They can use a Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) kit or use a Sexual Offense Evidence Collection (SOEC) kit.
These can be found in hospitals, and are used by medical professionals to preserve evidence of a sexual assault.
For more information, click here
Monday, April 13, 2009
4-13 What are the consequences of a rape or violent sexual encounter on the victim, perpetrator, and the bystanders?
Victim
-psychological trauma
-possible pregnancy
-possible transfer of STDs
-self blame - Rape Trauma Syndrome
-Child Sexual Abuse
Perpetrator
-if convicted, listed for life as a sex offender
-could/should feel guilt
-empowerment (more so for during the act rather than after)
Bystanders
-guilt for knowing they took no action
-in some states, legal consequences due to good samaritan laws
-psychological trauma
-possible pregnancy
-possible transfer of STDs
-self blame - Rape Trauma Syndrome
-Child Sexual Abuse
Perpetrator
-if convicted, listed for life as a sex offender
-could/should feel guilt
-empowerment (more so for during the act rather than after)
Bystanders
-guilt for knowing they took no action
-in some states, legal consequences due to good samaritan laws
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
4-1
How do police investigate a rape or violent sexual encounter?
First, the rape or violent sexual encounter must be reported to the police, which relies upon either the victim or a bystander to come to them.
Second, the victim must want the case investigated. Without evidence of the rape or encounter, there would be no basis for an investigation, so a rape kit must be used.
Third, police can try to collect evidence, but since its the real world and not CSI, many cases will never get past this point if the perpetrator isn't identified by the victim.
Finally, if the perpetrator is caught and found guilty, he or she will be added to a national database of sex offenders. They stay on this list for life.
First, the rape or violent sexual encounter must be reported to the police, which relies upon either the victim or a bystander to come to them.
Second, the victim must want the case investigated. Without evidence of the rape or encounter, there would be no basis for an investigation, so a rape kit must be used.
Third, police can try to collect evidence, but since its the real world and not CSI, many cases will never get past this point if the perpetrator isn't identified by the victim.
Finally, if the perpetrator is caught and found guilty, he or she will be added to a national database of sex offenders. They stay on this list for life.
Monday, March 23, 2009
What is a rape kit?
What I think:
A rape kit is a tool provided to victim's of rape. They SHOULD be provided free of charge, and made readily available at hospitals and rape crisis centers. The kit helps to prove that the victim was raped by collecting evidence of the rape.
What the sources say:
"A sexual assault evidence collection kit, sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit or Sexual Offense Evidence Collection (SOEC) kit in New York[1] is a set of items used by medical personnel for gathering and preserving physical evidence following a sexual assault which can be used in criminal proceedings. The kit was developed by Louis R. Vitullo and was for years referred to as the Vitullo kit.
"A sexual assault evidence collection kit contains commonly available examination tools such as:
National Protocol
New York's Health Policy on SAFE kits
A rape kit is a tool provided to victim's of rape. They SHOULD be provided free of charge, and made readily available at hospitals and rape crisis centers. The kit helps to prove that the victim was raped by collecting evidence of the rape.
What the sources say:
"A sexual assault evidence collection kit, sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit or Sexual Offense Evidence Collection (SOEC) kit in New York[1] is a set of items used by medical personnel for gathering and preserving physical evidence following a sexual assault which can be used in criminal proceedings. The kit was developed by Louis R. Vitullo and was for years referred to as the Vitullo kit.
The term applies also to the collected evidence for a specific case.
In the United States, as of 2009 states will have to pay for "Jane Doe rape kits," also known as anonymous rape tests, in order to continue to receive funding under the U.S. Violence Against Women Act." - source"A sexual assault evidence collection kit contains commonly available examination tools such as:
- Detailed instructions for the examiner
- Forms for documentation
- Tube for blood sample
- Urine sample container
- Paper bags for clothing collection
- Large sheet of paper for patient to undress over
- Cotton swabs for biological evidence collection
- Sterile water
- Sterile saline
- Glass slides
- Unwaxed dental floss
- Wooden stick for fingernail scrapings
- Envelopes or boxes for individual evidence samples
- Labels
Other items needed for a forensic/medical exam and treatment that may not be included in the rape kit are:
- Woods lamp
- Toluidine blue dye
- Drying rack for wet swabs and/or clothing
- Patient gown, cover sheet, blanket, pillow
- Needles/syringes for blood drawing
- Speculums
- Post-It Notes used to collect trace evidence
- Camera (35 mm, digital, or Polaroid), film, batteries
- Medscope and/or colposcope
- Microscope
- Surgilube
- Acetic acid diluted spray
- Medications
- Clean clothing and shower/hygiene items for the victim's use after the exam" - source
National Protocol
New York's Health Policy on SAFE kits
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
What is a rape crisis center and what is it supposed to do?
What I think:
A rape crisis center is an organization for victims of rape or sexual assault to come and seek anonymous help or consultation. It should be passive in that they listen and advise the victim, but they should not push for more information or tell them what to do. They should also be a free service, and provide a comfortable environment, either in person, on the phone, or online.
What the sources say:
Rape crisis centers evolved in order to help victims of rape, sexual abuse, and other forms of sexual violence. Also referred to as Sexual Assault Centers, RCCs serve a number of purposes. Depending on the setup of an RCC, the organization will be equipped to see children, adults, or both. Most RCCs run a 24 hour, 7 day a week crisis hotline that individuals can call anonymously and free of charge. The primary goal is victim advocacy. Advocates provide emotional support and information to victims and their families during the hours, days, and weeks following an attack. RCCs also coordinate response from local agencies such as the Police or Sheriff's Department, the District Attorney's office, Child Protective Services, any local schools or hospitals involved in the incident. (source)
Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County
"The Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County (RCIS) is a Private Non-Profit Agency serving Carroll County, Maryland, since 1978. RCIS provides free counseling and support services to victims of sexual violence and their families. We also offer prevention education programs and professional training in order to eliminate sexual violence through education and advocacy." - mission statement of Rape Crisis Center's homepage
A rape crisis center is an organization for victims of rape or sexual assault to come and seek anonymous help or consultation. It should be passive in that they listen and advise the victim, but they should not push for more information or tell them what to do. They should also be a free service, and provide a comfortable environment, either in person, on the phone, or online.
What the sources say:
Rape crisis centers evolved in order to help victims of rape, sexual abuse, and other forms of sexual violence. Also referred to as Sexual Assault Centers, RCCs serve a number of purposes. Depending on the setup of an RCC, the organization will be equipped to see children, adults, or both. Most RCCs run a 24 hour, 7 day a week crisis hotline that individuals can call anonymously and free of charge. The primary goal is victim advocacy. Advocates provide emotional support and information to victims and their families during the hours, days, and weeks following an attack. RCCs also coordinate response from local agencies such as the Police or Sheriff's Department, the District Attorney's office, Child Protective Services, any local schools or hospitals involved in the incident. (source)
Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County
"The Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County (RCIS) is a Private Non-Profit Agency serving Carroll County, Maryland, since 1978. RCIS provides free counseling and support services to victims of sexual violence and their families. We also offer prevention education programs and professional training in order to eliminate sexual violence through education and advocacy." - mission statement of Rape Crisis Center's homepage
Monday, February 23, 2009
What situation could lead to rape or sexual violence on a college campus?
What I think:
The first one should be blatantly obvious. Every stereotypical response will immediately point to excessive drinking or drugs, especially if certain sororities or fraternities are involved. While there is definitely true that some of those situations could lead to rape or sexual violence, there are other situations that can lead to that as well.
Any imbalance of power can lead to rape or sexual violence. A peer mentor, an R.A., an upperclassman, or even a professor or faculty member. Any time there is an imbalance of power, something could happen, though thankfully most of the time, this isn't the case.
Peer pressure can also lead to rape or sexual violence. People can be pushed to do things that they otherwise wouldn't. This also goes back to the pressures put on by Greek life.
So to sum it up, my list of possible situations is:
Drinking
Drug use
Fraternities/Sororities
Imbalance of Power
Peer Pressure
What the sources say:
Acquaintance Rape on College and University Campuses
The Sexual Victimization of College Women
Sexual Assault on Campus: What Colleges and Universities are Doing about it
The first one should be blatantly obvious. Every stereotypical response will immediately point to excessive drinking or drugs, especially if certain sororities or fraternities are involved. While there is definitely true that some of those situations could lead to rape or sexual violence, there are other situations that can lead to that as well.
Any imbalance of power can lead to rape or sexual violence. A peer mentor, an R.A., an upperclassman, or even a professor or faculty member. Any time there is an imbalance of power, something could happen, though thankfully most of the time, this isn't the case.
Peer pressure can also lead to rape or sexual violence. People can be pushed to do things that they otherwise wouldn't. This also goes back to the pressures put on by Greek life.
So to sum it up, my list of possible situations is:
Drinking
Drug use
Fraternities/Sororities
Imbalance of Power
Peer Pressure
What the sources say:
College campus rape
Some studies indicate a particular problem with rape on college campuses. According to a 1992 study, one out of twelve college aged men and women committed rape.
The Department of Justice study also found that in "about half of the incidents categorized as completed rapes, the women or men did not consider the incident to be a rape." According to the Journal of Counseling and Development, women aged 16–24 are at the highest risk of sexual assault. One study has concluded that as many as one in four college aged females and one in ten college aged males has been a victim of either rape or attempted rape.
College Campuses and Rape
"1 in 4 women in college today has been the victim of rape, and nearly 90% of them I Never Called It Rape, Robin Warshaw |
- 60% of male college students “indicated some likelihood of raping or using force in certain circumstances.”
- Men in fraternities appear to engage in more non-physical coercion and use of drugs and alcohol as a sexual strategy than do independents.
- Every 21 hours there is another rape on an American college campus.
- 90% of all campus rapes occur under the influence of alcohol.
- Men are more likely than women to assume that a woman who drinks alcohol on a date is a willing sex partner. 40% of men who think this way also believe it is acceptable to force sex on an intoxicated woman.
- Alcohol use at the time of the attack was found to be one of the four strongest predictors of a college woman being raped.
- 43% of college men admit using coercive behavior to have sex, including ignoring a woman’s protest; using physical aggression; and forcing intercourse; 15% acknowledged they had committed acquaintance rape; 11% acknowledged using physical restraint to force a woman to have sex.
- College rape victims receive external physical injuries in over 47% of all rapes.
- Of the college woman who are raped, only 25% describe it as rape.
- Of the college women who are raped, only 10% report the rape.
- College women are most vulnerable to rape during the first few weeks of the freshman and sophomore years.
- One in twelve college-age men admit having fulfilled the prevailing definition of rape or attempted rape, yet virtually none of these men identify themselves as rapists.
- 34% of completed rapes and 45% of attempted rapes take place on campus. Almost 60% of the completed campus rapes that take place on campus occur in the victim's residence, 31% occur in another residence, and 10% occur in a fraternity.
- 3/4 of off-campus rapes and 7/8 of on-campus rapes involved perpetrators who were known to the victims.
- 78% of the men identified (as rapists) were an acquaintance, friend or boyfriend of the victims.
- Most rapes occur on the weekend.
Acquaintance Rape on College and University Campuses
The Sexual Victimization of College Women
Sexual Assault on Campus: What Colleges and Universities are Doing about it
Monday, February 16, 2009
Who are bystanders and why do they just stand by? Why don't bystanders get involved?
What I think:
I believe that a bystander is a person who witnesses sexual violence/rape, or is present when there is an indication that it may happen. A bystander can be anyone. It could be a stranger, a family member, or a friend. They could be young or old, man or woman. It could be anybody.
What the sources say:
"A witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge about a crime or dramatic event through their senses (e.g. seeing, hearing, smelling, touching), and can help certify important considerations to the crime or event. A witness who has seen the event firsthand is known as an "eye-witness". Witnesses are often called before a court of law to testify in trials." - source
Dialogue between a bystander [B] and a perpetrator [P]:
P: [to girl] Come on babe, lets get back to my place. You've been teasing me all night, showin' yourself off, dancin' so close to me, you owe me a little something something.
B: Hey man, leave her alone.
P: Piss off buddy, this is a private party.
B: Look, she's not interested. Let her go.
P: She's MY girlfriend, and she owes me this. She OWES me, you get what I'm sayin'?
B: She doesn't OWE you anything. If she doesn't want to leave, she doesn't have to. So just let her go.
P: Look, nobody asked you to get involved, so why don't you just get out of our faces and mind your own business?
B: I'll leave when you've let her go. I wouldn't want somebody to do that to someone I care about.
P: Don't make a scene. Just leave and I'll pretend you never stopped us.
B: No, we're not letting you leave.
- other people join B -
B: Just get out of here and leave her.
- P leaves -
Dialogue between a bystander [B] and someone who didn't get involved [S]:
S: Why didn't you stop P last night? He raped me.
B: I'm sorry, you were dating him, I thought you were just playing when you left.
S: Just playing? I was telling him no. He was drunk, you know what he's like when he's drunk. I don't like being around him like that.
B: I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd get raped.
S: Well what did you think was going to happen? He was hurting me before we left.
B: I'm sorry, I guess I just wasn't paying enough attention.
S: Stop saying you're sorry. You just left me to him. You didn't want to get involved. You could've stopped him.
B: It's not my fault, I couldn't have done anything.
S: No, you could have. You just didn't. You just stood there. Everyone always just stands there. That's why shit like this happens.
I believe that a bystander is a person who witnesses sexual violence/rape, or is present when there is an indication that it may happen. A bystander can be anyone. It could be a stranger, a family member, or a friend. They could be young or old, man or woman. It could be anybody.
What the sources say:
"A witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge about a crime or dramatic event through their senses (e.g. seeing, hearing, smelling, touching), and can help certify important considerations to the crime or event. A witness who has seen the event firsthand is known as an "eye-witness". Witnesses are often called before a court of law to testify in trials." - source
Dialogue between a bystander [B] and a perpetrator [P]:
P: [to girl] Come on babe, lets get back to my place. You've been teasing me all night, showin' yourself off, dancin' so close to me, you owe me a little something something.
B: Hey man, leave her alone.
P: Piss off buddy, this is a private party.
B: Look, she's not interested. Let her go.
P: She's MY girlfriend, and she owes me this. She OWES me, you get what I'm sayin'?
B: She doesn't OWE you anything. If she doesn't want to leave, she doesn't have to. So just let her go.
P: Look, nobody asked you to get involved, so why don't you just get out of our faces and mind your own business?
B: I'll leave when you've let her go. I wouldn't want somebody to do that to someone I care about.
P: Don't make a scene. Just leave and I'll pretend you never stopped us.
B: No, we're not letting you leave.
- other people join B -
B: Just get out of here and leave her.
- P leaves -
Dialogue between a bystander [B] and someone who didn't get involved [S]:
S: Why didn't you stop P last night? He raped me.
B: I'm sorry, you were dating him, I thought you were just playing when you left.
S: Just playing? I was telling him no. He was drunk, you know what he's like when he's drunk. I don't like being around him like that.
B: I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd get raped.
S: Well what did you think was going to happen? He was hurting me before we left.
B: I'm sorry, I guess I just wasn't paying enough attention.
S: Stop saying you're sorry. You just left me to him. You didn't want to get involved. You could've stopped him.
B: It's not my fault, I couldn't have done anything.
S: No, you could have. You just didn't. You just stood there. Everyone always just stands there. That's why shit like this happens.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Who are victims of rape and sexual offenses?
A victim can be anyone. More than just a stereotypical image of a weak woman who's "asking for it." It can be a woman, or a man. A child, or an elderly person. Literally, anybody can be a victim. But for this entry, lets focus on the victim being a man in college. The story I'm about to tell will be from the perspective of the victim.
STORY:
So I'm a sophomore in college, and I'm going to a party in my buddy's dorm room. Now one of his roommates is a creeper, but he's also 21, and its not always easy to find a source for alcohol.
But this one night, there's beer pong going on, and this really big, really fat girl is on one team with the creeper, and a couple guys were on the other team. Guess what? Girl's team gets completely shut out. So guess what else? That means one of them has to do a naked lap outside, and the other has to chug 7-10 shots. Creeper does the lap, she opts to attempt to take the shots. She gets about 6 down, and she had already been completely blitzed before these extra shots. So she's near passing out, and the party has worn down, so its just me, one of my buddies, this girl, and the creeper. So I decide I need to get this girl home, otherwise, she'd probably get raped by the creeper. I ask my buddy to help me get her back, but he declines, so now I'm about to go attempt to get her from DMC to Whiteford.
We head out, and conveniently, its past midnight, so we can't take the shortcut through Decker. This entire time, I'm just hoping to run into Campus Safety so they can take her off my hands and I can leave. No such luck. So I get her back to Whiteford, and the R.A. on duty isn't there. I'm convinced there isn't actually an R.A. on duty in Whiteford. Ever. I've never seen them at their post. Go figure. And this girl is ready to completely pass out in hall, but that wouldn't be much better than leaving her with the creeper, so I ask her where her room is. Third floor. Oh great, lucky me, I get to drag her drunk ass up there. On the staircase, I passed a different one of my buddies, so I ask him for help. He declines, because he's heading over to his girlfriend's room. Well, I can't blame him for that, he's only human. So I lug her up to her room, get her onto her bed, and figure "hey, I get to leave now, right?"
Wrong.
The girl can't stand up straight, can't talk straight, but as I turn to leave, she reaches out and grabs me by the balls and pulls me to her bed. And when anything is tugging there, you go where the force pulls. Now I'm pretty drunk too, and she's a big girl, so she pins me down. Her breath reeks of booze, and she keeps making this kissy face at me like she wants to make out. No thanks. She doesn't seem to get it, so she decides to push my nose, and then touch hers and make a kissing sound. I shake my head and say no. Too bad, she wants to, and she's got me pinned. It's awful, and it gets worse, but I'm going to spare you the details. And did I mention, I don't even know this girl's name? She's got me pinned, forcing me to make out with her, and telling me we're going to have sex. I don't want to, no thank you, not gonna happen. But it seems like I'm not going to get a choice. Holy crap, I'm a guy that's about to get raped. In all seriousness.
So at this point I'm desperate. I'm making up excuses. "Um, I have an early class." "I need to write a paper." "I'm going to go throw up?" No, she rejects all of them. Finally, a stroke of brilliance strikes me.
"Oh shit, is that your roommate I hear in the hall?"
That startles her, and she drunkenly falls off the bed. I'm free, so I bolt out the door, and rush back to my own dorm. My jackass friends are there and they've placed a bet on whether I was gonna sleep with her or not. Yeah, Alex lost $10 on that one. And you know what? Now I understand what it's like to be the victim of a sexual offense, and I got off lucky all things considered. It's terrible not to have a choice in the matter, and its something we should all be aware of.
STORY:
So I'm a sophomore in college, and I'm going to a party in my buddy's dorm room. Now one of his roommates is a creeper, but he's also 21, and its not always easy to find a source for alcohol.
But this one night, there's beer pong going on, and this really big, really fat girl is on one team with the creeper, and a couple guys were on the other team. Guess what? Girl's team gets completely shut out. So guess what else? That means one of them has to do a naked lap outside, and the other has to chug 7-10 shots. Creeper does the lap, she opts to attempt to take the shots. She gets about 6 down, and she had already been completely blitzed before these extra shots. So she's near passing out, and the party has worn down, so its just me, one of my buddies, this girl, and the creeper. So I decide I need to get this girl home, otherwise, she'd probably get raped by the creeper. I ask my buddy to help me get her back, but he declines, so now I'm about to go attempt to get her from DMC to Whiteford.
