Download or read book The Phenomenon of Untested Sexual Assault Kits written by Darlene Brothers-Gray and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2021-08-06 with total page 115 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the phenomenon of unsubmitted and untested sexual assault kits (SAKs). Beginning with an analysis of the background of the study, it examines feminist theory, functionalism, and resource dependence theory in relation to the phenomenon. The book highlights the existence of scholarly literature on the topic of sexual assault and what sexual assault encompasses, leading to the problem of unsubmitted and untested SAKs. Sexual assault is a global problem involving women and college students. Unfortunately, there are 400,000 SAKs nationwide in the US that remain unsubmitted or untested, therefore indicating serious gaps in the criminal justice system. The book shows the need for stakeholders who have an interest in the topic to collectively engage to acknowledge the systemic gaps, and provide resolution so that officials properly utilize SAKs to apprehend and empower victims to live healthy and functional lives. It recognizes and portrays the results of the study and suggests recommendation for future research. The book will be an instrumental tool for law enforcement officers, sexual assault detectives, forensic scientists, and sexual assault nurse examiners to understand the perceptions of law enforcement as to what caused the phenomenon and how to prevent it in the future.
Download or read book Sexual Assault Kits and Reforming the Response to Rape written by Rachel E. Lovell and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-11-11 with total page 542 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sexual Assault Kits and Reforming the Response to Rape curates the current state of untested sexual assault kit research and highlights emerging best practices by exploring the past, the present, and the future of our collective response to rape. This book is the first to address the most critical topics related to untested sexual assault kits and the Department of Justice’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, bringing together leading US scholars, practitioners, policy makers, and survivors. In a series of well-researched and thoughtful thematic chapters, the book explores the current state of knowledge related to untested kits, survivors, and perpetrators, while also documenting fundamental and necessary changes in how societal systems respond to rape. It provides an opportunity to learn from our past, highlight what we could do differently now, and envision a better future for victims of rape and those tasked with ensuring justice. It may also serve as a cautionary tale for those jurisdictions that have yet to face their backlog or who have failed to embrace the practice and policy changes that have emerged from the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. Sexual Assault Kits and Reforming the Response to Rape is essential reading for practitioners (including law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, mental health providers, forensic nurses, and forensic scientists), stakeholders, legislators, and policy makers. It will also be of interest to upper-level students and scholars working on interpersonal violence, gender-based violence, and forensic nursing in social/behavioral science fields.
Download or read book I Used to Think the Law Would Protect Me written by Sarah Tofte and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 42 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Methodology -- Recommendations -- Keeping track of sexual violence in Illinois -- Rape kit evidence collection in Illinois -- Untested rape kits in Illinois police storage facilities -- Untested rape kits in Illinois crime labs -- Conclusion.
Download or read book Sexual Assault and Harassment in America written by Sarah Koon-Magnin and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2022-05-18 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This wide-ranging resource uses evidence-based documentation to examine claims and beliefs—and provide the facts—about sexual assault and harassment and other forms of sexual violence in the United States. Each title in the Contemporary Debates series examines the veracity of controversial claims or beliefs surrounding a major political/cultural issue in the United States. They do so to give readers a clear and unbiased understanding of current issues by informing them about falsehoods, half-truths, and misconceptions—and confirming the factual validity of other assertions—that have gained traction in AmericA&Rsquo;s political and cultural discourse. Ultimately, this series has been crafted to give readers the tools for a fuller understanding of issues, events, policies, and laws that occupy center stage in American life and politics. This volume in the series addresses the issue of sexual violence in the U.S. It includes chapters devoted to quantifying the extent of the problems of sexual assault and harassment; demographic groups most likely to experience sexual violence; physical, emotional, and societal impacts of sexual assault; how investigations of sex-related charges are conducted; laws and policies pertaining to both victims and offenders; and sexual violence prevention and response services outside of the criminal justice system.
Download or read book Hiding in Plain Sight written by Luis I. Espinoza and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Untested sexual assault evidence is being discovered in police evidence rooms all across the country. It is unknown how many unanalyzed sexual assault kits (SAKs) there are nationwide. There are many reasons for this, but one is that tracking and counting SAKs is an antiquated process in many U.S. jurisdictions. Certainly, there may be legitimate reasons why some of the recently discovered unanalyzed SAKs were not sent to a lab. Not all evidence collected in an alleged sexual assault is going to be probative. For example, in cases where consent is an issue, detectives may consider that the SAK does not add any important information to the investigation. This book analyzes this issue and offers a variety of ramifications for the police and crime laboratories, for the courts, and for the victims.
