Sexual Assault Investigations

Question 1

What is sexual assault?

Answer 1

Any nonconsensual sexual act.

Question 2

Does a victim need to file a police report before they can receive medical attention?

Answer 2

NO! Victims can get a anonymous rape test completed anytime they need. The Police are required to pick it up and keep it in evidence for a min. of 6mo.

Question 3

How often do false reports occur?

Answer 3

On average, anywhere between 2-8% of the time.

Question 4

What are the three characteristics of a perfect victim?

Answer 4

• Vulnerable (Or can be made to be so)
• Accessible (Or can be made to be so)
• Lacking in Credibility (Or can be made to seem so)

Question 5

What are the three primary causes of trauma?

Answer 5

• Self-Blaming
• Lack of support
• Invalidation

Question 6

What does SART stand for?

Answer 6

Sexual Assault Response Team

Question 7

What does FETI stand for?

Answer 7

Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview

Question 8

What type of questions should be asked to a victim in a sexual assault interview?

Answer 8

Good questions elicit a specific and detailed answer- Not a Yes or No answer.

Question 9

How often in the suspect know to the victim in sexual assault cases?

Answer 9

Statistically, almost always. Studies estimate in almost 94% of cases the suspect was known to the victim and cared little about canceling their identity.

Question 10

What are the three ways to clear a sexual assault case?

Answer 10

• Cleared by arrest: When the suspect actually charged with the crime(s)
• Exceptional: When P/C exists for arrest but the suspect cannot be cleared because suspect is “Unavailable” (Dead, not extraditable, DA declines prosecution, suspect not arrested)
• Unfounded: Investigation finds that a crime didn’t occur.

Question 11

How many crime scenes, at minimum, will a sexual assault case have?

Answer 11

Three:

• The location of the assault
• Victims body
• Suspects body