Monday, April 13, 2009
Health Analysis of Rape
This may be a bit repetitive because it deals with a lot of what happened in the last several posts. The health people work with the authorities using the samples given by the victim and the police investigators. The rape kit( see two blogs ago) is probably their biggest tool in investigating instances of rape and sexual violence. For them, it is all about maintaining and preserving material evidence from the scene of the crime as well as the victim so that the evidence can be passed along to the detectives on the case. Medical personnel are only there to collect evidence and analyze it, and then the police work with them to identify the rapist through DNA analysis and continue the investigation through prosecution and trials. Records of DNA are kept and are available both to police and medical workers.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Police Investigation
Police are the first people to begin a rape investigation. And it all starts with the specific officer who has been called to check on the incident. Remember-the victim's name does not appear on the police report or complaint. Secrecy is the real key here. Because the police's aim is to try and make things comfortable for the victim, they will be the only people the victim will talk to. The officer will then work with a detective or investigative officer to try and gather the evidence and make an effort to get as many details as possible about the incident from the victim while talking about the incident as few times as possible. They want to improve the victim's level of comfort while still trying to get cooperation out of them so the investigation can continue. These are the goals that are looked toward in this kind of an investigation:
1. Enhance collection and continuity of evidence
2. Identification of assaulter, bystanders,
3. Preservation of crime scene
Later, if more intricate evidence, like DNA, semen samples, blood, urine, that kind of thing is needed, usually the CSI or CIS( in this particular article Criminal Investigation Section), they are contacted to do their work if necessary. If that is the case, then they take over the investigation. But that does not mean the police back away. The same officer from the beginning is in charge of comforting the victim, and taking them to tests to make sure everything goes smoothly. These scientists doing the tests are sometimes not the best people to talk with, so the officer is there for emotional support because he has been there since the beginning. A Rape Kit is used to gather the evidence( see previous post), and with the amount and quality of evidence that is gathered from them, the assailant can hopefully be brought in and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Source:
http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/downloads/police_pdf13191.pdf
1. Enhance collection and continuity of evidence
2. Identification of assaulter, bystanders,
3. Preservation of crime scene
Later, if more intricate evidence, like DNA, semen samples, blood, urine, that kind of thing is needed, usually the CSI or CIS( in this particular article Criminal Investigation Section), they are contacted to do their work if necessary. If that is the case, then they take over the investigation. But that does not mean the police back away. The same officer from the beginning is in charge of comforting the victim, and taking them to tests to make sure everything goes smoothly. These scientists doing the tests are sometimes not the best people to talk with, so the officer is there for emotional support because he has been there since the beginning. A Rape Kit is used to gather the evidence( see previous post), and with the amount and quality of evidence that is gathered from them, the assailant can hopefully be brought in and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Source:
http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/downloads/police_pdf13191.pdf
Monday, March 30, 2009
Rape Kit
A Rape Kit, which is paid for by the various states, is then used at hospitals for the preservation of physical evidence if a rape is reported. The evidence is then used in case prosecution continues. The victims consent is needed to use the kit, and the whole process can take hours to complete the analysis.
A Rape Kit can sometimes be used anonymously, and it is used to collect anything from urine or semen samples, clothing, hair or even things left over from the scene of the crime. Things are also used to collect or store the samples, such as glass slides, and things like post-it notes or other writing elements on which to write information.
All-in-all, these kits are mini-labs and they can be very useful in making sure the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice, and there can be no mistake about their guilt if the evidence is right there. While the whole process can be kind of scary for someone who had just been violated by a sex offender and has to have more probing done, it is the only way to get those people who are responsible and make them pay for their crimes, which can cause some sort of relief on the part of the victim.
Source: Wikipedia, http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/crisis/314.html
A Rape Kit can sometimes be used anonymously, and it is used to collect anything from urine or semen samples, clothing, hair or even things left over from the scene of the crime. Things are also used to collect or store the samples, such as glass slides, and things like post-it notes or other writing elements on which to write information.
All-in-all, these kits are mini-labs and they can be very useful in making sure the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice, and there can be no mistake about their guilt if the evidence is right there. While the whole process can be kind of scary for someone who had just been violated by a sex offender and has to have more probing done, it is the only way to get those people who are responsible and make them pay for their crimes, which can cause some sort of relief on the part of the victim.
Source: Wikipedia, http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/crisis/314.html
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The things add up to one bad situation
There are a lot of "symptoms" to a rape. There are many things that add up to a situation where a rape can occur. Taking a look at many sources that address rapes on college campuses, there are a l0t of numbers out there. The sources said that a lot of rapes occur either at college parties or even social dates where alcohol is involved. 90% of the victims know their assailant when the rape occurs. 60% of the rapes occur in the victim's own residence, while 31% occur in other living quarters. 10% of the rape cases took place in a fraternity or sorority class. So, the myth that a woman is walking down the street, and a stranger jumps out of the bushes is something that rarely happens. Or men will try to gain leverage and try to gain a girl's comfort before they take advantage of them. All-in-all 17.7 million American women have been victims of a rape sometime in their lifetime, and in half of those incidents, the women usually didn't report it because they didn't consider it a rape. So, with all these things and the numbers not on their side, any one of these locations, incidents, or people could add up to a rape.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Bystanders
If we truly are going to work on trying to prevent rape and sexual assaults, it is not going to be decided by the rapists stopping what they are doing, it is the bystanders job to stop the rapists from doing what they are doing. There has been a lot of research about bystander behavior, and how it relates to sexual violence. Many of the experts condemn bystanders along with the rapists themselves because they are accepting the crime instead of stopping it. There are many reasons for bystanders just sitting and not stepping up to stop sexual violence from occuring, such as:
1. Guilt
2. Fear of Physical Abuse from perpetrator
3. Lack of Responsibility
4. Fear of Social Abandonment from perpetrator or friends
5. Lack of helping behavior
6. Inability to identify potential perpetrators
7. Apathy
One of the suggestions that many of the social researchers and rape experts out there suggested that bystanders adopt a "Golden Rule" kind of approach when facing the situation of stopping a rape or sexual assault from occuring. And it takes a group of people, and a type of community outreach, to stop sex offenders from doing what they feel they can get away with. In the end, strength lies in the power of numbers. But, you would be surprised what it takes to just go above and beyond a bystander. It may just take a small bit of interaction on part of a bystander to become part of the solution instead of continuing to be part of the problem. Here are some examples listed below of interactions that occur between perpetrators and bystanders, and friends( one who was raped and the other just sat there).
Bystander to Perpetrator:
(Mike is walking down the street and in front of him, he sees a man following very close behind a woman and seems to be trying to force her down a dark ally behind her)
(Mike notices the distress on the girl's face, and realizes that she is trying to get away but she can't. He knows that if nobody does anything, something is going to happen to the woman.)
(Mike quickly runs behind the man, and taps on his shoulder very forcibly).
Mike: Excuse me, sir?
Man: What the hell do you want? You got a problem?
Mike: No, I'm sorry to bother you. I'm from out of town. Could you give me directions to Fourth Street?
Man: No, I can't. Get the hell of here.
(The man turns around, and just because of Mike's interaction, the girl had the time to get away and had enough distance between her and the strange man.)
And that's all it takes.
Friend-to-Friend.
Jennifer: Hey Maria, can I talk to you?
Maria: Sure, it looks like something is bothering you.
Jennifer: Something is bothering me. In fact, you're the problem.
Maria: Me? What did I do?
Jennifer: Exactly. You did nothing.
Maria: I'm confused.
Jennifer: Last night at the party, Mark took me back in the bedroom and we had sex. I didn't even know that was happening. I like Mark, but I didnt want to go that far with him! I didnt say yes! And from what I heard from Julie, you were right there on the couch with us when he started to get grabby and he took me upstairs. Why didn't you do anything?
Maria: I don't know. Mark is pretty popular, and no one tells him no.
Jennifer: What do you mean, 'you dont know'? Mark basically raped me!
Maria: Oh come on, like you wouldn't have done it with him anyway? Isn't that what you wanted anyway?
Jennifer: No, Maria, I didn't. I wasn't ready. In fact, I knew I wasn't going to be ready for quite some time. I wanted to take it slow. We're not even a couple! Let me ask you something Maria...how would you feel if someone you knew took advantage of you when you weren't stable enough to realize it? And your best friend just sat there and let it happen?
Maria: Um, now that you put it that way...I'm sorry Jenn. I should have said something. You're my best friend, and I should have thought more of your feelings. I know if I was in the same situation, you would have said something. In fact, let's go talk with Mark right now about it. If not, we'll find someone else to talk to about it.
1. Guilt
2. Fear of Physical Abuse from perpetrator
3. Lack of Responsibility
4. Fear of Social Abandonment from perpetrator or friends
5. Lack of helping behavior
6. Inability to identify potential perpetrators
7. Apathy
One of the suggestions that many of the social researchers and rape experts out there suggested that bystanders adopt a "Golden Rule" kind of approach when facing the situation of stopping a rape or sexual assault from occuring. And it takes a group of people, and a type of community outreach, to stop sex offenders from doing what they feel they can get away with. In the end, strength lies in the power of numbers. But, you would be surprised what it takes to just go above and beyond a bystander. It may just take a small bit of interaction on part of a bystander to become part of the solution instead of continuing to be part of the problem. Here are some examples listed below of interactions that occur between perpetrators and bystanders, and friends( one who was raped and the other just sat there).
Bystander to Perpetrator:
(Mike is walking down the street and in front of him, he sees a man following very close behind a woman and seems to be trying to force her down a dark ally behind her)
(Mike notices the distress on the girl's face, and realizes that she is trying to get away but she can't. He knows that if nobody does anything, something is going to happen to the woman.)
(Mike quickly runs behind the man, and taps on his shoulder very forcibly).
Mike: Excuse me, sir?
Man: What the hell do you want? You got a problem?
Mike: No, I'm sorry to bother you. I'm from out of town. Could you give me directions to Fourth Street?
Man: No, I can't. Get the hell of here.
(The man turns around, and just because of Mike's interaction, the girl had the time to get away and had enough distance between her and the strange man.)
And that's all it takes.
Friend-to-Friend.
Jennifer: Hey Maria, can I talk to you?
Maria: Sure, it looks like something is bothering you.
Jennifer: Something is bothering me. In fact, you're the problem.
Maria: Me? What did I do?
Jennifer: Exactly. You did nothing.
Maria: I'm confused.
Jennifer: Last night at the party, Mark took me back in the bedroom and we had sex. I didn't even know that was happening. I like Mark, but I didnt want to go that far with him! I didnt say yes! And from what I heard from Julie, you were right there on the couch with us when he started to get grabby and he took me upstairs. Why didn't you do anything?
Maria: I don't know. Mark is pretty popular, and no one tells him no.
Jennifer: What do you mean, 'you dont know'? Mark basically raped me!
Maria: Oh come on, like you wouldn't have done it with him anyway? Isn't that what you wanted anyway?
Jennifer: No, Maria, I didn't. I wasn't ready. In fact, I knew I wasn't going to be ready for quite some time. I wanted to take it slow. We're not even a couple! Let me ask you something Maria...how would you feel if someone you knew took advantage of you when you weren't stable enough to realize it? And your best friend just sat there and let it happen?
Maria: Um, now that you put it that way...I'm sorry Jenn. I should have said something. You're my best friend, and I should have thought more of your feelings. I know if I was in the same situation, you would have said something. In fact, let's go talk with Mark right now about it. If not, we'll find someone else to talk to about it.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Who is a Rape Victim?
This account is entirely fiction, but based on many accounts that we have heard over the aspect of the semester:
"It was a Friday night. It had been a long, long week of classes. I had two tests and two presentations to give over the five days, and it was a lot of work to do. But I had done them all, and I feel like I did them very well. Still, I am looking for the weekend and the chance to have fun."
My friend Lindsey invited me to a party later that night, and it was one of the more popular parties going on. It was over one of her former boyfriend's house, and there was a lot of beer, people, and a lot of music there. I didn't care what kind of party it was, I just just tired and I wanted to let go a little.
Over the course of the night, I met this guy named Nic. He had just transferred here from across the country and had only been here on campus a few weeks. He seemed like a really nice guy from what I remember. After spending an hour and a half talking with him and having several beers, I remember passing out on the sofa on the couch at the party. Nic woke me up, and I remember his smiling face laughing at me saying something would happen to me if I stayed there. He said he was leaving the party soon anyway, and that he would walk me back to my room.
We left the party and I slept in a bed Friday night. But I woke up the next morning to find out it wasnt my own. I woke up in a strange room that I had never seen before. No one was there. My clothes were in the corner of the room. I was scared. I started to shiver...even though it was warm in the bed and in the room. Someone came walking in, and I immediately recognized him as Lindsey's other friend, Josh. I asked him how I got here, and where Nic was cause that was the last thing I remembered. 'You mean you don't remember the great night you and Nic had last night? He said you wanted it to be the best night of your life!' My shivers and butterflies in my stomach got even deeper. I asked Josh where Nic was. Then it got even worse. He had this questioned, confused look on his face, just the same confused look I had, but for another reason. "Didnt he tell you? He was only up here last night. He went back to Penn State this morning." I had been raped.
"It was a Friday night. It had been a long, long week of classes. I had two tests and two presentations to give over the five days, and it was a lot of work to do. But I had done them all, and I feel like I did them very well. Still, I am looking for the weekend and the chance to have fun."
My friend Lindsey invited me to a party later that night, and it was one of the more popular parties going on. It was over one of her former boyfriend's house, and there was a lot of beer, people, and a lot of music there. I didn't care what kind of party it was, I just just tired and I wanted to let go a little.
Over the course of the night, I met this guy named Nic. He had just transferred here from across the country and had only been here on campus a few weeks. He seemed like a really nice guy from what I remember. After spending an hour and a half talking with him and having several beers, I remember passing out on the sofa on the couch at the party. Nic woke me up, and I remember his smiling face laughing at me saying something would happen to me if I stayed there. He said he was leaving the party soon anyway, and that he would walk me back to my room.
We left the party and I slept in a bed Friday night. But I woke up the next morning to find out it wasnt my own. I woke up in a strange room that I had never seen before. No one was there. My clothes were in the corner of the room. I was scared. I started to shiver...even though it was warm in the bed and in the room. Someone came walking in, and I immediately recognized him as Lindsey's other friend, Josh. I asked him how I got here, and where Nic was cause that was the last thing I remembered. 'You mean you don't remember the great night you and Nic had last night? He said you wanted it to be the best night of your life!' My shivers and butterflies in my stomach got even deeper. I asked Josh where Nic was. Then it got even worse. He had this questioned, confused look on his face, just the same confused look I had, but for another reason. "Didnt he tell you? He was only up here last night. He went back to Penn State this morning." I had been raped.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Sexual Offenders
Before I begin, I talked about sexual assault in my last blog, and as we took a look at sexual offenders, I saw that a lot of them were defined and charged with sexual offense. So, I felt like I should give a clear cut definition of the term sexual offense.
a forcible sex offense is "any sexual act directed against another person, forcibly and/or against that persons will; or not forcibly or against the person's will where the victim is incapable of giving consent," and includes forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling. Non forcible sex offenses are acts of "unlawful, non forcible sexual intercourse," and include incest and statutory rape. Courtesy of: http://www.slc.edu/security/Definitions_of_Crimes.php
So, to continue, I want to really define who a sexual offender, rapist, or sexual assaulter is. I faced a real moral struggle with dealing with them, because I have worked with several before, and several of them are very nice and genuine people who are hiding something that a lot of people would have a problem with if they found out. But if they didn't find out, you would think these people that you see are regular and normal human beings.
In my opinion, a sexual offender, while the title is fixed on you for the rest of your life, is something that envelopes all crimes, even ones where you expose yourself, which I have a problem with. While I see sexual offenders, especially child molesters, as scum, if they pay their debt to society and repent in their sinful acts, forgiveness should be given, or they should at least be treated like a regular human being. That however, does not mean they should get off pat, and that they should be allowed to return to anonymity either. It's just how they are treated, not how they are dealt with. Many times, we do not know the circumstances of when or why this sexual act occurred, and who are we to judge on what a person has done in the past? And in reality, it is something that they should carry with them for the rest of their lives, and I'm pretty sure they are carrying with them their punishment and attribution as much as the person who was violated is carrying with them the thoughts and horrors of the sexual act.
So in my mind, a sexual offender should be described as "anyone who commits a sexual act directed against any other individual against their will when consent is not given or is not a valid act of consent( like in children). Their crimes that they commit should include any type of rape, sodomy, fondling of sensitive and intimate body parts."
Taking a look at this site: http://www.familywatchdog.us/ShowMap.asp?frm=0 , you can take a look at the registered sex offenders in any particular area. Going to the Essex area where my dad has a used car lot, I saw some sex offenders who not only are our customers, but are some of my dad's employees. Knowing the Essex area, I know the area has its issues with crime and other violations. I was certainly not surprised, knowing that my dad has some work-release workers on his staff as well. I was caught off guard by one face I saw in the crowd, and was very surprised cause this particular guy has worked for my dad for years and has done a lot of work around our house, the dealership, and other places.
To try and define the life of this particular or certain sex offenders, I know that a lot of them come out of broken homes and broken neighborhoods. Some of them probably don't get very good education, and I'm sure some of them didn't learn the respect for women from a father-figure or a mother. They themselves, or someone close to them, may have themselves been victims of sexual abuse as a child or as they got older. And I'm sure a lot of these violations can be attributed back to things like alcohol or things in that nature. Their lives were probably very miserable from time to time, and they had to find ways to get "enjoyment" out of it. And they looked to exploit someone else's sexual privacy the way that they themselves were exploited by the world around them.
I know for a fact that a lot of them continue to struggle after the sexual act. They have to register with the police department, and they are kept on websites like the watchdog site for everyone to see. Some have trouble maintaining or getting jobs because of it, and some eventually find their way back into jail for more sexual assault crimes or other crimes because they have no where to go. It is a constant struggle for them to fit back into their normal lives, and while it may be warranted, it is something that can be very painful to see. And I have seen several of my dad's employees, such as this man named Charles who used to work for my dad and recently passed away, wherever he went, he had the reputation of being known as "Chester...Chester...the Child Molestor." He even heard it from people on the street and his fellow co-workers. I felt bad for the guy, but I have to ask you all out there. Do the crimes that these people commit carry with them eternal judgment and harassment from people out there, and to what extent should sex offenders be punished for their crimes( should there be an end to it, or do you agree with the once you are sex offender, always a sex offender approach)
Leave Comments Below. I would like to hear what you have to say since I emphasize with both sides of the issue.
Chell.
a forcible sex offense is "any sexual act directed against another person, forcibly and/or against that persons will; or not forcibly or against the person's will where the victim is incapable of giving consent," and includes forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling. Non forcible sex offenses are acts of "unlawful, non forcible sexual intercourse," and include incest and statutory rape. Courtesy of: http://www.slc.edu/security/Definitions_of_Crimes.php
So, to continue, I want to really define who a sexual offender, rapist, or sexual assaulter is. I faced a real moral struggle with dealing with them, because I have worked with several before, and several of them are very nice and genuine people who are hiding something that a lot of people would have a problem with if they found out. But if they didn't find out, you would think these people that you see are regular and normal human beings.
In my opinion, a sexual offender, while the title is fixed on you for the rest of your life, is something that envelopes all crimes, even ones where you expose yourself, which I have a problem with. While I see sexual offenders, especially child molesters, as scum, if they pay their debt to society and repent in their sinful acts, forgiveness should be given, or they should at least be treated like a regular human being. That however, does not mean they should get off pat, and that they should be allowed to return to anonymity either. It's just how they are treated, not how they are dealt with. Many times, we do not know the circumstances of when or why this sexual act occurred, and who are we to judge on what a person has done in the past? And in reality, it is something that they should carry with them for the rest of their lives, and I'm pretty sure they are carrying with them their punishment and attribution as much as the person who was violated is carrying with them the thoughts and horrors of the sexual act.
So in my mind, a sexual offender should be described as "anyone who commits a sexual act directed against any other individual against their will when consent is not given or is not a valid act of consent( like in children). Their crimes that they commit should include any type of rape, sodomy, fondling of sensitive and intimate body parts."
Taking a look at this site: http://www.familywatchdog.us/ShowMap.asp?frm=0 , you can take a look at the registered sex offenders in any particular area. Going to the Essex area where my dad has a used car lot, I saw some sex offenders who not only are our customers, but are some of my dad's employees. Knowing the Essex area, I know the area has its issues with crime and other violations. I was certainly not surprised, knowing that my dad has some work-release workers on his staff as well. I was caught off guard by one face I saw in the crowd, and was very surprised cause this particular guy has worked for my dad for years and has done a lot of work around our house, the dealership, and other places.
To try and define the life of this particular or certain sex offenders, I know that a lot of them come out of broken homes and broken neighborhoods. Some of them probably don't get very good education, and I'm sure some of them didn't learn the respect for women from a father-figure or a mother. They themselves, or someone close to them, may have themselves been victims of sexual abuse as a child or as they got older. And I'm sure a lot of these violations can be attributed back to things like alcohol or things in that nature. Their lives were probably very miserable from time to time, and they had to find ways to get "enjoyment" out of it. And they looked to exploit someone else's sexual privacy the way that they themselves were exploited by the world around them.
I know for a fact that a lot of them continue to struggle after the sexual act. They have to register with the police department, and they are kept on websites like the watchdog site for everyone to see. Some have trouble maintaining or getting jobs because of it, and some eventually find their way back into jail for more sexual assault crimes or other crimes because they have no where to go. It is a constant struggle for them to fit back into their normal lives, and while it may be warranted, it is something that can be very painful to see. And I have seen several of my dad's employees, such as this man named Charles who used to work for my dad and recently passed away, wherever he went, he had the reputation of being known as "Chester...Chester...the Child Molestor." He even heard it from people on the street and his fellow co-workers. I felt bad for the guy, but I have to ask you all out there. Do the crimes that these people commit carry with them eternal judgment and harassment from people out there, and to what extent should sex offenders be punished for their crimes( should there be an end to it, or do you agree with the once you are sex offender, always a sex offender approach)
Leave Comments Below. I would like to hear what you have to say since I emphasize with both sides of the issue.
Chell.
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