Factors Influencing the Filing of Complaints, Their Investigation, and Subsequent Legal Judgment in Cases of Sexual Assault.

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Version: Author's accepted manuscript
License: Not specified
Serval ID
serval:BIB_BBA5038090CE
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Factors Influencing the Filing of Complaints, Their Investigation, and Subsequent Legal Judgment in Cases of Sexual Assault.
Journal
Journal of forensic sciences
Author(s)
La Harpe R., Burkhardt S., Ricard-Gauthier D., Poncet A., Yaron M., Fracasso T.
ISSN
1556-4029 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0022-1198
Publication state
Published
Issued date
07/2019
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
64
Number
4
Pages
1119-1124
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
In Geneva, examination of victims of sexual assault is performed by a gynecologist and a medical examiner. 48% of the victims file a complaint and we wanted to investigate the factors leading to file a complaint, those leading the Prosecutor to go to trial, and those influencing a conviction. Between 2006 and 2012, 676 victims of sexual assault were investigated (averaged age 26 year, mean 22). Information on injuries, perpetrators, and circumstances of the assault was collected and analyzed. The attacker being the ex-spouse or a friend and the presence of semen were factors leading to file a complaint. The assailant being a family member or ex-spouse and the presence of genital/anal lesions were factors influencing the Prosecutor. The presence of nongenital lesions, the assailant being known by the victim, influenced conviction. This study shows that the medical examiner plays a vital role in the investigation of cases of sexual assault.
Keywords
Adult, Coroners and Medical Examiners, Crime Victims/legislation & jurisprudence, Crime Victims/statistics & numerical data, Data Collection, Female, Gynecology, Humans, Male, Physicians, Semen, Sex Offenses/legislation & jurisprudence, Sex Offenses/statistics & numerical data, Switzerland/epidemiology, Weapons/statistics & numerical data, Wounds and Injuries/epidemiology, Young Adult, Public Prosecutor, court, forensic examination, forensic science, formal complaint, medical examiner, rape, sexual assault
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
11/01/2019 8:38
Last modification date
21/11/2022 8:30
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