“I thought I’m better off just trying to put this behind me” : a contemporary approach to understanding why women decide not to report sexual violence
Stewart, Sophie
“I thought I’m better off just trying to put this behind me” : a contemporary approach to understanding why women decide not to report sexual violence Sophie Stewart, Dominic Willmott, Anthony Murphy and Catherine Phillips - Taylor & Francis, 2023 - The Journal of Forensic Law, Crime and Justice .
The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 2023, First published online, 7 December 2023
Sexual offence disclosures are on the rise, thought to be the result of growing numbers of prosecutions brought against well-known public figures and mobilisation of movements such as #MeToo. Despite this, data continue to indicate that most victim-survivors will never report their abuse. This study aimed to explore why women continue to decide not to report sexual assault to the police. Secondary data were collated and analysed, pertaining to survivor accounts of sexual assault, posted in response to a prominent online video entitled ‘Women Tell Us Why They Didn’t Report Their Sexual Assault’. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes regarding why women chose not to report: (1) Lack of faith in the Criminal Justice System (encompassing two sub-themes, no evidence and traumatisation of reporting), (2) Self-blame, and (3) Knowing the perpetrator. Practical applications and reforms concerning empathic police responses and CJS improvements surrounding timeliness, case progression, and conviction rates are discussed. (Authors' abstract). Record #8494
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DISCLOSURE
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
VICTIM/SURVIVORS' VOICES
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE
INTERNATIONAL
UNITED KINGDOM
“I thought I’m better off just trying to put this behind me” : a contemporary approach to understanding why women decide not to report sexual violence Sophie Stewart, Dominic Willmott, Anthony Murphy and Catherine Phillips - Taylor & Francis, 2023 - The Journal of Forensic Law, Crime and Justice .
The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 2023, First published online, 7 December 2023
Sexual offence disclosures are on the rise, thought to be the result of growing numbers of prosecutions brought against well-known public figures and mobilisation of movements such as #MeToo. Despite this, data continue to indicate that most victim-survivors will never report their abuse. This study aimed to explore why women continue to decide not to report sexual assault to the police. Secondary data were collated and analysed, pertaining to survivor accounts of sexual assault, posted in response to a prominent online video entitled ‘Women Tell Us Why They Didn’t Report Their Sexual Assault’. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes regarding why women chose not to report: (1) Lack of faith in the Criminal Justice System (encompassing two sub-themes, no evidence and traumatisation of reporting), (2) Self-blame, and (3) Knowing the perpetrator. Practical applications and reforms concerning empathic police responses and CJS improvements surrounding timeliness, case progression, and conviction rates are discussed. (Authors' abstract). Record #8494
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DISCLOSURE
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
VICTIM/SURVIVORS' VOICES
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE
INTERNATIONAL
UNITED KINGDOM