U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Predicting Sexual Assault Prosecution Outcomes: The Rule of Medical Forensic Evidence Collected by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners
NCJ Number
              227740
Journal

*Criminal Justice and Behavior* Volume: 36 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2009 Pages: 712-727
Author(s)
          Rebecca Campbell;
                        Debra Patterson;
                        Deborah Bybee;
                        Emily R. Dworkin
Date Published

July 2009
Length
              16 pages
Annotation
              This study examined a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program's effect on adult sexual assault case investigation and prosecution in a large midwestern county
Abstract
              Results show prediction of case outcomes was best achieved by the inclusion of medical forensic evidence factors obtained by SANE participants; positive DNA evidence significantly increased the likelihood of case progression. Accounting for organizational-level differences across the five law enforcement agencies in the sample, this study compared relative contributions of victim, assault, and medical forensic evidence findings in the prediction of case progression. With respect to victim characteristics, survivors between the ages of 18 and 21 were significantly more likely to have their cases moved to dispositions of higher outcomes. Prior research in non-SANE communities has typically found the opposite effect; specifically, middle-aged women were more likely to have their cases prosecuted. However, these results are consistent with prior research which found that cases involving younger women proceeded further through the system. With respect to assault characteristics, penetration crimes were significantly more likely to be prosecuted; however, the more complicated issue is the effect of the victim-offender relationship, which has yielded inconsistent findings in prior projects. If the offender was an intimate partner or husband, a former intimate partner or husband, a dating partner, or a family member, the case was significantly more likely to advance to a level of higher disposition. When there was a greater delay between the time of the assault and the time that the survivor had the medical forensic exam, the case was less likely to progress through the system. Data were collected from 137 adult sexual assault cases that were treated in the local SANE program during its first 6 plus years of operation. Tables, notes, and references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2005-WG-BX-0003


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)


  
  
        
  Award
        A Systems Change Analysis of SANE Programs
    
  
  
Date Published: July 1, 2009
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Demonstrative evidence
        Evidence collection
        Evidence Identification
        Evidence preservation
        Evidence technicians



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Technical Note – Gas Chromatography Vapor-Phase Infrared Spectroscopy (GC-VIR)
                  Chromatographic and mass spectral studies on methoxymethcathinones related to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
                  A Feasibility Study of Direct Analysis in Real Time-Mass Spectrometry for Screening Organic Gunshot Residues from various Substrates
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov