Advocates Speak Out on Adult Sexual Assault: A Unique Crime Demands a Unique Response

Abstract

Research documents the challenges presented to victims of sexual assault whose cases move through the criminal justice system. One key vantage point from which to understand how survivors experience the criminal justice system is from the perspective of the crisis center advocates who work with them. Graduate student research teams conducted semistructured interviews with rape crisis advocates across one Northeastern state. The voices of crisis center advocates raise key points that might help in the development of new procedures and processes for how adult sexual assault cases are handled in the justice system.

Keywords:

• attrition
• credibility
• justice gap
• rape crisis advocates
• secondary victimization
• sexual assault

Acknowledgments

Support for this research was provided by internal grants from the University of New Hampshire.