Citation

Jordan J. Public Admin. 2008; 86(3): 699-719.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Royal Institute of Public Administration)

DOI

10.1111/j.1467-9299.2008.00749.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Despite recent reforms internationally, significant criticism has been levelled at police departments regarding their service delivery to crime victims, and particularly for the disbelieving and insensitive attitudes officers may display towards women reporting rape and sexual assault. Police responses are frequently influenced by negative judgements regarding the victim’s dress, behaviour, and demeanour. These are flawed and ‘imperfect’ women – what right have they to expect ‘perfect’ treatment? This paper approaches this issue from the other end of the lens by considering the positive lessons to be learned from how ‘perfect victims’ were policed.