Story Research

[fieryjen]

I have a question about rape, and its aftermath. More specifically -

What is the first thing the police will do once they encounter the victim? If the rapist is known and there were witnesses to the crime, will they still take a DNA sample? Will they take pictures of injuries? What's the general procedure?

I don't want to take this lightly, and I want the portrayal of this to be accurate, so any help is very much appreciated. Thanks

 

[jomar]

Can't help specifically, but you might try googling the topic. Some links might take you to police procedure. Good luck.

 

[Vermilion]

I have a question about rape, and its aftermath. More specifically -

What is the first thing the police will do once they encounter the victim? If the rapist is known and there were witnesses to the crime, will they still take a DNA sample? Will they take pictures of injuries? What's the general procedure?

I don't want to take this lightly, and I want the portrayal of this to be accurate, so any help is very much appreciated. Thanks

DISCLAIMER- I am not in any way trained to answer this.

But...
Having watched countless episodes of CSI, The Bill etc... then generally, should the victim want to go ahead and press charges then they will have them undress whilst standing on a sheet, take scrapings from under nails, pubic combings, swabs (vaginal, oral, maybe anal?) and urine (esp. if there;s a suggestion of date rape drugs).

I should imagine that all this would be standard procedure no matter whether she knew the rapist or not, since they would still require forensic evidence.

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[Vermilion]

This page might help

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ps- couldn't find any good US ones...

 

[oggbashan]

Location?

It depends on the country and also in the US I suspect that different states have different procedures.

In the UK there would be a more systematic procedure in the larger cities and the facilities would be less available in rural areas and smaller towns. Rape suites are supposed to be used, but they are few and far between.

Og

 

[fieryjen]

Thank you both very much. Vermillion, that page looks exactly like what I'm looking for - I probably didn't use the right search terms.

Thanks so much

 

[fieryjen]

It depends on the country and also in the US I suspect that different states have different procedures.

In the UK there would be a more systematic procedure in the larger cities and the facilities would be less available in rural areas and smaller towns. Rape suites are supposed to be used, but they are few and far between.

Og

Thank you Og. The story does take place in the US - I don't have the location specified though, so I have some freedom with that.

What exactly is a rape suite? I haven't heard of that.

 

[Vermilion]

Thank you Og. The story does take place in the US - I don't have the location specified though, so I have some freedom with that.

What exactly is a rape suite? I haven't heard of that.

Basically a branch of the police specifically trained and set up to help rape victims. Is much more homey and comfortable looking I believe with sofas and curtains etc to try and make things comfortable for the victims. That site should clarify it more...
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[oggbashan]

Thank you Og. The story does take place in the US - I don't have the location specified though, so I have some freedom with that.

What exactly is a rape suite? I haven't heard of that.

See Vermilion's link...

It is a room or rooms attached to a Police Station that is specifically used for the reception and examination of rape victims. It is intended to be a safe place that is removed from the usual Police activities.

Og

 

[Vermilion]

Wikipedia has a good bibliography if you want to read up some more...
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[fieryjen]

Wikipedia has a good bibliography if you want to read up some more...
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That's a good idea as well. Once again, thanks very much for your help

 

[Vermilion]

That's a good idea as well. Once again, thanks very much for your help

No probs honey. Research is something I'm good at - and it was so nice to look for something *not* on modern art for once.

I can't wait to go nuts in the Uni library when I've finished coursework research. <rubs hands in glee as she thinks of the Eng. Lit. and Sociology shelves>
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[elfin_odalisque]

Thank you Og. The story does take place in the US - I don't have the location specified though, so I have some freedom with that.

What exactly is a rape suite? I haven't heard of that.

From the little I know, I believe that in the UK the police are much more 'customer friendly' (for want of a better term) than in the US. Procedures, evidence gathering and treatment of victims is more clinical and detached here - even in the most liberal jurisdictions a certain reserve is kept.

Also, there is a deal of difference in how the cops treat date rape or stranger rape - both official procedure and personal prejudice. Sad but true, a middle class female lawyer attacked walking home at night gets treated a whole lot differently than a mini-skirted eighteen-year-old who got assaulted at a keg party.

