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Why Don't Some Women Report Rape?Sexual predators are often repeat offenders, and so police encourage women to report to break the chain of victims. But victims and their advocates have a somewhat different take on this dilemma.Related Content
There was a time when most rape victims faced a stigma and hostile questioning by defense attorneys when they reported the crimes and followed through with prosecution. But how much has changed? Two years ago, Colleen Crinklaw was on her first date with a man she had just met. The next morning, she woke up with no memory of what had happened, which she later surmised was due to a date rape drug. "I woke up with a broken hand and bruises all over my face and my neck and my legs, but I didn't, I couldn't remember having actually been raped. And so I was hesitant to make the call because I didn't want to be the girl who says yes he raped me to find out that maybe he didn't." She said her roommate urged her to call police that day. "I don't think I would have had the strength to make that call without somebody's encouragement." Crinklaw's subsequent physical examination eventually confirmed that she had been raped. The perpetrator has never been caught. But she doesn't regret the decision. "It's been really rewarding that sometimes being the voice that stands up and says this isn't right helps others stand up too." Sexual predators are often repeat offenders, and so police encourage women to report to break the chain of victims. But victims and their advocates have a somewhat different take on this dilemma. At the organization Standing Together Against Rape, lead advocate Erin Patterson says that victims are not pressured to report the crimes. "It takes a long time to process a sex crime, and you know, some women just want to get over it and get their life back on track and don't want to be in the midst of a legal hearing for years." While media organizations typically don't identify rape victims, and some limits have been placed on questions in court regarding their sexual history, Patterson says there is still fear of judgment. "Based on the questioning that the detectives and forensic nurses have to do during the process of an investigation, that opens a lot of doors for defense attorneys to get in there and start asking some pretty, very personal questions." Police are hopeful that the stigma of being a sexual assault victim has faded away. "I think in the past there was a stigma with women afraid to report thinking that they in some way had caused the crime to happen or were at fault in some way,” said Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman Anita Shell. "And in reality, that is quite the opposite. The crime of sexual assault is anger using sex as a tool. And it's really important to stop that behavior by reporting that, so that we can stop it from happening to somebody else." Crinklaw says it's a personal choice, and she wouldn't tell anyone else what he or she should do. And she says two years later she's doing all right. "I'm a lot stronger now. Sometimes you have to go through something really terrible to find out what you're capable of. And i'm more cautious but i'm not any less fearless." Conversely, her attacker, if he is ever found, has a lot to fear.
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the untouchable said on Monday, Nov 5 at 6:48 AM
why do peoples hgave to report innocent peoples?
105736716Justice said on Saturday, Feb 11 at 10:05 AM
The other side of the story? On raped victims? Get real. There is no other side. These perverts stalk thier victims, or lure them into something or break into their homes, cars, etc.RAPE should get LIFE in prison no exceptions.The perps should be put in general population, for a payback.YOU DON'T HEAR OF WOMEN RAPING MEN DO YA????
81226211James said on Friday, Oct 28 at 12:15 AM
With repeat offender beings released on their own recognition or on third parties, the sexual offenders will not stop. Why not prosecute them at the first chance so they won't cause anymore problem to innocent women and girls. This has got to stop and justice system needs to be fixed and allow more prison time for offenders.
75984536Anonymous said on Monday, Jul 25 at 10:39 AM
I awoke and didn't remember either. I claimed I was drugged along with my child. Nothing was done. If you leave it up to the Native Hospital or law enforcement to handle your examination truthfully and honestly "GOOD LUCK". You go through the reporting experience and verbal language of CARE doesn't match the body language. Even in 7th grade I was yelled at by Dept of Public Safety. It was taken seriously but they are all right you go through a lot when you decide to report. Let alone file a claim in civil court. Sometimes time has passed and there is no evidence. Especially if you are a women and your vaginal injuries are in question MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PICTURES OF WHAT YOU LOOKED LIKE PRIOR. Counseling is important to help you move on. No matter how many times I am told to move on with my life you still have those bad memories that creep up once in awhile. Finally when you do find somebody to validate it happened to you it is a big weight of your shoulders and you can start to heal.
71259579crowepps said on Saturday, Jul 23 at 8:16 PM
There was a story in this morning's Anchorage Daily News about an alleged rape. This comment struck me: "Was this a viable lady, or just somebody trying to get back at him? Do we know the other side of the story?" This is why women don't report rapes -- women are assumed to be vindictive liars before people even know the facts while the man is assumed to have 'another side of the story'.
71197312jjj said on Saturday, Jul 23 at 5:23 PM
if i were a woman and this happened, i would ask my father or brothers or any family member to take care of it for me! the hell with the police and b.s. court system we have! alaskan bush justice for these predators! period!
71191707ze said on Saturday, Jul 23 at 12:32 PM
women dont report rape becouse it sometimes comes down to his word against mine . and if they have any guilt of anything in their life from previous they may feel they will not be believed . then on top of that how many men tried with rape are actually convicted ? not many . rape is a crime that is totally unjustified . there can be no defense to have raped someone . rapists and molesters can not be rehabbed , hence most are repeat offenders . stricter laws and penalties need to be established to protect our women and our children . i think society is getting to the place where we will not tolerate this abuse . slave trafficking is another crime we will not accept . when a person takes the human rights away from another , in my opinion , they just gave up their own personal rights to humanity . dismemberment or death might be enough penalty that would deter future offenders . any victim of rape or molestation or other abuse needs to apologize to no one . stay strong !!
71184662VI said on Saturday, Jul 23 at 3:20 AM
Women don't report rape because no one believes them. Victim "alleges" and language like that. It's hard enough bringing yourself to repeat the words to someone, and it's a slap in the face when people try to discredit you or victim blame you. In this culture we teach girls that it's their fault if they didn't take precautions to get raped, we don't tell men and boys that what someone did was wrong. More often than not people try to exhaust all possibilities why the victim is lying or false. That's why we don't come forward--because we know how often offenders get convicted and how often they walk away. If I had it my way I'd take the law into my own hands and punish those that hurt me.
71168214Locutus said on Friday, Jul 22 at 10:52 PM
Pain, unending pain, never ceasing. That's what sexual abuse is to victims. I was sexually abused, but I stuck a knife in the guys neck. I will never forget his face. I see it every night. I fight to protect children, because I wasn't protected. Anonymous, God bless you, I am praying for you. I can't imagine what you went through. I only know my own experience. Take care, and be blessed.
71164591Anonymous said on Friday, Jul 22 at 9:38 PM
because as we were raped and theathened then as time grew on we thought it was normal i reported it and nothing was done, I am now married and now i am to say sorry TO GOD.
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