Pub Date : 2021-12-06DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.2009050
Giulia T. Lowe, G. Willis
ABSTRACT Stigma directed towards persons with convictions for sexual offences and its potentially risk enhancing effects has prompted a growing body of research on public attitudes towards individuals who have sexually offended, including attitude measurement. However, many questions in attitudinal scales use the “sex offender” label, which potentially perpetuates stigma. The current study, which was part of a larger study examining effects of offence-based labels, sought to examine whether responses on an attitudinal scale would differ when person-first language was used instead of the “sex offender” label. Participants (N = 372) were randomly assigned to a label condition or person-first language condition and completed an anonymous online survey that included a popular attitudinal scale. A small, significant effect of labelling was observed: offence-based labels were associated with more negative attitudes than neutral descriptors. Implications for future research are discussed. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The current study found that the “sex offender” label was associated with more negative attitudes toward individuals who have sexually offended compared to neutral, person-first language (e.g. “people who have committed crimes of a sexual nature”). Replacing stigmatising labels with person-first language in research and in practice is an important step towards humanising people who have offended and supporting them to live safe, productive, prosocial lives. In research, using person-first language may help improve validity of attitude measurement and remove the possibility of inadvertently reinforcing the very stereotypes researchers seek to address.
{"title":"Do popular attitudinal scales perpetuate negative attitudes towards persons who have sexually offended?","authors":"Giulia T. Lowe, G. Willis","doi":"10.1080/13552600.2021.2009050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2021.2009050","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Stigma directed towards persons with convictions for sexual offences and its potentially risk enhancing effects has prompted a growing body of research on public attitudes towards individuals who have sexually offended, including attitude measurement. However, many questions in attitudinal scales use the “sex offender” label, which potentially perpetuates stigma. The current study, which was part of a larger study examining effects of offence-based labels, sought to examine whether responses on an attitudinal scale would differ when person-first language was used instead of the “sex offender” label. Participants (N = 372) were randomly assigned to a label condition or person-first language condition and completed an anonymous online survey that included a popular attitudinal scale. A small, significant effect of labelling was observed: offence-based labels were associated with more negative attitudes than neutral descriptors. Implications for future research are discussed. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The current study found that the “sex offender” label was associated with more negative attitudes toward individuals who have sexually offended compared to neutral, person-first language (e.g. “people who have committed crimes of a sexual nature”). Replacing stigmatising labels with person-first language in research and in practice is an important step towards humanising people who have offended and supporting them to live safe, productive, prosocial lives. In research, using person-first language may help improve validity of attitude measurement and remove the possibility of inadvertently reinforcing the very stereotypes researchers seek to address.","PeriodicalId":46758,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sexual Aggression","volume":"28 1","pages":"231 - 243"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49049188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-17DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.2001064
A. Hollomotz
ABSTRACT Some people with intellectual disability who have sexually offended require long-term support with risk management. This paper demonstrates how least restrictive practices within a Swiss social care setting are utilised to support a young man with intellectual disability, mental health difficulties and persistent high risks. It is underpinned by the social model of disability, which directs attention away from individual pathology onto environmental support structures. Data was generated through qualitative interviews with the patient, forensic psychologist and social care provider and an in-depth analysis of the patient file. Current approaches to community support are synthesised and applied to this exemplary case. Hence, the analysis compares empirically based patterns from the case with the aims of risk management, person-centred planning and sexual offending treatment, highlighting the mechanisms that enable this support package to work. This results in a novel conceptualisation of sexual offending treatment success that encompasses environmental support structures. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The sociological focus of this paper emphasises the importance of learning amongst services on best means to provide collaborative, personalised support after sexual offending treatment. Achieving treatment success is no longer seen as a personal responsibility that lies with the person who has offended, and suggestions are made on means for managing individuals within social care settings. This makes vital reading for those involved in the de-institutionalisation of people with intellectual disability and persistent high risks.
