Responding to the Complexities of Sexual Violence · keep the assault a private matter • Humiliation or fear of the perpetrator or other individual's perceptions • Fear of not

Responding to the Complexities of Sexual ViolenceJohnanna Ganz, Ph.D.Rural Projects CoordinatorSexual Violence Justice Institute

Copyright SVJI @ MNCASA, 2017. Do not reproduce without permission.

The Sexual Violence Justice Institute equipsmultidisciplinary teams and allied

professionals with the concepts, tools, training and resources needed to create a victim-centered responseto sexual violence within their local communities.

Copyright SVJI 2018. Do not reproduce without permission.


Where are we going?

• Assessing Our Status Quo

• Using What We’ve Learned

• Teams as Tools for Change



Where do we see the evidence or impact of domestic violence?


Where do we see the evidence or impact of sexual violence?


Assessing the Current State of Response“…and sexual violence”



Domestic Sexual



Differences in Response to DV/SV

Domestic Violence

• Felonies

• LE investigators and forensic evidence

• Prosecution needs victim involvement

• Cases have longer times to disposition

• Medical care providers critical responder

o Evidence collection

• Advocacy- believe, enhance reporting, provide information to further victim agency and enhance safety, offender accountability

Sexual Violence

• Misdemeanors

• Patrol officers investigate

• Prosecution does not need victim participation

• Medical care involvement low

• Advocacy - immediate and long term victim safety, offender accountability, address unintended consequences of system involvement

• Sexual violence remains hidden



Of 100 rapes committed…

< 20 reported to police

.4% to 5.4% prosecuted

0.2% to 5.2% conviction

Incarceration0.2-2.8%

Where We Are Now

Lonsway, Kimberly A. and Joanne Archambault. 2012. “The ‘Justice Gap’ for Sexual Assault Cases: Future Directions for Research and Reform.” Violence Against Women 18(2): 145-168.


Moving Through Criminal Justice Processes

• Focus on single event

• Based on actions/context

• Under- or poorly investigated

• Lack of medical resources and info

• May not be criminal activity by design



Realities of Dual & Multi-Service

• Focus on DV or child crimes

o Prioritized training

o Limited staff and time

o Outreach/education

o Few devoted resources

• One size fits most model

• Rural areas: 15% of services

Macy, R. J., Giattina, M. C., Parish, S. L., & Crosby, C. (2010). Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services: Historical Concerns and Contemporary Challenges. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25(1), 3-32.

2016 Biennial Report to Congress in the Effectiveness of Grant Programs Under the Violence Against Women Act, page 184. https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/933886/download



Using What We’ve Learned Key Moments in Violence Response



Equitable Access

• Marginalization & risks

• Actual vs. perceivedneed

• Service design• Responsive and

accessible services• Choice of connection


*Smith, S.G., Chen, J., Basile, K.C., Gilbert, L.K., Merrick, M.T., Patel, N., Walling, M., & Jain, A. (2017). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010-2012 State Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.; image from RAINN


Realities of Sexual Violence



Sexual Violence Disclosure

• Double burden

o Occurrence and responsibility

• Role of 1st disclosure

• Effects of response

• > disclosure and recovery

Ullman, Sarah and Henrietta H. Filipas. 2001. “Predictors of PTSD Symptom Severity and Social Reactions in Sexual Assault Victims.” Journal of Traumatic Stress (2). 369-389.

Ahrens, C.A. (2006). “Being silenced: The impact of negative social reactions on the disclosure of rape.” American Journal of Community Psychology (38). 263-274.



Disclosure and Types of Response

• Turning Against (78%)

o Overtly negative responses (stigma, blame)

o Social withdrawal, self-blame, decreased assertiveness

• Unsupportive Acknowledgement (94%)

o Addresses assault, but provides no support or assistance

o Worse coping, higher rates of depression and PTSD, worse long-term outcomes

Relyea, Mark and Sarah Ullman. 2015. “Unsupported or Turned Against: Understanding How Two Types of Negative Social Reactions to Sexual Relate to Post-Assault Outcomes.” Psychology of Women Quarterly (1). 37-52.



Informed Responders and Processes

The context of sexual violence changes the nature of the crime and needs of victims

• Brief encounter

• Colleague

• Alcohol facilitated

• Same sex

• Familial

• Sex trafficking

• Survival sex

• Stranger

• Sexual harassment

• Intimate partner

• Position of authority

• Child vs. adult

• Statutory rape



Trauma-Informed Processes

• Tailored services for SV

• Focus on sensory memories

• Time and pacing

• Tone and control

• Results-oriented approach



Why Trauma-Informed: Reporting SV

• Rape: 36%

• Attempted rape: 34%

• Sexual Assaults: 26%

• 1 in 3 never told anyone

• False Reports: 2-6%

• Self-blame or guilt

• Shame, embarrassment, or desire to keep the assault a private matter

• Humiliation or fear of the perpetrator or other individual's perceptions

• Fear of not being believed or of being accused of playing a role in the crime

• Lack of trust in the criminal justice system

Rennison, C.M. Rape and Sexual Assault: Reporting to Police and Medical Attention, 1992–2000. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, August 2002, NCJ 194530.

Du Mont, J., K.L. Miller, and T.L. Myhr. "The Role of 'Real Rape' and 'Real Victim' Stereotypes in the Police Reporting Practices of Sexually Assaulted Women." Violence Against Women 9(4)(April 2003): 466–486.



Victim Autonomy and Follow-Up

• Information freely given

• Explanations

• Time

• Realistic expectations



People who commit sexual crimes are people in your

community that you know, love, and see regularly.



Response to People Who Commit Sexual Violence

• Focus on acts, not person

• Understand connections in community

• Recognize variety of perpetrator and perpetration types

• Options for investigation

• Consequences matter

• Culture and healthy masculinity



Systems ResponsesTeams as Tools



Why Work on a Violence Response Team?



Role of the Team

Service and

Response Design

Justice for All V/S



Doing Things Differently in Teams

• Priorities

o Funding and grants

o Outreach to community

o Training and cross training

o Staff time

• Policies

o Shelter, reporting, etc.

• Practice

o Paperwork, discussionsCopyright SVJI 2018. Do not reproduce without permission.


Changing Our Teams and the Response

• Devoted trainings

o Sexual Violence

o TI investigation & prosecution

• Raise awareness of issues

• Develop plans for response

• Assess team & response



Increasing the CCR’s capacity to meaningfully

respond to sexual violence increases the effectiveness

of DV response



Questions or comments?



Thanks and That’s All Folks!

• www.svji.org

• Rural SART Blog

o ruralrealitiesblog.wordpress.com

• Johnanna’s Contact Info

o [email protected]

o 651-288-7451

• Email Sign Up Sheet (at front)


Documents

Responding to the Complexities of Sexual Violence · keep the assault a private matter • Humiliation or fear of the perpetrator or other individual's perceptions • Fear of not