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Appendix 5 Victim Impact
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ACQUAINTANCE RAPE: THE VICTIM Gail Abarbanel Director Rape Treatment Center Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center
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Issues in Acquaintance Rapes Not common perception of rape Not “real rape” Context/social situation Relationship Attributions of blame Assignment of responsibility
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Acquaintance Rape: Questions About the Victim Lifestyle Behavior Judgment Motivation
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Victim/Offender Relationship Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics 82% acquaintances 18% strangers
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Number of Rapes Reported Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report Once every 5 minutes 12 cases/hour 100,000 cases/year
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Number of Rapes Committed Source: Rape In America More than once every minute 78 cases/hour 683,000 cases/year
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Age of Victims Source: Rape In America 29% < 11 years old 32% 11-17 years old 23% 18-24 years old 7 % 25-29 years old 6% > 29 years old 3% unknown
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Male Victims 5% of reported rapes Underreported physical violence acquaintance rapes
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In the Rape in America study, only 16% of the victims reported their rapes to the police.
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Reporting Patterns Stranger rape reporting Acquaintance rape reporting
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Reasons for Late/No Reporting Fear of retaliation Being blamed/disbelieved Loss of privacy Distrust of legal system Shame and embarrassment Not defining experience as rape Denial and suppression of feelings Psychogenic or drug-induced amnesia
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Common Victim Behaviors Non-resistance Passive behavior Failure to attempt to escape Friendly behavior towards assailant Delayed reporting Calm, non-emotional appearance Gaps in memory
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Differences Between Stranger and Acquaintance Rape Stranger Rape “Blitz Attack” Acquaintance Rape “Confidence Rape”
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Types of Coercion Weapons Threats to harm victim Threats to harm significant others Restraints Physical Violence Incapacitating drugs
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Acquaintance Rape: Gaining Access to the Victim Offers assistance to victim Requests victim’s help Invites social relationship Promises possibility of employment/career opportunity Requests company while completing a task
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Strategies for Self-Defense Cognitive assessment Verbal tactics Screaming Attempting to escape Stalling for time Physical resistance
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Victim Responses During a Rape Non-resistance Frozen fright Dissociation
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Dissociation During a Traumatic Event Altered time sense Feelings of unreality that event is occurring Derealization (altered perception of external world) Depersonalization (altered sense of self) Out-of-body experience Confusion, disorientation Feeling disconnected from one’s body
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Impact of Sexual Assault on the Victim Rape Trauma Sexual Trauma Acute Stress Disorder Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
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Post-Assault Behaviors Responses contrary to expectations Oscillation
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Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) Development of anxiety, dissociative, and other symptoms within one month after exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor
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ASD Criteria: Witness/Experience Traumatic Event in House Response includes: Fear Helplessness Horror
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ASD Symptoms Dissociative Reexperiencing Avoidance and numbing Anxiety/increased arousal
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ASD: Dissociative Symptoms During or after the trauma: Numbness Detachment Absence of emotional responsiveness Reduced awareness of surroundings Derealization Depersonalization Dissociative amnesia
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ASD: Reexperiencing Symptoms Persistent reexperiencing of the trauma: Images Thoughts Dreams Flashbacks Sense of reliving the trauma Distress when exposed to reminders of trauma
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ASD: Avoidance Symptoms Avoidance of stimuli that arouse recollections of the trauma: Thoughts Feelings Conversations Activities Places People
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ASD: Anxiety Symptoms Marked symptoms of anxiety or increased arousal: Difficulty Sleeping Irritability Problems with concentration Hypervigilance Startle response Motor restlessness
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ASD: TIMING OF SYMPTOMS Onset: within 4 weeks of trauma Duration: 2 days to 4 weeks Persistence: may indicate PTSD
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ASD: Diagnosis Symptoms cause: Significant distress Functional impairment Impairment in ability to pursue necessary tasks
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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Criteria Exposure to traumatic event which involves: Actual or threatened death or serious injury Threat to victim’s physical integrity or safety of a significant other
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PTSD Criteria: Exposure/Response Response to traumatic event involves intense: Fear Helplessness Horror
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PTSD Symptoms Intrusive re-experiencing Avoidance Arousal
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PTSD Criteria: Diagnosis Duration of symptoms > one month Significant distress Functional impairment
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PTSD Criteria: Reexperiencing Persistent reexperiencing of the trauma: Recurrent thoughts Distressing dreams Acting or feeling as if trauma re- occurring Extreme distress when exposed to things that resemble or symbolize the trauma.
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PTSD Criteria: Avoidance and Numbing Avoidance of people/situations associated with trauma AND Numbing or reduced responsiveness: -Diminished interest or participation in significant activities; -Inability to recall important aspect of the trauma; -Feeling detached or estranged from others; -Restricted range of affect; and or -Sense of a foreshortened future.
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PTSD Criteria: Increased Arousal Sleep disturbances Irritability Difficulty with concentration Hypervigilance Exaggerated startle response
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Other Symptoms of Rape Trauma Self-blame Guilt Shame Depressed mood Sexual dysfunction Somatic complaints Loss or self-confidence and self-esteem Changes in assumption about self, others, and world
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Health Impact of Rape: Immediate Aftermath Acute physical injuries Psychological trauma Risk of STDs Risk of unwanted pregnancy
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Health Impact of Rape: Psychological Sequelae ASD/PTSD Anxiety Depression Suicidality Substance use/abuse Sexual problems
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Health Impact of Rape: Physical Sequelae Utilization of medical services Poorer health perceptions Negative health behaviors Somatic symptoms Chronic medical conditions
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Health Impact of Rape: Physical Symptoms Somatic complaints –Stomach aches/nausea –Headaches –Back pain Chronic medical conditions –GI symptoms –Pelvic pain –Menstrual symptoms
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Factors That May Affect Response to Trauma Cultural differences Life-stage and developmental issues Mental or physical disabilities Previous victimization experiences Response of service providers Social supports
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Educating the Jury Resistance Reporting Affect and demeanor Recall of details Medical findings
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The Prosecutor’s Task Victim’s lifestyle Victim’s behavior Victim’s judgment Societal beliefs Defendant’s behaviors
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Is It Consent? Going to certain locations Engaging in certain activities Giving sexual consent on one occasion Allowing man to pay for date Dressing in revealing clothing
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Going to Court: Common Victim Concerns Loss of privacy “Being raped again” Confronting rapist Delays/continuances Unknown/unfamiliar High-profile cases Outcome/results
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Interviewing Victims Goals of initial interview Setting/structure Principles/techniques Preparing victim for process Ongoing support
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Goals of Initial Interview Establish rapport/relationship Gather reliable information Assess strengths/weaknesses of case Involve victim in process Prepare victim for process
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Interview Setting/Structure Privacy No interruptions Non-verbal language Presence of support person(s) Time allocation
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Interview Principles/Techniques Explain purpose Clarify victim’s role Encourage victim to tell you everything Ask open-ended questions Elicit sensory/peripheral detail Acknowledge feelings Give realistic assessment of case
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Interview Principles/Techniques (continued) Follow gut instincts Maintain eye contact Assess previous interview experiences
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Prepare Victim for Process Explain legal process Specify roles and responsibilities Encourage questions Never promise specific outcomes Maintain contact with victim Assess support systems Encourage counseling/therapy
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Supporting Victims Through the Process Give information Explain procedures Include in decisions Support coping and survival Empower by identifying areas where have control
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