Premium Essay

Sexual Crime Victims

Submitted By
Words 1394
Pages 6
Sexual crime victims struggle with the obstacles faced after their assault, but the pressure of the media and the scrutiny of the public makes it that much harder to survive. Victims try their best to remain anonymous and get justice for themselves in the process. They must also defend themselves because most likely nobody else is going to do it for them. The media crushes the mental state of the victims they name, like Audrie and Daisy, while putting the livelihood of their family in peril. “Our society continues to condemn victims” of sexual assault and rape, and thus, an extraordinary amount of shame and silence follow the victim. which was the case for 15-year-old Audrie Pott (NAESV). Audrie went to a party with a friend, who later went …show more content…
She was a 14-year-old girl who went to a party drunk because a group of older guys wanted to hang out with her. When she and her friend went to the party they were separated and Daisy started to drink more. Her friend came back out of the room and noticed that whenever they opened the door her friend was in the other room completely incoherent. The guys dragged Daisy out to the car and drove the girls home. They told Paige (Daisy’s friend) to go inside and they will take care of Daisy. The next day, Daisy’s mom walked outside and found her in the yard with her hair frozen to the ground. Her mother found blood on her thigh, so she took her to the hospital to find out she was raped and close to “comatose and blood poison level” (Melinda Coleman). On Monday when her brother went to school he was known as “Daisy’s brother” and was alone at a table where his teammates and friends used to be (Charlie). She was verbally attacked with people calling her a liar and was told not to say anything because it could mess up her case. The prosecutor dropped the case against the two boys that assaulted her due to insufficient evidence. After the charges were dropped and they only received probation, the media got more involved and Daisy was cyber bullied on a national scale through tweets and comments on news reports. Daisy and her family were pariahs after the case and threatened with violence, vandalism, and …show more content…
Journalists not educated in criminology or social-psychology do not have the cognizance of what their reports may do to a victim that is already distressed and emotive. Most of us can’t even imagine what victims of rape or sexual assault go through, so the only people that can tell their story or even understand it should be themselves or someone else who has gone through the same or similar

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Death Penaltyy and Its Deterrent Effect

...uncivilized.  France and Germany have completely done away with death penalty and reported lesser crime rates.  Many studys' conducted in US and some other countries where death penalty is still in force have proved that, it doesn';t have a deterrent effect on crime rate and more than death penalty, it's rigorous imprisonment for life that has more deterrent effect than death penalty. Incarceration for life proved to be  more effective in preventing repetition of the same or other crimes by the same convicts than that of death penalty.  In countries, where death penalty has been abolished less crime rates have been reported.                                       Apart from incarceration for life, solitary confinement and shaming the person through social boycott etc are other options. For crimes of rape and acid attacks also, incarceration for life and the above two suggested alternatives could be considered as viable alternatives to death penalty in addition to confiscating the entire property of the criminal and paying it as compensation to their victims.                              Educating the guilty regarding the barbaric and heinous nature of their crimes and making them feel ashamed for their crimes and their crimes' lethal and traumatic impact on the  minds, limbs and lives of their victims  through reformist approach and making them truly repentant for the heinous crimes...

Words: 1682 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Human Trafficking: Sexual Slavery

...Human Trafficking: Sexual Slavery Liberty University Abstract Human trafficking is a crime against humanity where the value of human life is determined by another. Humans should not be kidnapped, captured, sold, and treated as commodities; the value of a life is set by God and not man. When man decides to place value on another human they are essentially becoming the judge of jury for the victim. The victim is normally kidnapped or part of a large scheme to capture people for the sale of services. The victim may have a future dream or goal in mind, but the criminals that have taken ownership of them, only plans to use them until their value has become extinct. Sexual slavery is the selling of humans for the pleasure of others not for the income of the victim, but for the income of the owner. Essentially sexual slaves are owned and the debt to retire from the practice is so overwhelming there is little hope of ever achieving a paid in full status. Slavery of any status is illegal and a violation of human dignity that places little to no value on the slave. Keywords: Sexual slavery, Human Trafficking, Human value, Slavery Human Trafficking: Sexual Slavery The crime of Human Trafficking is a world-wide crime that involves men, women and children. It is a crime that forces individuals into a life of slavery without chance of parole or completion. Humans should not be kidnapped, captured, sold, and treated as commodities. All human life has value and that price is set by...

Words: 3731 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

Sex Offenders

...Supervision of Sex Offenders Sex offenders are a highly diverse group of people, but all are individuals who have at least one of the following crimes in common: have committed violent sexual assault on a stranger, have had inappropriate sexual contact with a family member, have molested a child or any other inappropriate and criminal sexual behavior. What constitutes a sex crime differs by culture and legal jurisdiction. The majority of convicted sex offenders have convictions for crimes of a sexual nature. Some of the crimes which usually result in a mandatory sex-offender classification are sexual assault, statutory rape, rape, sexual harassment, prostitution, and pedophilia. Currently, in the United States there are a total of 722, 499 individuals who are registered sex offenders, some of these individuals being juveniles. However, this number does not include offenses that have not been reported. Research shows that a lot of cases go unreported which can deem inaccurate numbers regarding the amount of sex offenders. Victims of sexual offenses often feel a plethora of negative feelings following the crime, including guilt, and this can account for some of the underreporting. There are subcategory designations sex offenders can fall into that classify them into levels depending on the severity of the crime. They are then registered and put under special conditions they must abide by for a fixed amount of years. When convicted of a registerable...

Words: 1882 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Sex Offender

...television for committing a sexual assault on a minor. This same person grew up with my nephew Tory. Throughout the years, growing up this person became a problem with the law from teenage to adult years. He has been charge with several crimes. You would think having to be incarcerated for more than five years at a time one will learn what is best for them. However, it is hard to know what one goes through in their mind. It could have been something he has witness or even went through as a child. One thing for sure is we know he has a problem with society A sex offender (also sexual offender, sex abuser, or sexual abuser) is a person who committed a sex crime, although what constitutes a sex crime differs by culture and by legal jurisdiction. In most jurisdictions, offenses include child sexual abuse, downloading child pornography, rape, and statutory rape. In much of the United States, public urination, mooning, streaking, and the failure to prevent one's own teenage children from engaging in otherwise consensual sexual activity also, result being designated as a sex offender, requiring registration as such in publicly available, online lists. The term sexual predator is often used to describe severe or repeat sex offenders. Rape is a crime of violence in which sex is the weapon. Among violent sexual offenders, often the only logic to their crimes is internal to the criminal; they alone know why they committed their crimes. The sexual component of a crime is not always self-evident...

Words: 1379 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Gay Rights

...Research Study #1: Victim experiences in hate crimes based on sexual orientation By: Herek, Gregory M., Cogan, Jeanine C., Gillis, J. Roy2 Universities Affiliated: University of California, Davis., University of Toronto Abstract: Using interview data from a convenience sample of 450 lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults, the varieties of victim experiences in hate crimes based on sexual orientation are described. Most crimes were perpetrated in public settings by one or more strangers, but victimization also occurred in other locales, and perpetrators included neighbors, coworkers, and relatives. In deciding whether a crime was based on their sexual orientation, victims tended to rely primarily on contextual cues and perpetrators’ explicit statements. Victims’ concerns about police bias and public disclosure of their sexual orientation were important factors in deciding whether to report antigay crimes, as were beliefs about the crime’s severity and the likelihood that perpetrators would be punished. Reflection: The method used in this research study is the interview method. They collected a sample size of 450 willing volunteers (224 men: 204 gay, 20 bisexual and 226 women: 202 lesbian, 24 bisexual). They all were asked to describe their experiences with hate crimes and there was a split between people who knew for sure they were attacked by biased views and those who knew their attacker did not have any biased views against them. Many volunteers felt they were most likely...

Words: 3514 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Intro to Victimology

...real life victims. Second, this paper will discuss how victimology is different from criminology, sociology and psychology. This paper will also discuss hate crimes, the first safe house for battered women, children’s rights groups. Finally, this paper will also discuss organizations that provide advocacy for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and homicides. Introduction to Victimology Victimology is the study of victims of crime and the interactions between the victim and the perpetrator (victimology, 2006). Victimology is to investigate the victims role in the commission of crimes and sometimes the psychological effect those crimes have on the victims (victimology, 2007). Today’s criminal justice system is a fairly new appearance, in the middle ages victims themselves were responsible for dealing with criminals on their own as there were no authorities to enforce the law. Murder has always been unacceptable behavior, but it was always up to the victims or their survivors to determine the course of action to be taken against the person committing the crime. In 2200 B.C.E. was when Law of Moses, the Code of Hammurabi and Roman law all consisted of elements to individual responsibility for harms committed against others (Doerner & Lab, 2008). It was until the 1940’s that the criminal justice system decided to not only focus their time in trying to understand the criminal activity and criminal behavior but to focus on the victim and possibly...

