Nobody Deserves This ”

Adolescent Sexual Assault Victims’ Perceptions of Disbelief and Victim Blame From Police

Bibliographic Data

ID11043775
AuthorsMegan R Greeson (0000-0001-7588-7572, DePaul University), Rebecca Campbell (0000-0003-0442-9835, Michigan State University, corresponding author), Giannina Fehler-Cabral (Harder & Company Community Research), Giannina Fehler‐cabral
Year2016
Volume44
Issue1
Pages90-110
Publication date2016-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Community Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-4392 • E-ISSN: 1520-6629
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/jcop.21744
OpenAlexW2208600025
LanguageEN
Citations received23
References cited34

Prior research reveals that many police engage in victim blaming, skeptical reactions to adult sexual assault survivors. However, little is known about adolescent survivors’ experiences with police. To address this gap, qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 adolescent rape survivors to understand adolescents’ perceptions of their interactions with the police (specifically the messages the officers conveyed about the assault and the victims themselves). Positive perceptions occurred when the adolescents perceived police behavior as indications of believing their story, validating their decision to report, and refraining from judgment of their behavior. On the other hand, negative perceptions were associated with behaviors that were viewed as indications of skepticism, blame, or judgment. Specific behaviors that were associated with each of these themes are discussed. Interactions with the police influenced survivors’ emotional well-being and their hope for their case's success. Implications for improving interactions between police and adolescent sexual assault victims are discussed

Blame · Computer security · Criminology · Medical emergency · nobody · Perception · Poison control · Sexual assault · Skepticism · Suicide prevention · Gender, Security, and Conflict · Medicine · Policing Practices and Perceptions · Psychology · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies · Social Psychology

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