{"title":"Ensuring long-term success of personalised support for a young man with intellectual disability and harmful sexual behaviour: a Swiss case study","authors":"A. Hollomotz","doi":"10.1080/13552600.2021.2001064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2021.2001064","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Some people with intellectual disability who have sexually offended require long-term support with risk management. This paper demonstrates how least restrictive practices within a Swiss social care setting are utilised to support a young man with intellectual disability, mental health difficulties and persistent high risks. It is underpinned by the social model of disability, which directs attention away from individual pathology onto environmental support structures. Data was generated through qualitative interviews with the patient, forensic psychologist and social care provider and an in-depth analysis of the patient file. Current approaches to community support are synthesised and applied to this exemplary case. Hence, the analysis compares empirically based patterns from the case with the aims of risk management, person-centred planning and sexual offending treatment, highlighting the mechanisms that enable this support package to work. This results in a novel conceptualisation of sexual offending treatment success that encompasses environmental support structures. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The sociological focus of this paper emphasises the importance of learning amongst services on best means to provide collaborative, personalised support after sexual offending treatment. Achieving treatment success is no longer seen as a personal responsibility that lies with the person who has offended, and suggestions are made on means for managing individuals within social care settings. This makes vital reading for those involved in the de-institutionalisation of people with intellectual disability and persistent high risks.","PeriodicalId":46758,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sexual Aggression","volume":"28 1","pages":"361 - 376"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42017234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-13DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.1999512
I. S. Santos, T. T. Paiva, Débora Cristina Nascimento Lima, T. E. Mariano, C. E. Pimentel
ABSTRACT This research aimed to validate the Antisocial Sexual Behaviour Online Scale, observing its relationships with sending explicit photos, gender, age, and personality. Study 1 (N = 215, 72.1% women, Mage = 26.58, SD = 7.84) evidenced a one-factor organisation (eigenvalue = 1.54, explained variance = 38.57%, ω = 0.71). Study 2 (N = 214, 71.5% women, Mage = 23.57, SD = 7.04) corroborated this structure (GFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.05 (90% CI 0.01-0.15), SRMR = 0.10) and gender invariance. Study 3 (N = 397, 71% women, Mage = 29.3, SD = 8.54) showed correlations between ASBO, sending explicit photos (r = 0.25, p < 0.01), being a man (r = 0.13, p < 0.01), age (r = −0.17, p < 0.01), conscientiousness (r = −0.15, p < 0.01), agreeableness (r = −0.11; p < 0.05), and emotional stability (r = −0.14, p < 0.01). PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The internet’s use to perpetuate antisocial sexual behaviours has become an increasingly present problem, requiring the development of tools to measure it. The present research proposed a brief and psychometrically adequate instrument for this purpose. Through the measure, it is possible to observe the prevalence of antisocial sexual behaviour online, as well as relate it to other psychosocial constructs.
{"title":"Antisocial sexual behaviour online scale: validation and psychological and sociodemographic correlates","authors":"I. S. Santos, T. T. Paiva, Débora Cristina Nascimento Lima, T. E. Mariano, C. E. Pimentel","doi":"10.1080/13552600.2021.1999512","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2021.1999512","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This research aimed to validate the Antisocial Sexual Behaviour Online Scale, observing its relationships with sending explicit photos, gender, age, and personality. Study 1 (N = 215, 72.1% women, Mage = 26.58, SD = 7.84) evidenced a one-factor organisation (eigenvalue = 1.54, explained variance = 38.57%, ω = 0.71). Study 2 (N = 214, 71.5% women, Mage = 23.57, SD = 7.04) corroborated this structure (GFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.05 (90% CI 0.01-0.15), SRMR = 0.10) and gender invariance. Study 3 (N = 397, 71% women, Mage = 29.3, SD = 8.54) showed correlations between ASBO, sending explicit photos (r = 0.25, p < 0.01), being a man (r = 0.13, p < 0.01), age (r = −0.17, p < 0.01), conscientiousness (r = −0.15, p < 0.01), agreeableness (r = −0.11; p < 0.05), and emotional stability (r = −0.14, p < 0.01). PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The internet’s use to perpetuate antisocial sexual behaviours has become an increasingly present problem, requiring the development of tools to measure it. The present research proposed a brief and psychometrically adequate instrument for this purpose. Through the measure, it is possible to observe the prevalence of antisocial sexual behaviour online, as well as relate it to other psychosocial constructs.","PeriodicalId":46758,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sexual Aggression","volume":"28 1","pages":"393 - 406"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48647677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-13DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.2000651