Download or read book The Rape Scandal that Puts You at Risk written by Linda Fairstein and published by Open Road Media. This book was released on 2012-09-11 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A harrowing investigation into law enforcement’s failure to process hundreds of thousands of rape kits across America—allowing many rapists to walk free. In 2011, advocacy groups estimated that up to 250,000 rape kits sat untested in police storage across the country. These kits, some from crimes dating as far back as the mid-1990s, represent a disturbing breakdown in law enforcement that has allowed many violent criminals to remain on the streets. In some cases, rape victims are kept in the dark about the investigations into the crimes committed against them. Legal expert Linda Fairstein illustrates this injustice with the story of a Los Angeles woman whose experience, Fairstein writes, “is a tragic example of the outrageous backlog of untested rape kits that has existed nationwide for more than a decade.” In The Rape Scandal that Puts You at Risk, Fairstein lays bare these failures of law enforcement and issues a rallying cry for women everywhere to demand change. Originally published in Cosmopolitan, this essay is now available in digital format for the first time and features a new introduction by the author.
Download or read book Rape and Sexual Assault written by Alison E. Hatch and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2023-01-18 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This authoritative one-stop resource helps readers understand the problem of sexual assault in the United States, including societal factors, notorious cases, laws and practices, victim advocacy and reform efforts, and keys to recovery. It discusses who is being victimized, who is perpetrating the offenses, and what can be done (and is being done) to reduce rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment in homes and communities across America. The volume also explores the role that investigative shortcomings and rape culture have played in facilitating sexual assault and abuse, and how shifts in attitude and policy could combat this devastating crime.
Download or read book A Survivor s Journey written by Natasha Simone Alexenko and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An inspiring true story of love, hope, and victory--and of one woman who was determined to make a difference in the wake of a crime. On August 6, 1993, twenty-year-old Natasha Alexenko was assaulted at gunpoint. After nearly a decade, her backlogged rape kit was finally tested and her rapist, who roamed free for ten years, was brought to justice. On the day he was sentenced, Alexenko vowed that she would no longer be a statistic and would do whatever she could to help police on behalf of other rape victims. In 2011, she founded Natasha's Justice Project (NJP), a nonprofit committed to ending the rape-kit backlog. This unflinching memoir chronicles her journey from trauma to triumph. Despite personal setbacks and bureaucratic obstacles, Alexenko refuses to give up on her determination to raise awareness of a problem even worse than she imagined, as tens of thousands of untested rape kits languish in crime storage facilities across the country. Written for fellow survivors, their families, law enforcement, and anyone impacted by rape, her deeply personal story is a testament to the power of one person to make a profound change.
Download or read book Ted Bundy and The Unsolved Murder Epidemic written by Matt DeLisi and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-02-01 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book revisits the life and crimes of Ted Bundy. It seeks to reconcile the contradictions and controversies about his life that underscore the broader US unsolved murder problem, one that is estimated at between 250,000 to 350,000 open, unresolved, or cold cases. The incidence of crime is far greater than is captured by official statistics; most offenses are never detected, a concept known as the dark figure of crime which is explored here. Drawing on 25 years of practitioner, research, and consultant experiences with the most violent criminals, this book offers solutions toward clearing the current backlog of unsolved murders in the United States many of which were never reported and disproportionately perpetrated by offenders like Bundy. This compelling book speaks to students, academics and readers interested in true crime, serial murder, homicide and criminal justice.
Download or read book Victimology written by Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence and published by Aspen Publishing. This book was released on 2016-10-07 with total page 806 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Victimology: Crime Victimization and Victim Services¿ is a text written for undergraduate students that provides a broad overview of the theoretical basis of victimology, and the role of victimology in today's criminal justice system. This multidisciplinary approach to crime victimization, crime victims, and victim services includes chapters written by authors from a variety of disciplines: criminal justice and criminology, counseling, nursing, social work, nonprofit organizations, law, student affairs, and public policy. Within each chapter, chapter highlights provide more in-depth information on a central concept, spotlights on pioneers in the field, and real world applications that demonstrate how the topic is currently being addressed in communities across the country. The authors' goal was to provide a more holistic perspective that is grounded in how theories arose from the real world experiences of victims in one cohesive text.
