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RapeRape still remains one of those taboo subjects. Here I assemble a number of articles which are intended not only to assist one’s comprehension but give practical advice on what to do should you be a victim.The rape debate You can't get away with murder, said Johann Han in The Independent, but the shocking thing is that in this country' today you can get away with rape. More than 14,000 allegations of rape were reported to police last year. And do you know how many resulted in convictions? Less than 6%. One reason is that judges routinely dismiss cases (a third of the total, according to Home Office statistics) where the defendant had been drinking prior to the assault. In such cases, so the judges reason, the victim may have been too drunk to know whether she had given consent or not. Hmm. If a judge consumed a bottle or two of port and was then sexually assaulted do you imagine he'd have trouble recalling whether consent had been involved? I suspect not. The message should be clear: rape is rape, no matter how drunk the victim. To make matters worse, said The Guardian, there's huge variation in conviction rates. A rapist in Northamptonshire has a 14% chance of being convicted, a rapist in Gloucestershire just 1%. That may he because some forces have introduced special rape teams to deal with the crime; but whatever the cause, the reforms unveiled last week by Solicitor General Mike O'Brien can't come soon enough. Juries, says O'Brien, should be allowed to see police videos of women reporting rapes to get an idea of their distress. He also wants to "clarify" the law so that juries can decide whether a woman was too drunk to give consent. What a dangerous idea, said Rod Liddle in The Sunday Times. It is surely a vital principle of justice that we should take responsibility for what we do - and say - however much we have drunk. Indeed, we drink alcohol precisely in order to loosen our inhibitions, our tongues "and very often our clothing", which is why the courts rightly take it as the individual's responsibility not to get drunk in the first place. How can we have a law saying the woman isn't responsible for her actions when drunk, while her alleged attacker is? These reforms would infantilise women, agreed Josie Appleton in The Times. It shows that neither the Home Office nor O'Brien have any idea how sex works. "In real life, consent is worked out through tacit signs, and often involves conflicting desires. It's emotional, not rational: people may have sex against their better judgement." We must not let the terrible crime of rape get mixed up with "messy sex: sex you didn't feel like but went along with". Rape is rape even if it occurs with your partner or on a date, said Carol Sarler in The Times. BUT mightn't it be sensible to differentiate date-tapes (52% of all cases) from the rest. At present, knowing the average sentence for rape to be seven years, juries feel bound to give a defendant more than his due share of the benefit of the doubt. But if we reduced the sentence for date rape, we'd be likely to see far more convictions. "What do we prefer, ten date-rapists ruing their sorry buns for a year in jail, or one serving ten years while nine others walk free?"
The reason I’m here Date Rape The Date-Rape Drugs Tips to help prevent being drugged by date rape drugs Advice for Victims of Rape See also Jane Farrow 29-03-2006
On a December Thursday in a Canadian courtroom, three women sat tightly
together in the front row holding hands. They watched as the man who
raped them was sentenced for his crimes. Over a four-year period from
1988 to 1992, a serial rapist terrorized Calgary, Alberta. He was known
as the Hemlock rapist, because most of his victims lived near Hemlock
Crescent on the southwest side of town.On June 20th, 2005, Cromwell pled guilty, almost 17 years after the first attack. It was on that day, too, that his four victims met and spoke with each other for the first time. In Canadian courts, the names of sexual assault victims are kept secret for two reasons: to encourage women to step forward freely, and to shield them from public scrutiny and judgement. Publication ban lifted But in the Hemlock Crescent case, two women insisted that the publication ban on their names be lifted. In so doing, they join a mere handful of victims of sexual assault who have chosen to go public with their stories. The two other victims chose to maintain the ban. One is too traumatized to speak at all. The other - we call her Mary - was 13 at the time, babysitting in a basement apartment, the night she was raped. Tears of relief In December 2005, Shannon Deneve, Jane Ferguson and 'Mary' cried in relief as the judge sentenced Cromwell to 20 years in prison. Emile Cromwell, the 'Hemlock rapist' was sentenced to 20 years in prison aged 62. The Reason I'm Here is a story about three women, raped by the same man. Three women who made very different decisions - privately and publicly - about how to deal with the attack on their bodies and their lives. Excerpt
from the verdict delivered at the Provincial Court of
Alberta
I have had so many mails from girls lately asking if what happened to them was actually rape. Just because they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol doesn't make what happened to them any less of a case of rape. When you are unconscious or passed out from the effects of too much to drink you are incapable of giving consent, so in effect you can't consent to sex, and that constitutes rape. In a research poll for an American magazine Ms one in every twelve men interviewed admitted to having forced a woman to have intercourse or tried to force a woman to have intercourse through physical force or coercion; that is, they admitted to raping or attempting to rape a woman. However hardly any of these men, identified themselves as rapists. Similarly, only 57% of the women who had been raped labelled their experience as rape; the other 43% had not even acknowledged to themselves that they had been raped.(As cited in Ellen Sweet, "Date Rape. The Story of an Epidemic and Those Who Deny It," Ms., October 1985, p. 56) This is indeed a scary thought. Perhaps it was the effects of either alcohol or drugs that clouded their judgement and perceptions of what was happening. Date rape typically occurs when a woman finds herself alone with a man. If you go to a man's room, house or flat (apartment) or even get into his car with him alone, you are vulnerable. Date rapes can often occur when there are other people relatively close by. Parties are a prime example. There could be a whole crowd of people in the next room oblivious to what was happening. Often date rape victims say afterwards that they drank too much or took too many drugs to realize what was going on. By the time they realised the predicament they were in it was too late. Sometimes a woman passes out and wakes up to find a man having sex with her. Sometimes date rapes occurs when alcohol is not involved or when the victim has had little or nothing to drink but the man has been drinking and becomes sexually aggressive. I have mainly referred to date rape being something that happens to females, but males, especially gay males are just as vulnerable as females and it does happen . Rohypnol Over recent years more information has been coming to the fore about The Date Rape Drugs One of these is Rohypnol which is a brand name for Flunitrazepam, which belongs to the family of medications called "Benzodiazepines". It is very potent, being 10 times more potent than Valium. It has many common street names like: Roofies, Roachies, La Roche, Rope, Rib, Roche, Rophies, Ruffies and Stupefi. It is becoming well know as a club scene drug used mostly by young people. It is an illegal drug in America and sold or prescribed in Europe and South America. It comes in 1mg and 2mg strengths, manufactured by Hoffman-La Roche. Rohypnol taken on it's own produces sedative effects, including amnesia, muscle relaxation, and the slowing of psychomotor performance. Sedation occurs anything from 10 to 30 minutes after administration of a 2-mg tablet and lasts for approximately 8 hours. Mixed with alcohol in which it quickly dissolves a 2mg dose in one beer can put a girl flat on her back in a state of bliss, to waken the next morning with no memories of the previous night, wondering what happened to her. Rohypnol can be slipped easily into the drink of an unsuspecting sexual assault victim by an assailant. The result is that the victim remembers nothing of the sexual assault or it maybe they knew something was happening but were incapable of stopping it. Mixing Rohypnol with alcohol intensifies its effects several fold. It is reportedly given to female party guests in hopes of lowering inhibitions and making them an easy potential sexual conquest. Rohypnol, particularily when it is mixed with alcohol or any other drugs, cannabis, cocaine and heroin in particular may lead to respiratory depression, aspiration and even death. When taken repeatedly, in can lead to physical and psychological dependence which is thought to increase with both the dose and duration of use. Rohypnol is usually sold in its original bubble packaging, conveying a sense of legality and security in its use. Reports of feeling hung over, feeling drowsy, confused and still drunk the next day have been noted. It is certainly a very dangerous drug, especially if it is used without your knowledge. GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) GHB also known as Bodily Harm (GBH), Liquid X, Easy Lay and other street names is a potent date rape drug, in some ways easier to use than rohypnol, but with the same effects. It is promoted as a growth hormone aid, a diet aid and a stimulant. GHB comes in liquid form, and is often home produced by people who know a little about drugs and their effects. Becuase it is in liquid form rather than tablet form it is much easier to slip into an unsuspecting females drink than some of the other date rape drugs. This is done with either an eye dropper or off a bottle cap, and only a few drops can render the victim confused, dazed, drowsy and unconscious within the space of 15 minutes. The effects can last from 2 to 8 hours. The drug is hard to detect as it is colourless and odourless, although some reports suggest it has a slightly salty taste. Ketamine Ketamine is also known as Special K, Vitamin K or Bump. It is in fact a drug that is used by vets as an animal anaesthesia. Burundanga Burundanga or borrachio is not so widely used as the other known date rape drugs, but although it may be obscure people should still be aware that it is being used for date rape purposes. Reports have shown it to be highly soluble and tasteless like rohypnol. It causes victims to becoem confused, disorientated and produces a trance like state. Alcohol We are all concerned with the use of date rape drugs, but let us not forget that alcohol alone wihtout added chemical substances can act like a drug. It can make people confused, disorrientated, carefree, more confident and also unconscious if too much is drunk. Many rapists ply their victims with alcohol before assaulting them. Statistics show that 55% of all date rape victims had been drinking or were drunk when raped. A staggering 80% of rapists had been drinking before they raped. Being Aware
Police departments across the world are taking reports of young women
and men waking up without their clothing on, finding themselves in
unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar people, or having actually been
sexually assaulted while under the influence of the drug. The victims
now have the not just the trauma of the assault to worry about but also
