Consent, Coercion, Cooperation, and Credibility: An Examination Of Police Referrals For Prosecution In Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse Of A Minor Cases

• In Event: Factors Influencing Interpersonal Violence and the Criminal Justice Response in Tribal Communities

Abstract

Using a sample of more than 1,000 sexual assault (SA) and sexual abuse of a minor (SAM) case records closed by the Alaska State Troopers, this study examines the factors that influenced police decisions to refer cases for prosecution. Of particular interest in this study were the effects of four factors on police referrals: consent, coercion, cooperation, and credibility. In addition, the study explored the impact of geographic isolation and paraprofessional police who are often called upon to respond to SA and SAM incidents in Alaska’s tribal communities have on Trooper referral decisions. Separate analyses were conducted for SA and SAM cases in order to identify potential differences in the factors that effect police referral decisions for these to distinct type of offenses. Results from this study will be presented and implications of the findings discussed.

Author

• Brad A. Myrstol, University of Alaska Anchorage