Download or read book Crowdsourcing the Law written by Francine Banner and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2019-08-27 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While the general public may feel uncomfortable discussing sexual assault and violence with neighbors or coworkers, the popularity of Twitter, Snapchat, and a host of other social media platforms suggests that we are not shy about expressing our opinions online. Debates that just a few years ago would have taken place in real life have been relocated online; allowing eager commenters to share their thoughts on guilt or innocence with legions of virtual strangers. Crowdsourcing the Law explores how everyday participants interpret and apply law in the influential online court of public opinion. Engaging a multidisciplinary, case study approach, the book analyzes social media comments about public figures such as Bill Cosby, Brock Turner, and Harvey Weinstein to address ambitious questions like: How are rape myths being challenged, reinforced, and reinvented on social media? What is the promise and peril of the #MeToo movement for transforming the law? And can due process be afforded in the face of an increasingly powerful virtual jury?
Download or read book Shattering Silences written by Christopher Johnston and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-05-01 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An in-depth look at revolutionary new ways to handle sexual assaults. Every two minutes someone in the US is sexually assaulted, and each year there are nearly 300,000 victims of sexual assault. But victims are no longer silent, and new practices by police, prosecutors, nurses, and rape crisis professionals are resulting in more humane and compassionate treatment of victims and more aggressive pursuit and prosecution of perpetrators. Shattering Silencesa is the first book to cover these new approaches and partnerships. Christopher Johnston shows how the people and organizations implementing these new approaches are having far-reaching impacts on helping victims heal and making it more likely that predators will be arrested and sentenced. His in-depth portrayals of the altruistic and hard-working people behind these radical approaches—based on seven years of interviews—provide a template of best practices for other organizations and communities to follow. With sexual assault taking center stage these days, Shattering Silences is more important than ever.
Download or read book Testing Justice written by Human Rights Watch (Organization) and published by Human Rights Watch. This book was released on 2009 with total page 67 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: And recommendations -- Sexual violence in Los Angeles County -- Untested rape kits in crime laboratories -- Untested rape kits in police storage -- Human rights law and responses to sexual violence -- Conclusions.
Download or read book The Hunting Ground written by Kirby Dick and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2016-05-17 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The debate over sexual violence on campus is reaching fever pitch, from headlines about out–of-control fraternities, to the ”mattress protests” by female students at Columbia University and other colleges. The Hunting Ground, the new documentary by award-winning filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, has taken this debate to a new level, becoming a galvanizing catalyst for discussion at the hundreds of campuses where the documentary is being screened each month. The film has sparked calls for legislation by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York and other prominent public figures and sparked a backlash from university administrators, fraternities, and conservative groups. Now, in a new companion volume to the film, all those concerned about the “rape culture” on campus will be offered an inside perspective on the controversy, as well as reactions to the film from a range of leading writers and guidance on how to learn more and get active. As in the film, it’s the gripping personal stories told by female students—and the obstinate refusal of college administrators and law enforcement authorities to recognize the severity of the problem—that will rivet readers.
Download or read book Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-07-29 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators.
Download or read book A Compendium of Sexual Assault Research written by Margaret C. Harrell and published by Technical Report. This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recognition of the problem of sexual assault, especially acquaintance rape, has increased dramatically since 1990. This compendium provides an overview of recent research on sexual assault and summarizes more than 450 individual studies of the topic, including research on its prevalence, victim and perpetrator risk factors, prevention, recovery and coping, and the responses of the health care, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems.
Download or read book Rape Investigation Handbook written by Brent E. Turvey and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2005-01-19 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Rape Investigation Handbook is the first practical and hands-on manual written by sex crime investigators and forensic scientists, providing students with first-hand insight into the work of these professionals. It is the only comprehensive reference available on the investigation of sexual assault and rape. It includes extensive accounts of perpetrators, victims, and other rape case evidence for identification of incidents of rape. The key feature of this text is a thorough overview of the investigative and forensic processes related to sex crime investigation. It takes the reader through investigative and forensic processes in a logical sequence, showing how investigations of rape and sexual assault can and should be conducted from start to finish. This book is designed to be accessible, in terms of language and approach, to the student in the classroom learning about the subject for the first time. It is an excellent training manual for sex crime investigators as well as an excellent textbook for any hands-on university course on the subject of sex crime investigation. This book would also serve as a useful supplement for any investigative course involving violent crime or death investigation. * The only comprehensive reference available on the investigation of sexual assault and rape, a crime 10 times more prevalent than murder * Authored by qualified investigators and forensic professionals with more than twenty years of collective experience working cases, preparing them for court, and offering testimony * Written in a clear, practical style, ideal for professionals in forensic nursing, law enforcement, the legal community, and the investigative community