We head out, and conveniently, its past midnight, so we can't take the shortcut through Decker. This entire time, I'm just hoping to run into Campus Safety so they can take her off my hands and I can leave. No such luck. So I get her back to Whiteford, and the R.A. on duty isn't there. I'm convinced there isn't actually an R.A. on duty in Whiteford. Ever. I've never seen them at their post. Go figure. And this girl is ready to completely pass out in hall, but that wouldn't be much better than leaving her with the creeper, so I ask her where her room is. Third floor. Oh great, lucky me, I get to drag her drunk ass up there. On the staircase, I passed a different one of my buddies, so I ask him for help. He declines, because he's heading over to his girlfriend's room. Well, I can't blame him for that, he's only human. So I lug her up to her room, get her onto her bed, and figure "hey, I get to leave now, right?"
Wrong.
The girl can't stand up straight, can't talk straight, but as I turn to leave, she reaches out and grabs me by the balls and pulls me to her bed. And when anything is tugging there, you go where the force pulls. Now I'm pretty drunk too, and she's a big girl, so she pins me down. Her breath reeks of booze, and she keeps making this kissy face at me like she wants to make out. No thanks. She doesn't seem to get it, so she decides to push my nose, and then touch hers and make a kissing sound. I shake my head and say no. Too bad, she wants to, and she's got me pinned. It's awful, and it gets worse, but I'm going to spare you the details. And did I mention, I don't even know this girl's name? She's got me pinned, forcing me to make out with her, and telling me we're going to have sex. I don't want to, no thank you, not gonna happen. But it seems like I'm not going to get a choice. Holy crap, I'm a guy that's about to get raped. In all seriousness.
So at this point I'm desperate. I'm making up excuses. "Um, I have an early class." "I need to write a paper." "I'm going to go throw up?" No, she rejects all of them. Finally, a stroke of brilliance strikes me.
"Oh shit, is that your roommate I hear in the hall?"
That startles her, and she drunkenly falls off the bed. I'm free, so I bolt out the door, and rush back to my own dorm. My jackass friends are there and they've placed a bet on whether I was gonna sleep with her or not. Yeah, Alex lost $10 on that one. And you know what? Now I understand what it's like to be the victim of a sexual offense, and I got off lucky all things considered. It's terrible not to have a choice in the matter, and its something we should all be aware of.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Who is a "rapist" or "sexual offender"?
My opinion
A rapist/sexual offender can be anybody. They can be a minor or an adult, a man or a woman, a boy or a girl. They could be a stranger, or they could be somebody you know. It could be a family friend, a boyfriend/girlfriend, or a family member.
There is no magic way to identify a rapist or a sex offender. If they have been convicted of a prior offense, then you can use internet databases, such as Family Watchdog, to identify them in your area, but there is always somebody who hasn't been convicted, or who is going to commit a first offense.
What the sources say
"A sex offender is a person who has been criminally charged and convicted of, or has pled guilty to, or pled Nolo contendere to a sex crime. Crimes requiring mandatory sex offender registration may include child sexual abuse, downloading pornographic behavior material of persons under the age of 18, (child pornography), rape, statutory rape and even non-sexual offenses such as kidnapping. The term sexual offender is a broad term, with sexual predator being used to describe a more severe physical or repeat sexual offense. Sexual offenders are also sometimes classified into levels[1], where the highest level offenders have the most aggravating crimes and thus, the most risk to the public and usually must register as a sex offender for their entire lives." - source
"Rape, also referred to as sexual assault, is an assault by a person involving sexual intercourse with or sexual penetration of another person without that person's consent. Rape is generally considered a serious sex crime, as well as a civil assault." - source
OFFICIAL STATISTICS - Bureau of Justice Statistics
Disclaimer: Based off of actual offender. Name and some details have been altered. This should not be used as a basis to accuse or convict any actual person. Source of conviction information is from Family Watchdog for Westminster, MD within 10 miles of McDaniel College.
Jamie was a local resident, growing up in Westminster, went to high school around here, attended Carroll Community College, and became a successful in business. Unfortunately for Jamie, there was a side business of interest as well: child pornography.