 

[floweringquince]

Try Googling "Rape Victim Assistance" for your state.

As I understand, what generally happens in most states in the US is something like:

The police show up. These are the patrol officers, whoever was closest to take the call.

If the local police have officers specially trained to deal with sexual assault, the patrol officers will call them in.

The police take the victim to the hospital for evaluation, treatment of any physical injuries and the forensic "rape exam." A police officer will stay nearby throughout the hospital visit.
(The forensic evidence may be *more* important if the victim knows the (alleged) rapist, especially if the relationship had not previously been sexual.)

The rape exam can feel very invasive and humiliating:
- the victim stands on a sheet to remove her clothes, as said before.
- any cuts, bruises or other marks left by the rapist are photgraphed.
- fingernails scrapings are taken.
- the victim's scalp hair is combed for any of the rapist's hair, or fibers from his clothing.
- pubic hair is combed for the rapist's pubic hair, or fibers from his clothing.
- swabs are taken from where the victim reports that penetration took place: the mouth, vagina and/or anus.
- the areas of reported penetration are photographed to document any injury.

There may also be other parts of the rape exam that I am forgetting.

The police usually "work in" between parts of the rape exam to ask detailed questions about every aspect of the rape. To the victim, this can amount to reliving the experience.

It is only after the rape exam is complete that the victim is allowed to shower, or if she has reported forced fellatio, even to rinse her mouth. Her clothing is generally kept as evidence, and she is given scrubs to wear (in some areas, victim advocacy groups provide sweats).

In some (but not many) places, victim advocacy groups may provide a rape counselor, who meets the victim at the hospital and stays with her to provide information, offer moral support, and just be there throughout. The counseler will usually also drive the victim home (or, if the rape occurred in the home, to a safe place).


Going through all of the above would be difficult for me on my best day, let alone immediately after being brutalized and terrified by a rape. Many victims are eager to press charges until they find out what the rape exam involves, but then decline to go throught with it.

(Many victims also drop charges during the complex, repetitious and excruciatingly slow legal process as well.)


Hope this helps.

- Quince

 

[floweringquince]

Oh, a PS:

You might see if you can find the movie "The Accused" with Jodie Foster. It has a very realistic portrayal of the police response and medical exam following a rape.
(It also realistically portrays the rape itself and the prosecution afterwards. It's not for children, or anyone with a weak stomach.)

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that determine the "standard procedure" in a rape case.

In the tri-county area (Multnomah, Washington and Clacamas) the book says:
1. Hand the victim over to a female rape advocate/officer
2. Do vaginal, oral and possibly anal swabs for sperm and DNA
3. The forensics team will do examinations of her body, hair, fingernails, etc.
4. Photos are taken to show any injuries
5. Tests are done for HIV, VD, etc.
6 The attending physician fills out an incident report saying she was raped, any injuries and any other pertinant observations. (HIV Positive? :ee: )

This all sounds good, but it's not always done. It's commonly NOT done on black women. (Kind of prejudic ) It's never done if the rape occured 24 hours prior to being reported. Also, the procedures are almost never done if the victim is a known prostitute, street person, homeless or such.

In other counties in this state, there are basically no standard procedures at all, except in Marion County, which is the state capital.

 

[CharleyH]

Wikipedia has a good bibliography if you want to read up some more...
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Wikipedia is not reliable ... may I suggest going to your local police station and asking for an interview with police who deal with rape and also asking their procedure? It may be a different POV from the victim.

Much luck.

 

[fieryjen]

From the little I know, I believe that in the UK the police are much more 'customer friendly' (for want of a better term) than in the US. Procedures, evidence gathering and treatment of victims is more clinical and detached here - even in the most liberal jurisdictions a certain reserve is kept.

Also, there is a deal of difference in how the cops treat date rape or stranger rape - both official procedure and personal prejudice. Sad but true, a middle class female lawyer attacked walking home at night gets treated a whole lot differently than a mini-skirted eighteen-year-old who got assaulted at a keg party.

