Police perceptions of rape victims and the impact on case decision making: A systematic review

Abstract

Police officers are frequently perceived to hold negative attitudes about rape victims. The aim of this systematic review is to: (1) synthesise the current literature on police officers' attributions of rape victim blame, assessments of rape victim credibility, and rape myth acceptance; and, (2) examine the evidence that holding these attitudes impacts on police investigative decision making in rape cases. Twenty-four articles published between 2000 and 2016 were included following a systematic search of the available literature. The findings highlight that some police officers do hold problematic attitudes about rape victims e.g., blame, rape myth acceptance, although they are frequently noted to be at a low level. Furthermore, characteristics of the victim, e.g., alcohol intoxication and emotional expression, can affect attributions of victim credibility. Assessments of victim credibility were related to police investigative decision making e.g., recommendations to charge the perpetrator, perceptions of guilt. However, the impact of rape victim blaming and rape myth acceptance is less clear. Given that the literature was predominantly vignette-based, it is unclear how these judgements have an impact in real rape investigations

Investigating the demographic and attitudinal predictors of rape myth acceptance in U.K. Police officers: developing an evidence-base for training and professional development

“…The results outlined above therefore provide robust support for the notion that rape myth acceptance does not exist in isolation; rather that broader negative and sexist attitudes provide important context for the development and maintenance of RMA as a cognitive framework (Temkin & Krahé, 2008). Furthermore, these findings demonstrate that such attitudinal relationships exist in police officers, who have routinely been demonstrated as key to the response and service that victims will experience (Sleath & Bull, 2012), and whose RMA has been linked to behavioural outcomes and judgements (Sleath & Bull, 2017). Taken together, results from this study support the idea that efforts to train, raise awareness, and address RMA in police officers may need to consider the broader attitudinal context of RMA, as well as some key demographic factors.…”

“…Mennicke, Anderson, Oehme, & Kennedy, 2014). Additionally, studies comparing police officers to other populations, such as undergraduate students, find that overall levels of RMA do not significantly differ between groups, both exhibiting low levels of acceptance (Sleath & Bull, 2017). Examination of specific myths highlights that police officers in the U.K. tend to subscribe to 'she lied' myths to a greater extent than psychology and law students, while endorsing 'she asked for it' and 'he didn't mean to' myths to a lesser extent (Sleath & Bull, 2015).…”

“…The literature examining officers' acceptance and use of rape myths is summarised in Sleath and Bull's (2017) systematic review of police perceptions and case decisionmaking. They conclude that studies generally highlight that officers exhibit low levels of rape myth acceptance overall (e.g.…”

“…the extent to which an individual subscribes to such beliefs) has been examined to some extent in police officers in an attempt to understand the possible impact of such attitudes on their judgements, decision making, and behaviour, and to offer attempts at improvement in this regard. However, whilst studies have provided valuable evidence on officers' descriptive accounts of investigation, levels of rape myth acceptance, and related judgements (Sleath & Bull, 2017), interventions designed to challenge negative attitudes and related behaviours demonstrate low levels of efficacy (e.g. Lonsway et al, 2001).…”

Sexual Assault Case Processing: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

“…2 For a recent review of this research, see. 3 See Ehrlich (2012) for a discussion of rape myths in trial discourses in Canada; seeParratt and Pina (2017) andSleath and Bull (2017) for two recent reviews of police officers' rape myths, beliefs and perceptions of rape victims. 4 For a somewhat contrasting view, see Frank, Hardinge and Wosick-Correa (2009).…”