the worries of unprotected sex and maybe pregnancy to deal with. - Females in particular are strongly advised never under any circumstances to accept any opened drink, particularly from a stranger. - If you are drinking, you are strongly advised to drink only bottled drinks, and to insist that you open them yourself. - Don't leave your drink unattended and don't let it out of your sight. - Don't share drinks with anyone, even a good friend. - Never ask someone to watch your drink for you, they might simply be distracted, or might not be as trustworthy as you think. - If your drink has been left unattended, don't continue drinking it, discard it. - Drinking mixed-drinks from a wide-mouthed glass is asking for trouble. - Avoid punch from a large mixed bowl, it is imposible to determine the contents. - If a drink has a strange taste, like being salty, or has a strange appearance like being too frothy or a residue don't drink it, throw it away. - Always make sure you are in the company of a trusted friend who can help you to safety should you find yourself passing out from a spiked drink. Be aware of the people around you and their behaviour. If someone shows signs of being more drunk than they would usually be after a certain ammount of alcohol they may be in danger Index 1.Introduction 2.Our duty of care 3.The medical examination 4.Your health afterwards 5.How you can help the police investigate the crime 6.Identifying the person who attacked you 7.If there is a court case 8.Your 'impact statement' 9.How the attack might make you feel 10.Victim Support 11.Compensation 12.People who can help you This information has been provided in consultation with the Sexual Offences Consultative Group (Metropolitan Police Service) comprising representatives (male and female) from Victims Support Service, Rape Support Agencies, Community Safety Partnerships, Crown Prosecution Service, the medical profession and victims (survivors) together with the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Chief Constables’ Council. The police will help anyone who comes to then to say they have had sex against their wishes or been attacked by someone wanting sex. Man or woman, young or old, you will get as much help as we can give you. This booklet tells you how the police can help you if you have been sexually assaulted or abused, or if anyone you know has been assaulted in this way. It explains step by step what happens after you report the crime to the police, and what we (and the people and organisations we can put you in contact with) will do next. Only you can decide if you want to report the attack to the police. And if you do we will try to find the person who attacked you and perhaps stop them from hurting anyone else. We can also make sure you get all the support possible, from the police service and other specialists. You can ask a friend or relative to go to the police with you - many people find it helps not to be alone. As well as talking to you to find out what happened, we will ask a doctor to examine you. Your health and your feelings come first - both the police officer and the doctor will explain why they need to ask you questions or examine you. If anything doesn't seem to make sense, ask them to explain it again. Sexual assault and sexual abuse are serious crimes, and we take them seriously. We mean to find whoever committed this serious crime against you and to bring them to justice. But as well as dealing with the crime, we also want to help you as much as we can. If you have been sexually assaulted, whoever you are, we promise to: • be kind,
sensitive and polite;
• explain everything so you can be sure you understand what is happening; and • make you as comfortable as possible. The police officer who deals with your case will be someone who has built up an understanding of this kind of crime through experience. He or she will be discreet and tactful and will investigate the crime against you thoroughly. You will also have the support of a 'chaperone' - a police officer to look after you. You can choose whether this should be a man or a woman. This officer has received special training to deal with this type of matter. The 'chaperone' officer will: • tell you as
much as he or she can about what is
happening & what we will be doing next;
• contact a support group, if you would like help from someone else; • make a hospital appointment for you, if you want one; • talk to your employer, if you want us to; and • talk to you about being safe (and/or keeping your family safe) in the future, and possibly arrange to protect you if it seems that you might be in danger. We will also arrange for you to see a doctor, who can give you help and advice about what effect a sexual assault might have had on your body - for example, if there is a danger of you having been made pregnant or of an infection being passed on to you through sex. The doctor will also be looking for evidence that can help track down the attacker - for example, DNA evidence. If there is a prosecution against the person who attacked you (if they are caught and charged with the crime), we will pass on to you everything that the Crown Prosecution Service lets us know. We will: • tell you any
developments in the case;
• tell you when the person who attacked you is to appear in court or be prosecuted, or, if they are released on bail, whether the bail conditions have any effect on you. For example, they may not be allowed to contact you or go to certain places where you go until the trial; • give you as much advance warning as possible if you might have to appear in court as a witness or if the date of the trial is changed; • if you want, arrange for you to make an 'impact statement'. This lets the court know (before they pass sentence) how the crime has affected you or your family; and • tell you the results of the court case. Or, if the defendant appeals against their sentence, what happens next. If you think that the care you are given by the police does not match up to the standards we have promised, contact your 'chaperone' officer or the Metropolitan Police Charterline on 020 7230 9100. First steps The police are responsible for investigating the crime committed against you. First, we will need to ask you some details: • Your name and
address.