Words: 1553 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Sexual Assault

...The assault crime of rape can be applied to many types of sexual attacks. Some of the more common types are forcible rape, acquaintance (date) rape and statutory rape. Statistics show that more than half of the victims in these cases were acquainted with their attacker. Sadly, an estimated one out of four forcible rape crimes is actually reported to police making it the least reported of all violent offenses. Forcible rape as defined in the FBI’s UCR Program is the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Attempts or assaults to commit rape by force or threat of force are also included (http://www.fbi.gov). The rapes reported under this program are always females and sexual attacks on males are counted as aggravated assaults or sex offenses. Forcible rape is often a planned crime and is more frequently committed by a man the victim knows. A victim may be held captive and repeatedly assaulted or it may be a single act. A rapist will feel the need for personal fulfillment and dominance. As a result of this, victims are violated, humiliated and battered physically which leaves them with feelings of helplessness, vulnerability and a lack of control over their personal lives. There are three elements to the crime of rape: carnal knowledge (penetration); forcible submission; and, lack of consent. Penetration is an essential element of rape and means that the male sexual organ entered the female sexual organ. Courts have held that even the slightest...

Words: 868 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Hate Crimes in America

...Hate Crimes in America May 18, 2014 COM/156 Instructor Kristin Bradley Hate Crimes in America Knowing how the criminal justice system deals with hate crimes can be determine if the history of these crimes is explained and we learn who are now targeted by these crimes. Hate crimes has been a part of the American culture for decades. Hatred and prejudice crimes including lynching, burning crosses, synagogues vandalism, killing, and other crimes committing against a group of people because of their race, religion, handicap, sexual preference, or beliefs are consider hate crimes. This paper will explain to readers the background history of these types of crimes, different types of hate crimes committed in America, targeted victims, and provide hate crime statistics. It will also explain the affects of hate crimes and the laws designed to protect citizens from these harsh crimes. History of Hate Crimes Hate crimes can be defined as any type of wrong doing towards a certain group of people based on ethnics, age, sexual preference, gender, and religious belief (Shively, 2005). Hate crimes are dated back to ancient civilizations when the religious groups Christians were persecuted by the Roman Emperor in 64 AD (The Federal Bureau of Investigation, n.d.). Other hate crimes in the past that affected the entire world were that of the Nazi persecuting the Jews by the order of Adolf Hilter. There are several cases of hate crimes included in the history of the United States...

Words: 1693 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

A Crime Gone Unreported

...A Crime Gone Unreported There are a large number of unreported rapes in the United States. “63% of completed rapes, 65% of attempted rapes, and 74% of completed and attempted sexual assaults against females were not reported to the police” between 1992 and 2000 (Rennison, 2002). The fear of retaliation, the fear of embarrassment, and the thought that telling anyone would not help are the most prevalent reasons why victims do not reach out. Rape is the act of sexual intercourse with another individual without their consent, with force or the threat of some kind of harm. Rape, which is also known as sexual assault in some jurisdictions, is underreported and under prosecuted. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) which uses statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey, ”every 2 minutes someone in the United States is sexually assaulted and each year there are about 213,000 victims of sexual assault” ("How often does," 2009). As previously stated, 63% of completed rapes against females were not reported to the police. The reasons differ for every man or woman that has been faced with this situation, but what I see to be the most reoccurring reasons are personal reasons and those that include embarrassment, the fear of retaliation, and the thought that if they did report the crime they would have to endure the courts and police procedures. In other countries, a women who is raped can be exiled out of their family...

Words: 1787 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Child Sexual Abuse In The United States

...Sexual abuse in children is a horrible crime that most children never recover from. Our prison system and mental health facilities are crowed with many individuals who have experienced sexual abuse at some point in their lives. In the United States, 3,000,000 cases of child abuse are reported annually. In children, one out of every three girls, and one out of every five boys will be sexually abused by the time they reach the age of eighteen. Many incidents of sexual abuse go unreported. The victims of sexual abuse, because of their young age, threats made by the perpetrator, or shame, never report the abuse. The number of cases not reported could be as much or more than ten times the amount that are reported. Even those who...