S. Kewley, Rosemary Mhlanga-Gunda, M. Van Hout
ABSTRACT Preventing child sexual abuse (CSA) requires comprehensive multi-agency criminal justice and public health approaches. Yet, marginal attention has been given to secondary prevention strategies that target “at risk” populations. Thus, we carried out a scoping review examining secondary prevention interventions for people at risk of sexual offending by considering their effectiveness, challenges and barriers. We identified N = 43 sources and completed a qualitative analysis. Our appraisal found five themes: (a) essential features needed for secondary prevention programmes (plus summary of interventions); (b) barriers to examining, implementing and accessing secondary prevention programmes; (c) methodological limitations; (d) the ethical justification; and (e) economic benefits for preventing abuse before it occurs. Over the last two decades, sources report greater public tolerance to the notion of tackling CSA using public health prevention approaches. Thus, we call for policy makers to embrace this positive shift and invest resources to further examine this area. Practice impact statement Advancing clinicians’ and therapists’ practice is critical for those working with people at risk of harm. This review aims to strengthen current knowledge and inform practice. Further, policy makers and funders are essential to the development and progression of prevention strategies; by providing this contemporary review, we hope to assist the decision-making process for allocating resources and strengthening confidence in advancing policy that builds comprehensive prevention approaches.
{"title":"Preventing child sexual abuse before it occurs: examining the scale and nature of secondary public health prevention approaches","authors":"S. Kewley, Rosemary Mhlanga-Gunda, M. Van Hout","doi":"10.1080/13552600.2021.2000651","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2021.2000651","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Preventing child sexual abuse (CSA) requires comprehensive multi-agency criminal justice and public health approaches. Yet, marginal attention has been given to secondary prevention strategies that target “at risk” populations. Thus, we carried out a scoping review examining secondary prevention interventions for people at risk of sexual offending by considering their effectiveness, challenges and barriers. We identified N = 43 sources and completed a qualitative analysis. Our appraisal found five themes: (a) essential features needed for secondary prevention programmes (plus summary of interventions); (b) barriers to examining, implementing and accessing secondary prevention programmes; (c) methodological limitations; (d) the ethical justification; and (e) economic benefits for preventing abuse before it occurs. Over the last two decades, sources report greater public tolerance to the notion of tackling CSA using public health prevention approaches. Thus, we call for policy makers to embrace this positive shift and invest resources to further examine this area. Practice impact statement Advancing clinicians’ and therapists’ practice is critical for those working with people at risk of harm. This review aims to strengthen current knowledge and inform practice. Further, policy makers and funders are essential to the development and progression of prevention strategies; by providing this contemporary review, we hope to assist the decision-making process for allocating resources and strengthening confidence in advancing policy that builds comprehensive prevention approaches.","PeriodicalId":46758,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sexual Aggression","volume":"29 1","pages":"1 - 33"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48165159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-11DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.1998682
D. Saucier, Amanda L. Martens, Noah D. Renken
ABSTRACT This research examined how masculine honour beliefs (MHB) relate to individuals’ intentions to volunteer for organisations that aim to prevent rape or to provide services to women who have been raped. We predicted both men and those higher in MHB would be more supportive of efforts intended to prevent rape and less supportive of efforts intended to provide support to women who have been raped. Participants (N = 195) were recruited at a large Midwestern university and indicated their willingness to volunteer for ten organisations, three of which addressed either the prevention of rape or the provision of support to women who have been raped. Participants also reported their adherence to individual difference variables, including MHB. Our results supported our hypotheses, suggesting that for both men and those higher in MHB, protecting women from rape, or deterring and preventing rape, appears more important than supporting women who have been raped. This research extends our understanding of how gender roles and MHB relate to perceptions of rape, its prevention, and its consequences. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This research suggests it may be possible to rally college students to address the issue of rape on their campuses in targeted ways. That is, male students and students with higher levels of MHB may be more willing to participate in efforts to prevent rape on college campuses (where rape is particularly prevalent) than they are to participate in advocacy (e.g. centres for advocacy, campus advocacy groups) or supportive services (e.g. crisis centres).