• When and where you were assaulted. • Whatever you can tell us about the attacker (what they looked or sounded like, what they were wearing, how old they were, etc) or even if you know who they are. We want to be able to pass on a description so police officers on patrol can be looking out for them. We understand that you may find it painful or embarrassing to talk about what happened, but it is important that you tell the police everything you can. You will be able to talk in private at the police station and the officer you talk to will be specially trained. The police use special examination suites with a comfortable room to rest in, a medical examination room and a bathroom where you can have a bath or shower after the medical examination. Toiletries are provided and we will give you a change of clothes whenever possible. If you have already had a wash or changed your clothes before going to the police, you should tell them. You should bring the clothes you were wearing when you were attacked with you. Ask the police officers to explain any words they use or anything about the way they do things that isn’t clear to you Use the space at the back of this booklet to write down the names and telephone numbers of the police officers (and anyone else) who are helping you. You will want to be able to talk to them if later on you remember anything that might be important or if you have any more questions. You will be asked to give your permission to being examined by a doctor. They will be looking for forensic evidence as well as to see if you need treatment for any injuries. They have been specially trained for this kind of examination. Above all, that means they understand that you need to be treated with care and sympathy. The doctor will usually see you in a special room for victims at the police station or in a hospital but sometimes it may be at their surgery. The police will make every effort to respect any preference you might have as to the gender of the doctor who will see you. In most cases this will be a woman, but we will do our best to locate a male doctor for you, if you would prefer. If this is not possible we will discuss the alternatives with you. You will have everything about the examination explained to you first. You will also be able to say if you would prefer a man or woman photographer if we have to take photographs of any cuts or bruises or injuries for evidence. Police photographers are specially trained to respect your feelings. Pregnancy One of the very distressing things about sexual assault is that, if you are a woman, it might result in pregnancy. The doctor who examines you after your assault will talk to you about your fears and if wanted and appropriate will offer you what is known as the 'morning-after pill' and any other appropriate medical information or treatment. If your period is late, it is best to have a pregnancy test. Stress, tension and worry can cause you have a late period, and this does happen sometimes to women who have been sexually assaulted, but it is best to seek medical help anyway. We will help you to arrange this if you want us to. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) For both men and women the possibility of sexually transmitted infections can be a worry if you have been assaulted. It is important for you to receive appropriate advice and treatment at the right time after an assault. The doctor will help you decide when is the right time and advise where it is best to go. The police officer supporting you will help you arrange an appointment with a special clinic. After you have seen the doctor, you will need to talk to a police officer again. This will not be on the same day. This time, they will want you to talk about the crime in as much detail as you can. Your statement will then be written for you to sign. This can take quite a long time and include some very detailed questions. You might find it upsetting to answer some of the officer's questions. Please remember how important your evidence is in helping the police find the person who attacked you and bringing them to justice. If you get tired, tell the police officer. They will understand that it's better if you rest and try again later. They will ask if you want to rest after seeing the doctor and before you give your statement. If you are 17 or younger, the police may prefer to make a video of your statement. We will talk this through with you and the person who is supporting you. (One reason for this is that it may mean you don't have to go to court.) You may already know who assaulted you. However, if it was a stranger, the police can work with you in different ways to help you identify them: • You may
recognise their face in photographs the
police show you.
