Creating a More Complete and Current Picture

Examining Police and Prosecutor Decision-Making When Processing Sexual Assault Cases

Bibliographic Data

ID12437643
AuthorsMegan Alderden (0000-0002-4604-4442, Saint Xavier University, corresponding author), Megan A Alderden (Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL, USA), Sarah E Ullman (0000-0002-9530-5389, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA)
Year2012
Volume18
Issue5
Pages525-551
Publication date2012-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueViolence Against Women (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1077-8012 • E-ISSN: 1552-8448
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1077801212453867
PMID22814891
OpenAlexW2129872418
LanguageEN
Citations received81
References cited47

This study sought to identify factors that predicted outcomes for sexual assault cases involving female victims across several decision-making points and compare these findings to prior studies. The results indicate that there continues to be a high attrition rate in the handling of sexual assault cases. Only 9.7% of cases examined resulted in charges. In regards to processing decisions, most of the factors that predicted whether cases were founded, resulted in arrest, presented to the prosecution, or resulted in felony charges were extralegal factors. One factor appeared to influence several decision-making points: whether officers noted discrepancies in victim statements

Attrition · Computer security · Criminology · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Sexual assault · Suicide prevention · Clinical Psychology · Computer Science · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Legal Education and Practice Innovations · Medicine · Psychology · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub