Medical Exam and Police Outcomes in Sexual Assault Cases: Comparing Adolescent to Child and Adult Victims

• In Event: Factors Impacting the Reporting Victimization to Officials and their Outcomes

Abstract

Reporting sexual assault quickly may enable police to make a rapid arrest and medical examiner to recover biological evidence. But child, adolescent and adult victims are likely to differ on these outcomes because of differences in the type of assault and in the law, based on age of consent. However, no previous research has compared these age groups, and little research has examined age of consent. This research analyzed data on acute medical examination and crime laboratory findings and police actions for four victim age groups: ages 1 to 11, 12 to 15 (adolescents under the age of consent), 16 to 18, and 18 and older. Data for a statewide sample were merged from a medical provider database and crime laboratory and police files. Younger and older adolescents and adults had comparable rates of non-genital injuries; of exam findings of sperm, semen, blood and DNA match to suspect; and of having cases unfounded by police. These rates were all significantly higher than those for children. We will discuss the implications for victim services and criminal justice of both younger and older adolescents having similar outcomes as adults, even in police not pursuing the case.

Authors

• Ted Cross, University of Illinois

• Thaddeus Schmitt, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Megan Alderden, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

• Alexander Wagner, Fisher College