• You may be able to describe them so that he police can create a sketch, photofit or videofit that you agree looks like the person who assaulted you. • If someone is arrested, you may be asked if you can pick them out of an identity parade (a line of eight or more people). Whenever they can, the police will arrange for you to be able to see the people on the parade without your being seen by them. • The police may be able to show you a video and ask if you can identify the attacker that way. The police will go to where you were attacked as part of their investigation. We may have to take away something of yours - for example, some of your clothes or something the attacker left fingerprints on. We will ask your permission first. You may have to wait along time to get them back, because they may be needed as evidence in court. We will give you back everything used as evidence, if you want it If you have any worries about what is happening in the investigation, it is very important that you tell your 'chaperone' officer, investigating officer or support agency. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and not the police - is responsible for prosecuting people charged with the crime of sexual assault. A Crown Prosecutor makes the decision on whether or not the case goes to court. This decision is based on two tests (which are set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors). The tests help CPS make a decision based on: • Is there enough evidence for a 'realistic prospect of conviction'? The Crown Prosecutor must look at the evidence and decide if it is strong and reliable enough to be used in court. If they think there is not enough evidence, or it is not the right kind, the case cannot go to court, no matter how serious the crime is. • Is it in the public interest for this case to go to court? If the crime is serious, the CPS will usually prosecute unless it would clearly not be in the public interest for them to do so. It is essential that any arguments against prosecuting clearly outweigh the reasons for. The first stages of a court case will be 'heard' at a Magistrates' Court. You will not normally be asked to go to this hearing. The magistrates will decide if the case should go ahead and whether the defendant should be held or released on bail until the trial. The magistrates' decisions will also be based on the evidence. They may disagree with the CPS and decide that there is not enough evidence. If so, they will stop the case. But if they agree that there is enough evidence, they will send the case to the Crown Court. At the Crown Court a judge and jury will hear the case. Barristers will speak for the prosecution (the CPS) and for the defendant (the person charged with the crime of assaulting you). After hearing all the evidence, the jury will decide if they believe the defendant committed the crime. If the defendant pleads not guilty to the crime, you may have to go to the Crown Court and appear as a witness. If you are called as a witness, the two barristers will ask you questions in court. You will be a witness for the prosecution. You cannot talk to the barrister from the CPS about the case before you give your evidence -it could look as if you had been told what to say. The prosecution will usually ask for you to be allowed to leave the court as soon as you have answered both barristers' questions. It is against the law for newspapers or television to use your name or give details that would make it clear who you are. They can, however, repeat whatever you said in your evidence apart from those personal details. You can get help and support from the Crown Court Witness Service. They can arrange for you to visit the courtroom before the trial, which should help make going there less strange or off-putting. If you are worried about your own or your family's safety, ask the police how we can help you. Information about your case including the dates of the trial and the result will be passed by the CPS to the police so that we can keep you informed. If the CPS chooses not to go ahead with the case against your alleged attacker, every effort will be made to speak with you and explain that decision in advance. The final decision rests with the CPS. If you are not sure about what is going to happen or what any of the things that happen in court might mean for you, ask the police officers or support agency who have been helping you to explain. If the court finds the person who assaulted you guilty, or if they plead guilty, you can let the court know how the attack has affected you, for example, how it has made you or your family feel. If you do want to make an 'impact statement', let the police know. An officer will take your statement before the court passes sentence. We all have our own feelings about everything that happens in our lives. A sexual assault might change the way you feel for along time. You might feel frightened, ashamed or angry. You may have nightmares or not be able to sleep. You may not want to eat. You may go from good moods to bad moods in a minute. You might suddenly want to cry or get angry with people. You may feel guilty or that you are not worthwhile. You might find it hard to make your mind up about things. And you might find that you cannot stand anyone touching you, even if you love them. You are not alone in feeling like this. A shocking experience can upset anyone in this way. It is not your fault that someone attacked you. And you don't have to cope with it on your own. You can talk privately to a trained counsellor who has helped other people deal with the same kind of feelings. They can offer you a safe place where you can talk about any worries and fears you might have. People who are close to you might also need some help. They might need to speak to a counsellor to help them cope with the stress, and to give them the strength to support and comfort you. Helpline number: 0845 303 0900
Victim Support is an organisation with trained volunteers who will:• help you with
your feelings about being attacked.
• give you practical advice; • go with you to the police station; • tell you about other agencies offering support to survivors of sexual assault in your area; • accompany you to court, in co-operation with the Crown Court Witness Service; • help you to apply for financial compensation to the Criminal Injuries and Compensation Board; and give you any other help they can. The police will contact Victim Support and ask them to get in touch with you and find out what help you may need. If you have been sexually assaulted, you may be able to get financial compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. To be able to get help from them, you must have reported the attack to the police and you must have co-operated in the investigation, for example by giving evidence or trying to help the police identify a suspect. To apply for compensation, you need to use the proper application form. You can get this from: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board Morley House 26-30 Holborn Viaduct London EC1 A 2JQ Telephone: 020 7842 6800 You may be worried or feeling anxious and find it difficult to remember who you have seen for help and advice. While the police are always ready to help you in any way possible, it may be useful to write down names and other details of all the people involved in your case.
See also Vani girls New Orleans - media exaggeration Western Muslims' Racist Rape Spree - have the US followed suite? Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse |
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