The ‘lottery’ of rape reporting: Secondary victimization and Swedish criminal justice professionals

Abstract

Research has established the possibility for rape victim-survivors to experience secondary victimization as a result of encounters with the criminal justice system. However, most of this work is based in Anglo-American countries, with less attention to the issue in the Nordic context. In this article, I report on in-depth interviews with Swedish criminal justice professionals and their perspective on investigating and processing sexual violence cases, as well as interviews with professionals who work directly with rape victimsurvivors and their external evaluations of the criminal justice system. While there is a general awareness of the need for an empathetic and sensitive response from police officers and support from the victim's legal counsel, in practice, the process can be a 'lottery' for victim-survivors: while some individual police officers and lawyers are dedicated to victim-centred encounters, others are dismissive or hostile. I discuss policy initiatives, including training, specialization, and required competencies, that institutionalize and standardize victim-centred practices to promote a supportive environment for all sexual violence victim-survivors in the Swedish criminal justice system.

Reinvestigating the Sexual Violence “Justice Gap” in the Swedish Criminal Justice System: Victim-Centered Alternatives to the Criminal Trial

“…The decision to report rape is complicated, influenced by cultural understandings and legal definitions of rape (Brooks-Hay, 2020; Hansen et al, 2021; Taylor & Norma, 2012). In addition, institutional policies shape the possibilities and the potential of reporting experiences of sexual violence (Carroll, 2021; Schuck, 2018; Taylor & Gassner, 2010; Taylor & Norma, 2012). In order for rape victim-survivors to be encouraged to report, the reporting process must be accessible, and the justice outcomes must resonate with the needs of victim-survivors themselves.…”