Demographic and situational factors affecting injury, resistance, completion, and charges brought in sexual assault cases: what is best for arrest?
This study examines demographic and situational factors in an effort to predict whether or not a complainant was injured, used resistance, experienced a completed assault, and whether charges were brought against the offender. If the accused had consumed alcohol or drugs, he was almost seven times more likely to be arrested. The complainant was six times more likely to report rape completion if she had consumed alcohol or drugs and if the complainant fell unconscious at any time during the attack she was significantly less likely to use a resistance strategy. The complainant's use of a compliance strategy at any time during the assault positively predicted not using a physical resistance strategy and sexual assault completion. The reporting of injury positively predicted use a physical resistance strategy and sexual assault completion. If the assault was completed, it was less likely that charges were pressed. Implications of these findings are discussed, and directions for future research are offered.
Scott
Hannah S
HS
Faculty of Social Science, University of Ontario, Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Hannah.scott@uoit.ca
Beaman
Rebecca
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009864:Ontario; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011902:Rape / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires