Alcohol Consumption and Females’ Recognition in Response to Date Rape Risk: The Role of Sex-Related Alcohol Expectancies

This study examined the pharmacological and psychological effects of alcohol on women’s recognition of and response to dating sexual aggression. Female participants completed measures of prior sexual victimization experiences, sex related alcohol expectancies, general alcohol expectancies, and drinking habits. Using a 2 (alcohol) × 2 (expectancy) balanced placebo research design, women were exposed to an audiotape date rape vignette and asked to press a button when the man’s sexual advances had gone to far. Upon pressing the button, the tape was stopped and participants were instructed to imagine themselves in the same situation and generate a response describing what they would say and/or do at that point. Results indicated that although alcohol and expectancy were not related to risk perception, individuals who consumed alcohol displayed significantly less resistant role play refusals. A significant interaction between expectancy set and pre-existing sex-related alcohol expectancies was observed indicating participants believing alcohol affects sexual behavior generated less resistant refusal responses when they expected to receive alcohol. Moreover, for those who expected to receive alcohol, stronger pre-existing sex-related alcohol expectancies predicted less resistant refusal responses over above the effects of blood alcohol level and general alcohol expectancies. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Intoxicated Consent in Rape: Bree and Juror Decision-Making

The article examines the recent Court of Appeal judgment in Bree, in which the court considered the guidance that should be given to a jury when the complainant is intoxicated at the time of an alleged rape. As well as analysing the reasoning of the court in Bree, the judgment is placed in context by examining factors, such as social attitudes, that influence juror decision-making in rape cases. It also examines the suggestion made by the court in Bree that further law reform in this area would represent 'patronising interference' in the lives of women.     

消解与证成:“婚内强奸”犯罪化的理性思考

学界对婚内强奸能否犯罪化分歧甚大,至今仍无定论。各种意见围绕婚内强奸犯罪化是否存在观念障碍和技术障碍展开。具体而言,夫妻家庭地位的道德评价构成婚内强奸犯罪化的观念障碍,实际操作所内含的风险以及婚内强奸有罪判决的社会效果构成了婚内强奸犯罪化的技术障碍。事实上,对夫妻家庭平等地位的强调能够消解其中的观念障碍,否认实际操作中的风险与犯罪化证成之间的关联性、明确婚内强奸非犯罪化者论据之间的矛盾性,亦能消除其中的技术障碍。在婚内强奸犯罪化路径的选择上,将婚内强奸涵摄于强奸罪并不存在规范上的障碍。     

强奸案件证据标准与证明方法的实证分析

强奸案件的证据采信问题在司法实践中颇受争议,出现这种现象的主要原因在于其直接证据的稀缺。针对强奸案件的证据收集和运用中所存在一系列的疑难情形,司法机关不必追求证据之间无任何矛盾,而要从全案证据出发,采取"自由心证"与"相互印证"相结合的证明方法,并运用对质制度,做到完整证据链条支持下的内心确认即可。     

婚内强奸的宪法学思考

婚内强奸问题曾引起社会各界包括法学界的广泛关注和激烈争论。婚内强奸的实质是宪法中的性权利和民法中的配偶权之间的权利冲突。具体案件中，委任法官通过宪法利益衡量的方法来判断婚内强奸中的罪与非罪，是解决婚内强奸的有效路径。     

强奸犯类型研究及其在侦查中的应用

强奸犯罪严重侵犯公民人身权利且犯罪黑数极高,加强其侦查研究十分必要。国外学者对强奸犯类型有详细的研究,按照美国联邦调查局行为科学组的强奸犯分类对各类型的人格特质和犯罪过程特点可作深入剖析,并在此基础上析出有关的侦查对策。通过理论的借鉴,以期对强奸案件侦查研究与实务有所助益。     

Determinants of completing rape and assault

Is rape unique in terms of the factors which transform an attempt into a completion? Or is rape similar to other forms of assaultive violence? These questions are addressed here by employing the National Crime Survey to develop models of attempted versus completed rape, assault on females, and assault on males. Logistic equations predicting each type of victimization are estimated and compared. The analysis shows that rape victimization is unique. Additionally, the differences between attempted versus completed rape and assault cannot be accounted for by the sex of the victim or the sex of the assailant. The implications of these findings for theories of rape and assault are discussed. The policy implications of these findings are briefly considered.     

Factors Associated With College Students’ Responses to Rape-Disclosure Scenarios: Influence of Gender,Rape Characteristics,and Opinions About Health Professionals

ABSTRACT

Few studies examine the role of friends in victims’ decisions to seek help from health professionals. This study used a sample of college students (N = 637) to examine the factors that may influence whether students would advise a friend to seek help from health professionals. After providing an open-ended response to a vignette, students answered a series of questions about formal support providers, attitudes toward women and rape victims, and their background. Findings suggest a gender divide on the advice given, and more students who responded to an acquaintance-rape scenario recommended that a victim contact health professionals in comparison to those whose scenario depicted an intimate partner rape. Implications are discussed, focusing on the role of friends and campus policy in minimizing the impacts of victimization.     

Sexual Assault Policies and Consent Definitions: A Nationally Representative Investigation of U.S. Colleges and Universities

ABSTRACT

Campus sexual assault (SA) policies and sexual consent definitions have not been widely studied. The study team conducted a nationally representative review of college and university websites (n = 995), assessing the prevalence of publicly accessible online policies and definitions and examining associations with school characteristics. A content analysis was performed on a subsample (n = 100) of consent definitions. Most schools (93.0%) had an SA policy and consent definition (87.6%) available online. Schools were more likely to have a policy or consent definition if they were large (≥5,000 students), public, or had a female enrollment of ≥33%. Detail and comprehensiveness of definitions varied. Findings highlight opportunities for schools—especially small schools, private schools, and those with more male students—to increase access to SA policies and consent definitions.     

A Rapid and Efficient Method for Evaluation of Suspect Testimony: Palynological Scanning

A rapid method for evaluating suspect testimony is valuable at any stage in an inquiry and can result in a change of direction in an investigation. Rape cases, in particular, can present problems where a defendant renders DNA analysis redundant by claiming that the claimant consented to have sexual relations. Forensic palynology is valuable in confirming or eliminating locations as being crime scenes, thus checking the testimony of both parties. In contrast to some forensic disciplines, forensic palynology can provide critical information without time-consuming full analysis. Two cases are described where the palynological assemblages from comparator samples of pertinent places were compared with those obtained from clothing of claimants and defendants. The results of rapid microscopical scanning of relevant preparations led to early confessions, thus obviating the need for costly analyses and protracted court proceedings. A third case demonstrates the unbiased nature of this technique where a man, although innocent of any offense, lied about having visited the crime scene for fear of prosecution. This highlights the need for sensitive policing in claims of rape.