Citation

Jackson TL, Sandberg G. Women Ther. 1985; 4(3): 39-56.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J015v04n03_05

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present study investigated how rural attorneys and judges attributed blame in incest cases. It was found that incest blame was multidimensional; distributed across offender, societal, situational and victim factors. In addition, male attorneys blamed the victim significantly more than female attorneys. Finally as incest blame varied, so did offender sentencing. This study has important implications regarding the treatment of incest offenders and victims within the legal system. It also calls into question the objectivity of incest offender sentencing. In light of the heinous nature of the crime of incest and the devastating long-term consequences imposed on the victim, these findings are most disturbing.