2021
DOI: 10.1177/0011128721991821
|View full text |Cite
|
Sign up to set email alerts
|

The Sexual Stratification Hypothesis and Prosecuting Sexual Assault: Is the Decision to File Charges Influenced by the Victim-Suspect Racial-Ethnic Dyad?

Abstract: The sexual stratification hypothesis (SSH) posits that criminal-legal responses to sexual victimization differ depending on the victim-suspect racial-ethnic dyad. Existing tests of the SSH have resulted in inconsistent findings. Using data from 389 sexual assault (SA) complaints reported to Los Angeles police and referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, this study examines whether the victim-suspect racial-ethnic dyad and extra-legal victim-related factors shape prosecutorial initial fili… Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...
1
1
1

Citation Types

0
3
0

Year Published

2023
2023
2024
2024

Publication Types

Select...
5

Relationship

1
4

Authors

Journals

citations
Cited by 5 publications
(3 citation statements)
references
References 46 publications
0
3
0
Order By: Relevance
“…Additionally, sexual assault and victim help-seeking scholarship has examined victim behavioral factors that may be perceived as "risky" or inappropriate. As measured in previous research (Kaiser et al, 2017;Kelley et al, 2021;Meeker et al, 2019;Morabito et al, 2019;O'Neal, 2019;Ullman et al, 2020), victim engaged in risky behavior was coded 1 if the victim participated in any of the following acts before or during the attack: victim was walking alone at night, accepted a ride from a stranger, went to suspect's residence, invited the suspect to their residence, went to a bar alone, was drinking alcohol or drunk, used illegal drugs, or passed out due to intoxication. Existing research further highlights that victims who suffer from mental illnesses are perceived as less credible victims by support providers, including police (Gregory & Lees, 1996;Kerstetter, 1990;Morabito et al, 2019;O'Neal, 2019;Spohn & Tellis, 2012).…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…Additionally, sexual assault and victim help-seeking scholarship has examined victim behavioral factors that may be perceived as "risky" or inappropriate. As measured in previous research (Kaiser et al, 2017;Kelley et al, 2021;Meeker et al, 2019;Morabito et al, 2019;O'Neal, 2019;Ullman et al, 2020), victim engaged in risky behavior was coded 1 if the victim participated in any of the following acts before or during the attack: victim was walking alone at night, accepted a ride from a stranger, went to suspect's residence, invited the suspect to their residence, went to a bar alone, was drinking alcohol or drunk, used illegal drugs, or passed out due to intoxication. Existing research further highlights that victims who suffer from mental illnesses are perceived as less credible victims by support providers, including police (Gregory & Lees, 1996;Kerstetter, 1990;Morabito et al, 2019;O'Neal, 2019;Spohn & Tellis, 2012).…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Researchers have assessed victim help-seeking decisions to improve the overall response to sexual assault victims (Bachman, 1998;Campbell, 1998Campbell, , 2005Kelley et al, 2021;Lizotte, 1985;Ullman, 2010;Wolitzky-Taylor et al, 2011). Scholars argue, however, that Black women's specific victimization and post-assault experiences get distorted and overlooked when all women's experiences are combined (Collins, 2000;Crenshaw, 1991).…”
Section: Black Women's Help-seeking Pathwaysmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Additionally, these effects might stem in part from prosecutor beliefs that judicial or juror racial bias will make it harder to successfully prosecute abuse cases involving Black children (Kelley et al, 2021). Such concerns might explain why prosecutors chose not to criminally prosecute R. Kelly in an earlier case.…”
Section: Sexually Abused Child Racementioning
confidence: 99%