{"title":"Masculine honour beliefs and volunteering to prevent rape versus volunteering to help women who have been raped","authors":"D. Saucier, Amanda L. Martens, Noah D. Renken","doi":"10.1080/13552600.2021.1998682","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2021.1998682","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This research examined how masculine honour beliefs (MHB) relate to individuals’ intentions to volunteer for organisations that aim to prevent rape or to provide services to women who have been raped. We predicted both men and those higher in MHB would be more supportive of efforts intended to prevent rape and less supportive of efforts intended to provide support to women who have been raped. Participants (N = 195) were recruited at a large Midwestern university and indicated their willingness to volunteer for ten organisations, three of which addressed either the prevention of rape or the provision of support to women who have been raped. Participants also reported their adherence to individual difference variables, including MHB. Our results supported our hypotheses, suggesting that for both men and those higher in MHB, protecting women from rape, or deterring and preventing rape, appears more important than supporting women who have been raped. This research extends our understanding of how gender roles and MHB relate to perceptions of rape, its prevention, and its consequences. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This research suggests it may be possible to rally college students to address the issue of rape on their campuses in targeted ways. That is, male students and students with higher levels of MHB may be more willing to participate in efforts to prevent rape on college campuses (where rape is particularly prevalent) than they are to participate in advocacy (e.g. centres for advocacy, campus advocacy groups) or supportive services (e.g. crisis centres).","PeriodicalId":46758,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sexual Aggression","volume":"28 1","pages":"331 - 347"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48352227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-05DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.1991499
Bethany Wakeman, R. Worthington
ABSTRACT Public attitudes are considered influential in terms of determining criminal justice responses to offending behaviour, however, research into sexual coercion and specifically Birth Control Sabotage (BCS) has received little attention. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of dark triad traits, gender, and motive on perceptions of BCS. Participants (N = 273) were recruited from a general population sample. All participants completed the Short Dark Triad (SD3) and read four vignettes relating to BCS, where perpetrator gender and function of sabotage (motive) were manipulated. Participants responded to these vignettes on a scale examining victim blame, criminality and victim impact. The results are discussed with reference to previous research exploring victim blame in other aspects of non-consensual sexual behaviour. As one of the first studies in this area, possible real-world implications and future directions are discussed in terms of jury decision making and victim support. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This article assists professionals in developing educational strategies and policies for how police and the legal system approach birth control sabotage and reproductive autonomy by explaining how attributing responsibility to victims and perpetrators and the need for police intervention is related to gender, intent and perceptions of affirmative consent.
{"title":"Evaluating perceptions of sexual coercion: the role of personality, gender, and motive in birth control sabotage","authors":"Bethany Wakeman, R. Worthington","doi":"10.1080/13552600.2021.1991499","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2021.1991499","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Public attitudes are considered influential in terms of determining criminal justice responses to offending behaviour, however, research into sexual coercion and specifically Birth Control Sabotage (BCS) has received little attention. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of dark triad traits, gender, and motive on perceptions of BCS. Participants (N = 273) were recruited from a general population sample. All participants completed the Short Dark Triad (SD3) and read four vignettes relating to BCS, where perpetrator gender and function of sabotage (motive) were manipulated. Participants responded to these vignettes on a scale examining victim blame, criminality and victim impact. The results are discussed with reference to previous research exploring victim blame in other aspects of non-consensual sexual behaviour. As one of the first studies in this area, possible real-world implications and future directions are discussed in terms of jury decision making and victim support. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This article assists professionals in developing educational strategies and policies for how police and the legal system approach birth control sabotage and reproductive autonomy by explaining how attributing responsibility to victims and perpetrators and the need for police intervention is related to gender, intent and perceptions of affirmative consent.","PeriodicalId":46758,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sexual Aggression","volume":"28 1","pages":"296 - 315"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42601243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-09-13DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.1973127
Kay Lynn Stevens, A. Austin, Deborah Wheeler, Tara Malec
ABSTRACT Sex trafficking is considered a public health emergency, although there is public confusion about the crime. Defendant gender has been demonstrated to affect juror decision-making within crimes of sexual victimisation, but there was no known literature examining the effect of defendant gender on juror decision-making within a sex trafficking case. To address this void in the literature, we investigated the effect of defendant gender on juror decision-making in a mock sex trafficking case. A community sample of jury-eligible individuals (n = 204) were randomly assigned to either a male or female defendant gender condition in which they read a sex trafficking mock trial summary and completed the Juror Decision Scale. The male defendant was found guilty significantly more frequently than the female defendant although the effect size was relatively small. Complainant Believability, Defendant Believability, and Decision Confidence significantly predicted verdict. Implications of these findings for the justice system are discussed. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The importance of addressing the crime of sex trafficking is paramount; however, there was a void in the juror decision-making literature. Findings from this experimental simulation of juror decision-making in a mock sex trafficking case indicated that defendant gender plays a role in verdict formation. Juror education is recommended to reduce the effects of gender bias in sex trafficking jury trials.
