1. Chapter 19 SEX CRIMES Criminal Investigation:
A Method for Reconstructing the Past, 7th Edition
Criminal Investigation
Chapter 19
SEX CRIMES
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Chapter 19: SEX CRIMES 1

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Criminal Investigation
Sex Crimes
UCR revised the definition of Rape in 2013
Many definitions/elements
Sex crimes range from indecent exposure to forcible rape
Mutual consent issues
Children cannot consent
Corpus Delicti
Stalking/Cyberstalking
Child Exploitation
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Chapter 19: SEX CRIMES

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Definitions
Issue of mutual consent
Key defense contention
Some acts involve full consent between parties, but are illegal in particular jurisdictions
“acquaintance rape” / “date rape”
Forcible rape or sodomy, coupled with murder
Most serious sex connected crime from the perception of the public
All rapes and serious sexual assaults must have a high priority in the investigative universe
Frequently difficult to prove in a court of law, and offenders have gone free because of a lazy or sloppy investigation
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Corpus Delicti
Legal definition of rape generally involves:
Sexual penetration, however slight, of the victim’s vulva
By a person or persons without the victim’s consent
Or with a minor child
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Sex Crimes
Sex crimes include other forms of aberrant behavior:
Sexual assault
Child abuse and molestation, also known as pedophilia
Some forms of pornography
Indecent exposure
Incest
Stalking
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Stalking
Involves conduct that is directed at a specific person or persons, that seriously alarms, annoys, intimidates, or harasses the person(s), and that serves no legitimate purpose
May involve telephone calls, notes or letters, confrontations, and following a person or persons
Need to understand the reasons for stalking
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Types of Stalkers
Psychopathic Personality
Psychotic Personality
Celebrity
Lust
“Hit Man”
Love-Scorned
Domestic
Political
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Criminal Investigation
People
Victims and Witnesses
Interviews
Preliminary
Follow-up
Interviewing Children
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Chapter 19: SEX CRIMES

9. Conducting the Investigation
Criminal Investigation
Conducting the Investigation
Physical Evidence
Goal of the crime scene search is:
Link the victim and offender to the crime scene
Establish that sexual relations took place
Establish that coercion, fear, or force was used
Establish the offender’s role or activity
Records and Other Sources of Information
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Chapter 19: SEX CRIMES

10. Goal of Preliminary Interview
A physical description of the offender or offenders
The location or locations where the crime took place
The identification of possible witnesses
Specific actions of the offender that are volunteered by the victim
Circumstances leading up to the attack
Information on any weapon or vehicle that may have been used
Specific info on the actual location of the assault
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11. Categories of Witnesses
Those who can testify that the offender was the victim
Those who may be able to testify to specific acts
Hostile witnesses may claim that the victim gave consent; others may be ashamed of what they saw and might not want to cooperate
May lie to help a friend
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12. Interviewing Children
Assistance of trained professionals is necessary
Offender is frequently known to the child
Child should be allowed to explain in his or her own words
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13. Records and Other Sources
Sex offender record
Sex offense may have been “crime of opportunity”
Recognize similar cases
There may be a specific motive known only to the perpetrator
Rape is rarely associated with sexual gratification, more likely associated with need for power
Nature of attack
Location, time of day, actions, etc.
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Criminal Investigation
Profiling Offenders
Based on the theory that an individual displays unique characteristics in
Personality
Crime scene behavior
Method of operation
Many are married and employed; not oversexed; not women-haters; IQ varies
Psychological issues, but not psychotic
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Chapter 19: SEX CRIMES

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Patterns
Gang rape
More than one assailant
Elderly rape
Offenders were young, white, single males
Child rape
Class-related
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Profiling
Profiling aids a reasoned, systematic process for the investigation of rape and reduces the possibility of investigative error
Possibility that the offender will strike again or that he has committed other crimes
Unique characteristics
Length of time
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17. Hazelwood and Warren Study
Study of 41 serial rapists
76% had been sexually abused as children
71% had been married at least once
54% had generally stable employment
52% scored above average on intelligence tests
51% had been in the armed forces
36% collected pornography
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Criminal Investigation
Follow-Up Activities
Objective, reasoned approach
Sympathetic understanding of victim trauma
Unemotional attitude toward suspect
Explore all contentions (e.g., victim blaming)
Obtain detailed information
Cross-reference files
Review of evidence
Maintain quality records
Preserve evidence carefully
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Chapter 19: SEX CRIMES

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Criminal Investigation
Conclusion
Sex crime difficult to investigate
Each case unique
Communication abilities of investigators more important than gender
Knowledge of elements of the crime, and techniques in interviewing and interrogation, critical
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Chapter 19: SEX CRIMES