Perceptions of sexual violence terms used in statutes throughout the United States
Pinchevsky, Gillian M.
Perceptions of sexual violence terms used in statutes throughout the United States Gillian M. Pinchevsky, Megan Bears Augustyn, Alan H. Kennedy and Callie Marie Rennison - Sage, 2023 - Violence Against Women .
Violence Against Women, 2023, First published 30 July 2023
The terminology used to describe sexually violent offenses vary, and how these labels are interpreted by the public remains unclear. This study explores the terms for the primary—legally most severe—offense of sexual violence in legal statutes across the United States and investigates how different terms evoke different perceptions about crime severity. Results indicate that nine different terms are used to identify the primary offense of sexual violence in state statutes, with significant differences in perceived severity for these terms. The findings have implications for the public's (mis)understanding of sexual violence and the treatment of survivors and perpetrators. (Authors' abstract). Record #8297
CRIMINAL LAW
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
INTERNATIONAL
UNITED STATES
Perceptions of sexual violence terms used in statutes throughout the United States Gillian M. Pinchevsky, Megan Bears Augustyn, Alan H. Kennedy and Callie Marie Rennison - Sage, 2023 - Violence Against Women .
Violence Against Women, 2023, First published 30 July 2023
The terminology used to describe sexually violent offenses vary, and how these labels are interpreted by the public remains unclear. This study explores the terms for the primary—legally most severe—offense of sexual violence in legal statutes across the United States and investigates how different terms evoke different perceptions about crime severity. Results indicate that nine different terms are used to identify the primary offense of sexual violence in state statutes, with significant differences in perceived severity for these terms. The findings have implications for the public's (mis)understanding of sexual violence and the treatment of survivors and perpetrators. (Authors' abstract). Record #8297
CRIMINAL LAW
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
INTERNATIONAL
UNITED STATES