{"title":"The role of defendant gender on juror decision-making within a mock sex trafficking case among a jury-eligible community sample","authors":"Kay Lynn Stevens, A. Austin, Deborah Wheeler, Tara Malec","doi":"10.1080/13552600.2021.1973127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2021.1973127","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Sex trafficking is considered a public health emergency, although there is public confusion about the crime. Defendant gender has been demonstrated to affect juror decision-making within crimes of sexual victimisation, but there was no known literature examining the effect of defendant gender on juror decision-making within a sex trafficking case. To address this void in the literature, we investigated the effect of defendant gender on juror decision-making in a mock sex trafficking case. A community sample of jury-eligible individuals (n = 204) were randomly assigned to either a male or female defendant gender condition in which they read a sex trafficking mock trial summary and completed the Juror Decision Scale. The male defendant was found guilty significantly more frequently than the female defendant although the effect size was relatively small. Complainant Believability, Defendant Believability, and Decision Confidence significantly predicted verdict. Implications of these findings for the justice system are discussed. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The importance of addressing the crime of sex trafficking is paramount; however, there was a void in the juror decision-making literature. Findings from this experimental simulation of juror decision-making in a mock sex trafficking case indicated that defendant gender plays a role in verdict formation. Juror education is recommended to reduce the effects of gender bias in sex trafficking jury trials.","PeriodicalId":46758,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sexual Aggression","volume":"28 1","pages":"218 - 230"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44833898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-09-10DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.1970833
Zoë D. Peterson, Monica Perez Trujillo, Ana L. Jaramillo-Sierra
ABSTRACT In order to study sexual violence internationally, it is helpful to understand similarities and differences in how sexual violence is conceptualised across countries. The current study examined prosecuting attorneys’ judgments about which sexual tactics legally qualify as sexual violence in two countries. Attorneys from the U.S. (n = 28) and Colombia (n = 24) evaluated whether 36 tactics would qualify as a sexual offense in their jurisdiction. Although Colombian and U.S. attorneys agreed on the legality of many tactics, Colombian attorneys judged more behaviours as criminal, on average, than U.S. attorneys. Within-country variations suggested that differences were due not only to different legal statutes, but also to different interpretations of laws. Open-ended responses illustrated sources of ambiguity, including lack of clarity about how much coercion is required and which behaviours indicate nonconsent. This suggests that vagueness within legal definitions may allow attorney judgements to be influenced by stereotypes and prejudices. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This study illustrates the vagueness of legal definitions of sexual violence in two countries—the United States and Colombia. This vagueness provides prosecuting attorneys with substantial power to interpret the law, and in this study, some attorney judgements of legality seemed to be influenced by stereotypes. Greater training for law students and attorneys about the realities of sexual violence may be helpful in undermining belief in rape myths that may inhibit attorneys from prosecuting certain sexual violence cases.
