Reporting Sexual Assault: Survivors' Satisfaction With Sexual Assault Response Personnel. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Henninger, Amy L.; Iwasaki, Michiko; Carlucci, Marianna E.; Lating, Jeffrey M.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 26:Number 11(2020)
• Page Start: 1362
• Page End: 1382
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: sexual assault -- Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) -- criminal justice system -- sexual assault survivors -- survivor satisfaction -- victim advocacy; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801219857831
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

Although jurisdictions have attempted to improve their response procedures, sexual assault cases are often insufficiently investigated. This study examines the survey responses of 460 female sexual assault survivors regarding their experiences with response personnel. Overall satisfaction with response services was 66.1%. Victim advocates and forensic nurses received higher satisfaction ratings than did patrol officers, detectives, and State's Attorney's Office staff. The present study also found that 65% of the variance in overall satisfaction was accounted for by four personnel behaviors: respectful treatment, clearly explained procedures, believed their stories, and demonstrated cultural sensitivity. Policy implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.