Jamie had never been convicted of any sexual offense or criminal offense. Jamie had always been a law-abiding citizen of the community, and was involved in sponsoring some after-school activities at the local middle school. This was how Jamie met his victims. Once Jamie gained their trust, Jamie would hold meetings at Jamie's house to discuss "important decisions." The student felt honored that they would actually get to make input in these decisions.
When they would come over, Jamie would invite them to come downstairs to the basement so they could be more comfortable. The photographs would begin fully clothed, as Jamie eventually coerced, and then threatened and abused power to make them remove their clothing. By blaming what Jamie did as being their fault, Jamie managed to keep most of them silent about this sexual crime. When the students quit the organizations, others wrote it off as them not being able to handle the strain of decision-making.
After 4 yours of coercing young female students, one finally came forward. Upon investigation, Jamie's photo collection was uncovered. Jamie is now on record as being a sexual offender, and will be for the rest of their life.
Now what do you think about Jamie? Is Jamie a man or a woman? This story uses a gender-neutral name and never says. How old is Jamie? A college graduate and in business, but in their 30's? 40's? Older? Or maybe in their mid-20's, fresh out of college?
Hopefully this will make you think, and break down stereotypes.
A rapist/sexual offender can be anybody. They can be a minor or an adult, a man or a woman, a boy or a girl. They could be a stranger, or they could be somebody you know. It could be a family friend, a boyfriend/girlfriend, or a family member.
There is no magic way to identify a rapist or a sex offender. If they have been convicted of a prior offense, then you can use internet databases, such as Family Watchdog, to identify them in your area, but there is always somebody who hasn't been convicted, or who is going to commit a first offense.
What the sources say
"A sex offender is a person who has been criminally charged and convicted of, or has pled guilty to, or pled Nolo contendere to a sex crime. Crimes requiring mandatory sex offender registration may include child sexual abuse, downloading pornographic behavior material of persons under the age of 18, (child pornography), rape, statutory rape and even non-sexual offenses such as kidnapping. The term sexual offender is a broad term, with sexual predator being used to describe a more severe physical or repeat sexual offense. Sexual offenders are also sometimes classified into levels[1], where the highest level offenders have the most aggravating crimes and thus, the most risk to the public and usually must register as a sex offender for their entire lives." - source
"Rape, also referred to as sexual assault, is an assault by a person involving sexual intercourse with or sexual penetration of another person without that person's consent. Rape is generally considered a serious sex crime, as well as a civil assault." - source
OFFICIAL STATISTICS - Bureau of Justice Statistics
- On a given day in 1994 there were approximately 234,000 offenders convicted of rape or sexual assault under the care, custody, or control of corrections agencies; nearly 60% of these sex offenders are under conditional supervision in the community.
- The median age of the victims of imprisoned sexual assaulters was less than 13 years old; the median age of rape victims was about 22 years.
- An estimated 24% of those serving time for rape and 19% of those serving time for sexual assault had been on probation or parole at the time of the offense for which they were in State prison in 1991.
- Of the 9,691 male sex offenders released from prisons in 15 States in 1994, 5.3% were rearrested for a new sex crime within 3 years of release.
- Of released sex offenders who allegedly committed another sex crime, 40% perpetrated the new offense within a year or less from their prison discharge.
- Approximately 4,300 child molesters were released from prisons in 15 States in 1994. An estimated 3.3% of these 4,300 were rearrested for another sex crime against a child within 3 years of release from prison.
- Among child molesters released from prison in 1994, 60% had been in prison for molesting a child 13 years old or younger.
- Offenders who had victimized a child were on average 5 years older than the violent offenders who had committed their crimes against adults. Nearly 25% of child victimizers were age 40 or older, but about 10% of the inmates with adult victims fell in that age range.
Disclaimer: Based off of actual offender. Name and some details have been altered. This should not be used as a basis to accuse or convict any actual person. Source of conviction information is from Family Watchdog for Westminster, MD within 10 miles of McDaniel College.
Jamie was a local resident, growing up in Westminster, went to high school around here, attended Carroll Community College, and became a successful in business. Unfortunately for Jamie, there was a side business of interest as well: child pornography.
