Prosecuting Sexual Assault in Chicago

The criminal legal system is an often-recommended resource for those seeking help and justice after being sexually assaulted. However, the research thus far indicates that sexual assault (SA) cases that are reported to police are unlikely to be prosecuted and convicted and that such attrition does not happen at random. Indeed, there are patterns around which SA cases are ultimately prosecuted and convicted, especially as it relates to characteristics related to the survivor, offender, assault, and case. What characteristics or factors that have yet to be explored in the research though is how system and time factors, like the elected prosecutor, and the length of time between when a criminal SA case was referred for prosecution and when it reached disposition, contribute to these patterns of SA case attrition. As such, the current study was conducted using social regularities theory to document and understand “social regularities” or patterns in the prosecution of SA in Chicago. Descriptive and regression analyses was performed using publicly available administrative data previously published by the Cook County State’s Attorney Office. An initial sample of 3,179 referred SA cases were analyzed. The results indicate that SA cases reported to police were unlikely to be referred for prosecution and unlikely to result in a conviction and that both system and time factors influence whether SA cases result in a conviction, including the type of conviction. These findings have important implications for systems and social change, specifically as it relates to the work being done by the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), a community-based non-profit organization providing services and advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence and a partner in the project. The findings from the current study will be provided to CAASE to inform their legal services program and their efforts to advocate for survivors as it relates to the policies and practices that impact them.

Author dc:creator

• Caroline Bailey (14729527)

• Community Psychology
• Criminology

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.25417/uic.31451287.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/31451287