 2023), previous or vicarious negative experiences with police (Lorenz et al, 2021), and fear that the justice system would be unwilling or unable to help them (Patterson et al, 2009; Planty & Krebs, 2013). For women who choose to report, these survivors are at risk of experiencing secondary victimization, such as being blamed by police for their assault (Campbell, 2008; Laxminarayan, 2013), and face discouraging odds of their efforts resulting in a conviction (Lonsway & Archambault, 2012).…”

Особливості Механізму Вчинення Сексуального Насильства На Тимчасово Окупованих Територіях Та Його Розслідування

“…Суб'єктивні обставини -потерпілі особи (а іно ді і свідки): залякані та бояться за життя та здоров'я власне чи своїх близьких; не вірять у дієвість правоохоронних органів (Lorenz, 2022), особливо в умовах воєнного стану, у судову перспективу своїх повідомлень і звернень; не бажають розголосу відомостей про пережите сексуальне насильство, осуду близьких і сторонніх тощо.…”