Jamie had never been convicted of any sexual offense or criminal offense. Jamie had always been a law-abiding citizen of the community, and was involved in sponsoring some after-school activities at the local middle school. This was how Jamie met his victims. Once Jamie gained their trust, Jamie would hold meetings at Jamie's house to discuss "important decisions." The student felt honored that they would actually get to make input in these decisions.
When they would come over, Jamie would invite them to come downstairs to the basement so they could be more comfortable. The photographs would begin fully clothed, as Jamie eventually coerced, and then threatened and abused power to make them remove their clothing. By blaming what Jamie did as being their fault, Jamie managed to keep most of them silent about this sexual crime. When the students quit the organizations, others wrote it off as them not being able to handle the strain of decision-making.
After 4 yours of coercing young female students, one finally came forward. Upon investigation, Jamie's photo collection was uncovered. Jamie is now on record as being a sexual offender, and will be for the rest of their life.
Now what do you think about Jamie? Is Jamie a man or a woman? This story uses a gender-neutral name and never says. How old is Jamie? A college graduate and in business, but in their 30's? 40's? Older? Or maybe in their mid-20's, fresh out of college?
Hopefully this will make you think, and break down stereotypes.
Monday, February 2, 2009
What is rape/sexual violence?
My own thoughts:
I would break these two into their own seperate categories.
As for rape, I believe it is specifically defined as being forceful penetration of the vagina by a penis. There is also statutory rape, which would be sexual relations with underage individuals. I believe that by technicalities, anything else would fall under being sexual violence.
I feel sexual violence does not have such a narrow definition. I believe it includes the following:
* Any use of force in a sexual situation
* Any unwanted, including forceful, sexual interaction (can come from either person)
* Any sexual interaction without expressed given consent
And now on to what the sources say.
"Rape, also referred to as sexual assault, is an assault by a person involving sexual intercourse with or sexual penetration of another person without that person's consent. Rape is generally considered a serious sex crime, as well as a civil assault." - source
In this same article, it also states that 91% of rape victims are women, therefore meaning that 9% are men, so rape is not only against women.
In conjunction with what I said about the technicalities of what is rape, "Some jurisdictions define "rape" to cover only acts involving penile penetration of the vagina, treating all other types of non-consensual sexual activity as sexual assault...In some jurisdictions, rape is defined in terms of sexual penetration of the victim, which may include penetration with objects, rather than body parts." - source
It is also mentioned that the absence of consent on the part of the victim is critical in the definition of rape, and that even if consent is given, it can be revoked at any time. - source
Rape Statistics
Sexual Violence, as per what the "experts" say
Sexual violence also includes but is not limited to rape, and also includes attempted rape.
I would break these two into their own seperate categories.
As for rape, I believe it is specifically defined as being forceful penetration of the vagina by a penis. There is also statutory rape, which would be sexual relations with underage individuals. I believe that by technicalities, anything else would fall under being sexual violence.
I feel sexual violence does not have such a narrow definition. I believe it includes the following:
* Any use of force in a sexual situation
* Any unwanted, including forceful, sexual interaction (can come from either person)
* Any sexual interaction without expressed given consent
And now on to what the sources say.
"Rape, also referred to as sexual assault, is an assault by a person involving sexual intercourse with or sexual penetration of another person without that person's consent. Rape is generally considered a serious sex crime, as well as a civil assault." - source
In this same article, it also states that 91% of rape victims are women, therefore meaning that 9% are men, so rape is not only against women.
In conjunction with what I said about the technicalities of what is rape, "Some jurisdictions define "rape" to cover only acts involving penile penetration of the vagina, treating all other types of non-consensual sexual activity as sexual assault...In some jurisdictions, rape is defined in terms of sexual penetration of the victim, which may include penetration with objects, rather than body parts." - source
It is also mentioned that the absence of consent on the part of the victim is critical in the definition of rape, and that even if consent is given, it can be revoked at any time. - source
Rape Statistics
Sexual Violence, as per what the "experts" say
"Sexual violence is defined as:
any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work." - sourceSexual violence also includes but is not limited to rape, and also includes attempted rape.
Monday, January 26, 2009
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