Prosecuting Intimate Partner Sexual Assault

Abstract

Prosecutors play a crucial role in determining whether persons who are accused of intimate partner sexual assault (IPSA) will be sanctioned by the criminal justice system. Prosecutors have unconditional discretion at the initial charging stage because a case rejection decision is typically immune to review. Using qualitative data from 47 IPSA complaints that were referred to Los Angeles County or City prosecution in 2008, this study examines the factors that influence charging decisions. Findings suggest that prosecutors consider both legal and extralegal factors when making charging decisions and that various cultural, legal, and rape myths surrounding IPSA influence these decisions.

Understanding Victim Cooperation in Cases of Nonfatal Gun Assaults

“…There is evidence that a small proportion of offenders are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime and that there are tight networks of gun-involved offenders (Cook & Laub, 2002; Dobrin, 2001; Engel, Tillyer, & Corsaro, 2013; Papachristos, Wildeman, & Roberto, 2015). As demonstrated in sexual assault cases (O’Neal et al, 2015), improved victim cooperation could result in better cases where shooters are prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated—resulting in potential declines in gun crime overall. In short, improving case processing of gun crimes is particularly important as law enforcement agencies across the country struggle with declining clearance rates and negative police–community relations (Rosenfeld et al, 2017).…”

“…After medical professionals have reported a crime to the police, victims must choose whether to cooperate with the police investigation. Research on sexual assault and intimate partner violence suggests that victim cooperation may be an essential factor in the decision to arrest and charge offenders (Dawson & Dinovitzer, 2001; O’Neal & Spohn, 2017; O’Neal, Tellis, & Spohn, 2015).…”

Assessing the Impact of Police Body-Worn Cameras on Arresting, Prosecuting, and Convicting Suspects of Intimate Partner Violence

“…When making the decision to charge a case, prosecutors often rely on three focal concerns: blameworthiness, protection of the community, and practical constrains and consequences (Steffensmeier, Ulmer, & Kramer, 1998). In other words, prosecutors are more likely to file charges when the crime is serious, the victim has suffered clear harm, and evidence against the suspect is strong (O'Neal, Tellis, & Spohn, 2015).…”

Victimización Primaria Y Secundaria en La Violencia Sexual Contra Mujeres Adultas en Sentencias Penales / [Primary and Secondary Victimization in Sexual Violence Against Adult Women in Criminal Sentences]

“…En relación a otro indicador, la dificultad para la víctima de estos delitos de ser creída y acceder a resultados condenatorios, encontramos en forma consistente con la literatura previa, que ésta se acrecienta cuando el agresor corresponde a una persona cercana a la víctima, a diferencia de las agresiones por desconocidos que incrementan significativamente las condenas (Krahé y Berger, 2009;O'Neal, Tellis, y Spohn, 2015).…”