{"title":"Judging the legality of sexually violent tactics: a comparison between prosecuting attorneys in the United States and Colombia","authors":"Zoë D. Peterson, Monica Perez Trujillo, Ana L. Jaramillo-Sierra","doi":"10.1080/13552600.2021.1970833","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2021.1970833","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In order to study sexual violence internationally, it is helpful to understand similarities and differences in how sexual violence is conceptualised across countries. The current study examined prosecuting attorneys’ judgments about which sexual tactics legally qualify as sexual violence in two countries. Attorneys from the U.S. (n = 28) and Colombia (n = 24) evaluated whether 36 tactics would qualify as a sexual offense in their jurisdiction. Although Colombian and U.S. attorneys agreed on the legality of many tactics, Colombian attorneys judged more behaviours as criminal, on average, than U.S. attorneys. Within-country variations suggested that differences were due not only to different legal statutes, but also to different interpretations of laws. Open-ended responses illustrated sources of ambiguity, including lack of clarity about how much coercion is required and which behaviours indicate nonconsent. This suggests that vagueness within legal definitions may allow attorney judgements to be influenced by stereotypes and prejudices. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This study illustrates the vagueness of legal definitions of sexual violence in two countries—the United States and Colombia. This vagueness provides prosecuting attorneys with substantial power to interpret the law, and in this study, some attorney judgements of legality seemed to be influenced by stereotypes. Greater training for law students and attorneys about the realities of sexual violence may be helpful in undermining belief in rape myths that may inhibit attorneys from prosecuting certain sexual violence cases.","PeriodicalId":46758,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sexual Aggression","volume":"28 1","pages":"261 - 279"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45557619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-08-11DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.1961887
Soobum Lee, Sei-Hill Kim, Jungmi Jun
ABSTRACT Using a survey of college students in the US, this study examines whether the way students attribute responsibility is associated with perceived risk of sexual assaults and willingness to engage in preventive behaviours. We then link news media use to attributions of responsibility to examine whether media use is related with risk perceptions and preventive behaviours through the mediation of attributions of responsibility. Attributing responsibility to victims was correlated with perceiving a lower risk, while finding colleges responsible was related with perceiving a greater risk. Such relationships were moderated by gender, suggesting that attributions of responsibility might have different effects between male and female students. Attributions of responsibility were also associated with helping victims and taking protective measures. Finally, news media use was positively correlated with blaming victims, while negatively associated with finding perpetrators responsible, and these attributions of responsibility mediated the link between media use and the outcome variables. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This article will assist educators and professionals in designing strategies for sexual assault prevention by explaining how attributing responsibility to victims, perpetrators, or colleges is related to college student's perceived risk and willingness to engage in preventive behaviours.
{"title":"Who is responsible for campus sexual assaults? News media use, attributions of responsibility, and college students’ perceived risk and willingness to engage in preventive behaviours","authors":"Soobum Lee, Sei-Hill Kim, Jungmi Jun","doi":"10.1080/13552600.2021.1961887","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2021.1961887","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Using a survey of college students in the US, this study examines whether the way students attribute responsibility is associated with perceived risk of sexual assaults and willingness to engage in preventive behaviours. We then link news media use to attributions of responsibility to examine whether media use is related with risk perceptions and preventive behaviours through the mediation of attributions of responsibility. Attributing responsibility to victims was correlated with perceiving a lower risk, while finding colleges responsible was related with perceiving a greater risk. Such relationships were moderated by gender, suggesting that attributions of responsibility might have different effects between male and female students. Attributions of responsibility were also associated with helping victims and taking protective measures. Finally, news media use was positively correlated with blaming victims, while negatively associated with finding perpetrators responsible, and these attributions of responsibility mediated the link between media use and the outcome variables. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This article will assist educators and professionals in designing strategies for sexual assault prevention by explaining how attributing responsibility to victims, perpetrators, or colleges is related to college student's perceived risk and willingness to engage in preventive behaviours.","PeriodicalId":46758,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sexual Aggression","volume":"28 1","pages":"244 - 260"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48526214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-07-09DOI: 10.1080/13552600.2021.1949499
Jesús de la Torre Laso, Juan Manuel Rodríguez, José Carlos Toro Pascua
ABSTRACT Group sexual offending is a phenomenon that occurs in our society, but little research has actually been carried out to unravel the complexity of this type of crime. The present study explores the characteristics of cases related to group sexual offences in Spain from 2014 to 2018 using information appearing in the media. An analysis of more than 500 printed and digital media reports identified 111 registered cases involving 389 offenders and 123 victims. All information regarding the offenders, the victims and the offences was examined and showed that the average age of the offenders was 23.61 years, which was slightly higher than the average age of the victims, 19.45 years. The average size of the group of aggressors was found to be 3.54 individuals and two-thirds were of Spanish nationality. The crimes committed occurred at night and often during the weekend and predominately in indoor spaces.
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