Words: 1887 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Victims Rights and Vengeance

...Victims’ Rights and Vengeance My personal stance on the current state of victims’ right in America is that even though rules have been changed in different states to protect the victims’ right there are still some things that need to be improved to help their safety. More should be done to help improve the safety of victims’ and their families from harm. There are so many victims that are unable to voice their words on things they see because they are afraid of something happening to them or their family. I do believe that the 2004 Crime Victims’ Right Acts has been successful because if it was not for Victims’ Right Acts, the victim and family would suffer greatly and victimizing will continue. The right to be reasonably protected from the accused, the right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused has helped victims since 2004 (Justice,2013). In my opinion it is not good to try to get revenge on someone because it can come back and hunt you or hurt you. When someone tries to get revenge back, that person is just as bad as the person who did harm first. Now, when it comes to children being harm by someone it is very hard not to react against the suspect with revenge because you want to see that person pay. Depending on your actions can cause the suspect to get acquitted or cause harm to the family. I do agree with the actions of Survivors Network of those...

Words: 866 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Sociology

...19, 2013 Abstract This paper will talk about the profile of a typical individual that creates hate crimes. It will also give some targets and victims of these hate crimes. It will talk about causes and effects of these hate crimes, and the actions that can be taken to minimize the occurrence of hate crimes. Usually hate crimes are committed by young juvenile men between the ages of 16-25. Most hate crimes are committed by organized groups, but some are committed by individuals (articlesfactory.com/articles/writing/hate-crimes-are-a-tragic-part-of-american-history.html). Hate crime perpetrators are usually prejudiced when it comes to someone’s race, sexual orientation, religion preference, etc... When I think of people that commit hate crimes I think of someone that narrow-minded or full of hatred. There are usually two main types of perpetrators. The first one is people that are under the influence of alcohol, drugs that like to do things for the thrill of it. People that hatred and anger built up things of this nature can manifest and strike up it can lead to a hate crime. The second type is people who are mission motivated ones that are on a mission to rid the world of minorities. These people are also ones that take special instructions and are committed to well thought out organized hate crimes. In both of these situations or in any hate crime the perpetrators usually lack any kind of empathy or respect for others. Generally in their minds they feel that...

Words: 1365 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Misconceptions About Rape

...strengthening our views on victim blaming. Without the confrontation of these misconceptions, rape will always be looked at as a victim issue with excuses geared towards the victims wrong-doings. Until we dissect these myths, rape will never be viewed as egregious as other violent crimes in our country. Some of these misconceptions and myths are as follows: 1. The basis of rape consists of "intense sexual desire". In reality, rape is an incredibly violent act perpetrated upon a victim. Its intent is to "express...

Words: 1013 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Crime Story Analysis

...Homicide Crime Story Analysis – The Tattoo Man Course Code: SOC*2760 Course Name: Homicide Number of Pages (not including title page and references): 5 Peter John Peters is one of Canada’s most dangerous fugitives. Peter was given the name the Tattoo Man because of his numerous tattoos and his affinity to showing them off. Peters murdered a 25 year old woman named Charlene Brittain and left her in his basement apartment naked with a plastic bag over her head. Thus triggered the beginning of his five-day crime spree. Peters then fled to Toronto where he beat a 63 year old man named Albert Philip and stole his station wagon in order to escape. Philips later died in the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery. He then took hostage a young woman named Sandie Bellows and used her car to escape with her. He threatened and proceeded to rape, beat and stab the young woman until a retired police officer noticed what was going on and intervened. Peters escaped and went on to break into an elderly woman’s home and threatened her into providing him with a vehicle. He then held up a local bank in Paris, Ontario. Peters continues to attempt to take more hostages, break into homes and steal more vehicles in order to escape. Finally on the fifth day Peters was caught by the police and surrendered when he realized he was outnumbered. The crimes committed by Peter John Peters were accurately represented in accordance to the course material by the documentary “Crime Stories: The Tattoo...

Words: 1546 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Childhood Maltreatment To Delinquency

...theories of crime. One variable in particular, the sexual maltreatment of young girls, could in fact be a major factor of female offending in adulthood. A study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics in 1999 found that female offenders are abused more frequently than male offenders. While only...

Words: 908 - Pages: 4