Characteristics and Post-Decision Attitudes of Non-Reporting Sexual Violence Victims

Abstract

Although the physical and psychological consequences of sexual violence can be severe, many victims do not report the violence to the police force. The current study examined the characteristics and the post-decisional attitude of the non-reporting sexual violence victims. In total, 287 victims of sexual violence completed an anonymous online questionnaire that assessed characteristics of the violence, whether or not the crime was reported, reasons for not reporting, and aspects that would have convinced non-reporters to report in retrospect. Eighty percent of the victims did not report the most recent sexual violence incident to the police ( n = 229). Nevertheless, 65% of the non-reporting victims ( n = 148) in retrospect would have reported to the police ("potential reporters"). Specific reasons for non-reporting and incident characteristics appear to relate to the post-decision attitude of non-reporting victims of sexual violence. "Lack of evidence" and "feelings of shame, guilt, and other emotions" appear to be more frequently mentioned by potential reporters as reasons for their decision to not report as compared with the definitive non-reporters. Likewise, being raped or sexually assaulted is predictive of potential reporting. Our findings are useful for policy makers to develop strategies to increase reporting rates of sexual violence victims.

Sexual harassment and violence at Australian music festivals: Reporting practices and experiences of festival attendees

“…The perceived seriousness of experiences played a substantial role in shaping participants’ reporting practices, a finding that is mirrored in previous research (see Ceelen et al., 2016; Fisher et al., 2003; Lievore, 2005; Spencer et al., 2017). The majority of participants indicated that they had rarely, if ever, reported incidents perceived as less ‘serious’ (though how ‘seriousness’ is defined is far from universal – see Fileborn, 2016).…”

“…Understandings of sexual violence are often filtered through the lens of common rape myths and misconceptions: that ‘real rape’ or sexual violence is perpetrated by a stranger, with unambiguous lack of consent and the use of overt violence or force (Carbone-Lopez et al., 2016; Chen & Ullman, 2010). Survivors whose experiences of sexual violence align with narrow constructions of ‘real rape’ are more likely to report and be afforded ‘legitimate’ victim status (Carbone-Lopez et al., 2016; Ceelen, Dorn, Van Huis, & Reijnders, 2016; Fisher, Daigle, Cullen, & Turner, 2003; Lievore, 2005; Spencer, Stith, Durtschi, & Toews, 2017). Survivors may not report due to a belief that they were responsible, or because of feelings of shame, embarrassment and fear (Brubaker, 2009; Ceelen et al., 2016; Felson & Paré, 2005; Fisher et al., 2003; Lievore, 2005; Weiss, 2010).…”

“…Survivors whose experiences of sexual violence align with narrow constructions of ‘real rape’ are more likely to report and be afforded ‘legitimate’ victim status (Carbone-Lopez et al., 2016; Ceelen, Dorn, Van Huis, & Reijnders, 2016; Fisher, Daigle, Cullen, & Turner, 2003; Lievore, 2005; Spencer, Stith, Durtschi, & Toews, 2017). Survivors may not report due to a belief that they were responsible, or because of feelings of shame, embarrassment and fear (Brubaker, 2009; Ceelen et al., 2016; Felson & Paré, 2005; Fisher et al., 2003; Lievore, 2005; Weiss, 2010). Given the treatment of sexual violence by the criminal justice system (Clark, 2015; Herman, 2005), survivors may also fear victim-blaming or retraumatising responses within the system, making non-reporting a strategic choice (James & Lee, 2015; Khan, Hirsch, Wamboldt, & Mellins, 2018; Lievore, 2005).…”

Non-reporting of sexual violence as action: acts, selves, futures in the making

“…Studies have demonstrated that victims are less likely to report if they know the perpetrator or have otherwise had some form of relationship prior to the rape (Sable et al, 2006). Victims are also less likely to report if the rape was non-violent, if it happened in the victim's or the perpetrator's home (Abbey, 2011;Ceelen et al, 2019;Lovett & Horwath, 2009), if the age difference between themselves and the perpetrator is not great or if they themselves had consumed alcohol or drugs (Ceelen et al, 2019;Donde et al, 2018;Larcombe et al, 2016;Weiss & Dilks, 2016). Other social factors that may influence the propensity to report rape include the victim's faith in the police and the criminal justice system in general (Kaukinen, 2004), whether the victim thinks friends, family and others will believe them, and, more generally, how they think others might react (Donde et al, 2018;Jordan, 2001).…”

Sexual assault reporting amongst users of online sexual health services

“…14 Ceelen also reported a similarly low reporting rate of 20% with shame, guilt and lack of evidence as some of the reasons behind their decision. 23 Many of these reasons may be shared by the non-reporting survivors in our study.…”