Unfounded Sexual Assault: The Voices of Survivors

• In Event: Sexual assault disclosure: The voices of survivors and police officers

Abstract

Statistics on sexual assault are staggering from a global perspective, and 1 in 3 Canadian women experience sexual assault in their lifetime. However, sexual assault is considered the most under-reported crime to law enforcement. Among those who do report, many experience a negative disclosure experience, including blame and disbelief by the police. Police officers have often been deemed “gatekeepers” to justice; however, one in five reported sexual assaults are deemed false or baseless and therefore coded as "unfounded.” The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of women who have had their sexual assault deemed unfounded by the police. Descriptive phenomenology was used to explore the first-hand accounts of women’s experiences with the police when their sexual assault was disbelieved. Through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with twenty-three sexual assault survivors, the research represents a first step towards filling knowledge gaps regarding women’s experience when their reports are disbelieved by the institutions designed to protect them. The research team uncovered four salient themes representing survivors’ experiences, including a) vulnerability, b) drug and alcohol use during the assault, c) police insensitivity, and d) police process. Direct quotes from survivors will be presented throughout the presentation to demonstrate the themes. Survivors of sexual assault faced insensitivity, blame, lack of investigation, and lack of follow-up from the police. This resulted in further trauma and revictimization, numerous adverse health and social outcomes, mistrust of the police, and increased vulnerability to future violence. The research informs discussions among service providers in mental health, law enforcement, and health sectors to develop strategies to provide enhanced support to survivors following sexual victimization.

Authors

• Jodie Murphy-Oikonen, Lakehead University

• Ainsley Miller, Lakehead University

• Lori Chambers, Lakehead University

• Karen McQueen, Lakehead University