Thank you as well. I'll definitely keep that in mind, and I appreciate the input

 

[fieryjen]

Oh, a PS:

You might see if you can find the movie "The Accused" with Jodie Foster. It has a very realistic portrayal of the police response and medical exam following a rape.
(It also realistically portrays the rape itself and the prosecution afterwards. It's not for children, or anyone with a weak stomach.)

FQ - thank you so much for your detailled list, and for the movie recommendation.

 

[fieryjen]

Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that determine the "standard procedure" in a rape case.

In the tri-county area (Multnomah, Washington and Clacamas) the book says:
1. Hand the victim over to a female rape advocate/officer
2. Do vaginal, oral and possibly anal swabs for sperm and DNA
3. The forensics team will do examinations of her body, hair, fingernails, etc.
4. Photos are taken to show any injuries
5. Tests are done for HIV, VD, etc.
6 The attending physician fills out an incident report saying she was raped, any injuries and any other pertinant observations. (HIV Positive? :ee: )

This all sounds good, but it's not always done. It's commonly NOT done on black women. (Kind of prejudic ) It's never done if the rape occured 24 hours prior to being reported. Also, the procedures are almost never done if the victim is a known prostitute, street person, homeless or such.

In other counties in this state, there are basically no standard procedures at all, except in Marion County, which is the state capital.

Thanks Jenny. This is really good information, not just to write a story, but to know in general. I appreciate the input

 

[fieryjen]

Wikipedia is not reliable ... may I suggest going to your local police station and asking for an interview with police who deal with rape and also asking their procedure? It may be a different POV from the victim.

Much luck.

That's a good point also. I just moved, and I noticed I don't even know where the nearest police station is. I should find out. Thank you for that idea - I honestly didn't think of it.

Also, I think V didn't mean the actual Wikipedia article, but the listed sources there for me to look at. Some of them are very good.

 

[oggbashan]

It is a room or rooms attached to a Police Station that is specifically used for the reception and examination of rape victims. It is intended to be a safe place that is removed from the usual Police activities.

Og

Quoting myself? Is that one of the signs of madness?

Our local paper reported today that the local police have opened a new rape suite this week.

It can be used by anyone who considers they have been raped without the need to make a decision on whether to press charges against the alleged rapist. The staff will counsel the victim, as well as collect the evidence. If the victim decides NOT to make a complaint, the evidence will eventually be destroyed with the victim's consent.

The reason given is that the victim often doesn't know whether to claim rape or not, and/or is too distressed (and/or possibly confused by alcohol and drugs) to make a decision at the time but if the evidence collection is delayed a subsequent complaint might fail.

Og

 

[fieryjen]

Quoting myself? Is that one of the signs of madness?

Our local paper reported today that the local police have opened a new rape suite this week.

It can be used by anyone who considers they have been raped without the need to make a decision on whether to press charges against the alleged rapist. The staff will counsel the victim, as well as collect the evidence. If the victim decides NOT to make a complaint, the evidence will eventually be destroyed with the victim's consent.

The reason given is that the victim often doesn't know whether to claim rape or not, and/or is too distressed (and/or possibly confused by alcohol and drugs) to make a decision at the time but if the evidence collection is delayed a subsequent complaint might fail.

Og

I must be mad too then, because I'm sure I've done it.

I think that's a very good idea. It may help a lot if someone is not reporting the crime because they are afraid they will have to go through with the trial, and everything that comes with it. If they can make the decision about this later, possibly when the shock has worn off and they have more support, then at least the evidence is there and it is still their decision to make. (I hope I made sense.)

 

[floweringquince]

There are some places in the US where they have that sort of policy. There are also many places where they don't.

The more upscale, white, and socially progressive the community, the better off rape victims tend to be. (And as has been noted, it helps for the victim to be upscale and white, too.)

 

[fieryjen]

There are some places in the US where they have that sort of policy. There are also many places where they don't.

The more upscale, white, and socially progressive the community, the better off rape victims tend to be. (And as has been noted, it helps for the victim to be upscale and white, too.)

That's what I like about not specifying where exactly my story takes place. While I do want the treatment of my character to be reasonable and realistic, I have some freedom about it as well.

She's a white, lower to middle class high school student (but obviously 18).