modest mouse
Meating People is Easy
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2001
- Posts
- 8,363
Rarely it comes out after an investigation that an allegation of rape or sexual abuse has been fabricated or misplaced and the wrong person has been accused. Certainly this is a realtively uncommon occurence when comparing it to the number of sexual assaults perpetrated each year, but the consequences to the accuse are severe and almost never entirely forgotten.
Several years ago, a janitor at a nearby elementary school was accused of sexually abusing a young girl that had, on occasion, helped him out at the school. She was a 'toubled' girl and had bopnded with the manin some way, lending him a hand with this or that as kids in her position sometimes do. I'm unaware of all the circumstances, but it became known that he was on charges for abusing the girl after allegations were made public.
There was no definitive proof of anything but as a result of the allegations he was 'forced' to leave the state and relocate to New York. While no charges were brought, the punishment for him was serious, though obviously nothing compared to what may have happened to the young girl.
Approximately two years later, some of the mystery surrounding the entire situation surfaced. Again, the entire story is not know but it appeared that this young girl had been abused by a family memeber over a number of years and, in fact, the abuse was on going. Thoughts that she had projected this abuse onto the janitor were common and in teh end she received tremendous amounts of counseling. The poor girl had gone through so much but I cannot help but wonder what the janitor had endured as well.
In a case such as this or more specifically, when a person is wrongfully accused of sexual abuse on a minor; what should be done after the fact to 'clear' the person's name? With a child, the main focus is on treatment and trying to stop further abuse, but certainly something should be done to rectify what can be a debilitating strike against someone's character.
In cases of 'date rape', a clear view of what occured is the exception. Typically its some version of he-said/she-said, with varying degrees of background provided by those who may have seent he pair together before or after the incident. Most cases go unreported which is disturbing but more bothersome is that the victims are not seeking help for what is a violation, perceived or 'legally rape'.
I'd agree that the vast majority of accusations have merit and indicate a serious incident has taken place. The issue is not whether sex took place but rather the intentions and willignness of the parties. Most cases are resolved with either no charges due to vagueness or inconsistencies or charges are brought and a conviction follows.
What happens in those cases when accusations are made and even charges are brought but no conviction follows or the case is 'dropped' later due to a change of statement, etc? usually it seems the cloud continues to hang over the accused and almost never is there a sense that this person may have been as victimized as the accusser. Again, serious damage to oneself can and does happen with no way to answer the allegations without attackign the victim. Should there be some form of communication available to the accused after such allegations have either been dismissed or proven false?
In cases of Sexual Assault (Rape), the answers are often clear and the issue is finding the attacker and assisting the victim with all that follows a rape. False allegations are much less common in such circumstances but do happen.
To use one exapmle of a public figure: Michael Irvin (World Class asshole and former Dallas Cowboy) was accused some years ago of raping a woman. His history of drug abuse and frequent visitation with prostitutes did not help his statement that he was innocent. In fact he was hammered in the media. Granted, he came off as an arrogant prick, but thats who he is.
The details are not fresh in my memory but shortly agter (a week maybe) it came out that the accuser had fabricated her story, entirely. No sexual contact had taken place in any form. This revelation was quiet compared to the coverage when he appeared to be a rapist.
His statements to the media following the revelation of his innocence were angry and frustrated. He had few recourses when in truth he had been victimized by this woman.
What options should he have once his onnocence was know? Besides civil action should criminal charges be brought against the accuser? How can he truly erase doubt once the accusations became public?
In no way am I discounting the horrible aftermath or sexual assault/abuse but some recogniton of both sides must be made. A 'default' guilt may be inescapable but its harm to innocent people cannot be discounted. The burden of being falsely accused must weigh heavy and in so many instances the doubt remains forever.
Perhaps the worst result of a false accusation is the insult it poses to victims who are brave enough to come forward.
Several years ago, a janitor at a nearby elementary school was accused of sexually abusing a young girl that had, on occasion, helped him out at the school. She was a 'toubled' girl and had bopnded with the manin some way, lending him a hand with this or that as kids in her position sometimes do. I'm unaware of all the circumstances, but it became known that he was on charges for abusing the girl after allegations were made public.
There was no definitive proof of anything but as a result of the allegations he was 'forced' to leave the state and relocate to New York. While no charges were brought, the punishment for him was serious, though obviously nothing compared to what may have happened to the young girl.
Approximately two years later, some of the mystery surrounding the entire situation surfaced. Again, the entire story is not know but it appeared that this young girl had been abused by a family memeber over a number of years and, in fact, the abuse was on going. Thoughts that she had projected this abuse onto the janitor were common and in teh end she received tremendous amounts of counseling. The poor girl had gone through so much but I cannot help but wonder what the janitor had endured as well.
In a case such as this or more specifically, when a person is wrongfully accused of sexual abuse on a minor; what should be done after the fact to 'clear' the person's name? With a child, the main focus is on treatment and trying to stop further abuse, but certainly something should be done to rectify what can be a debilitating strike against someone's character.
In cases of 'date rape', a clear view of what occured is the exception. Typically its some version of he-said/she-said, with varying degrees of background provided by those who may have seent he pair together before or after the incident. Most cases go unreported which is disturbing but more bothersome is that the victims are not seeking help for what is a violation, perceived or 'legally rape'.
I'd agree that the vast majority of accusations have merit and indicate a serious incident has taken place. The issue is not whether sex took place but rather the intentions and willignness of the parties. Most cases are resolved with either no charges due to vagueness or inconsistencies or charges are brought and a conviction follows.
What happens in those cases when accusations are made and even charges are brought but no conviction follows or the case is 'dropped' later due to a change of statement, etc? usually it seems the cloud continues to hang over the accused and almost never is there a sense that this person may have been as victimized as the accusser. Again, serious damage to oneself can and does happen with no way to answer the allegations without attackign the victim. Should there be some form of communication available to the accused after such allegations have either been dismissed or proven false?
In cases of Sexual Assault (Rape), the answers are often clear and the issue is finding the attacker and assisting the victim with all that follows a rape. False allegations are much less common in such circumstances but do happen.
To use one exapmle of a public figure: Michael Irvin (World Class asshole and former Dallas Cowboy) was accused some years ago of raping a woman. His history of drug abuse and frequent visitation with prostitutes did not help his statement that he was innocent. In fact he was hammered in the media. Granted, he came off as an arrogant prick, but thats who he is.
The details are not fresh in my memory but shortly agter (a week maybe) it came out that the accuser had fabricated her story, entirely. No sexual contact had taken place in any form. This revelation was quiet compared to the coverage when he appeared to be a rapist.
His statements to the media following the revelation of his innocence were angry and frustrated. He had few recourses when in truth he had been victimized by this woman.
What options should he have once his onnocence was know? Besides civil action should criminal charges be brought against the accuser? How can he truly erase doubt once the accusations became public?
In no way am I discounting the horrible aftermath or sexual assault/abuse but some recogniton of both sides must be made. A 'default' guilt may be inescapable but its harm to innocent people cannot be discounted. The burden of being falsely accused must weigh heavy and in so many instances the doubt remains forever.
Perhaps the worst result of a false accusation is the insult it poses to victims who are brave enough to come forward.
