Quality Interactions and Positive Outcomes: Exploring the Potential for Procedural Justice in Sexual Assault Investigations

• In Event: Crime Victims and the Police

Abstract

Sexual assault victims are often deterred from reporting due to fear of mistreatment by the legal system, most notably the police (Campbell, 2006, 2008). For those who report to police, most cite negative experiences during the reporting and investigation process (Filipas & Ullman, 2001), which may negatively impact post-assault adjustment (Campbell, 2005) and reduce willingness to provide information during the investigation (Patterson, 2011). Yet, procedural justice in sexual assault investigations has not been wholly examined as an option to improve police-victim interactions, victim reporting experiences, and investigational quality. The present study uses a mixed methods research design in a community sample of sexual assault victims to identify whether interactions rooted in a procedural justice policing style result in more positive outcomes for victims. Specifically, this study explores victims’ experiences reporting to police and how these experiences relate to satisfaction with the reporting process, recovery, investigational participation, and views of police.

Author

• Katherine Lorenz, University of Illinois at Chicago