Citation

Rich K, Seffrin P. Violence Vict. 2013; 28(4): 681-696.

Affiliation

School of Social Work, Marywood University, Scranton, PA 18503, USA. krich@maryu.marywood.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Springer Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

24047047

Abstract

Secondary victimization may occur when rape victims make police reports. This can compromise the quality of official statements and jeopardize criminal cases. Rape reporters receive better treatment by police officers when advocates are involved and best practice police work includes such collaboration. Studies of advocates have described tension, role confusion, and poor communication with police officers. Many variables, including rape myth acceptance (RMA) and training on sexual assault dynamics, may affect officers' collaboration with advocates. There were 429 police officers who responded to a survey measuring their victim interviewing skill, formal training about rape, years on the job, number of victims known personally, number of recent rape cases, RMA, and collaboration with advocates. Results suggest that officers' interviewing skill, years on the job, and specific training are related to collaboration with victim advocates on rape cases. Professional, rather than personal, variables were most predictive of collaboration. Implications for officer selection and training are explored.

Language: en