Logistics and Interdisciplinary Expertise of a Sexual Assault Response Team: A Case Study Through Observations and Interviews.

To more effectively respond to sexual assault in the United States, some jurisdictions have created sexual assault response teams (SARTs). SARTs involve members of multiple agencies tasked with responding to sexual assault within a jurisdiction, such as law enforcement, advocates, prosecutors, and sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs). Despite hundreds of jurisdictions utilizing SARTs, and the Department of Justice establishing guidelines, SARTs vary across jurisdictions in their form and function. To clarify this, the current research outlines two studies to better understand the logistics and functioning of one SART. In Study 1, for over nearly 2 years, SART meetings were observed and notes were taken on representation of agencies, time spent on cases, and possible challenges. Overall, the SART met consistently, with representation of major stakeholders at each meeting. Stakeholder agencies remained consistent and most time spent in the meetings was on case review. In Study 2, 10 members of SART were interviewed to assess perceptions of SART. These interviews were independently qualitatively coded for both factual and thematic codes. Areas of focus included perceived logistics of the SART and expertise of members that make up an effective SART. Overall, on average, members had been part of the SART for 3.5 years, felt required to attend the meetings as part of their role, and shared that all members (i.e., law enforcement, district attorney, victim advocates, and SANEs) had expertise on differing subjects that effectively made the SART work well. Importantly, qualitative perceptions from members of the SART (Study 2) lined up with the independent observation of SART meetings (Study 1). Ultimately, the results from this body of research could delineate specific actions that a jurisdiction implementing a SART could utilize.

The Importance of Multidisciplinary Trauma-Informed Training in Addressing Campus-Based Sexual Violence.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the impact of a professional development training series among a multidisciplinary team (MDT) during establishment of a trauma-informed sexual assault response and prevention program at a midsized university in the southeastern United States. MDT members included forensic nurses, advocates, counselors, law enforcement officers, and relevant faculty and staff. After completion of a baseline survey assessing attitudes toward trauma-informed care and perceptions of the team climate within the MDT, team members engaged in a trauma-informed care (TIC) professional development training series consisting of (a) 4-hour-long didactic lectures with incorporated group discussion and (2) one 2-hour in-situ simulation-based training exercise. MDT members subsequently completed 3-month and long-term follow-up surveys to assess the immediate and enduring impacts of the training series.The TIC training series significantly increased MDT members' perceptions of participative safety, task orientation, and support for innovation within the group at the 3-month assessment. No long-term differences were found, likely because of a small sample size and low statistical power.Intensive TIC MDT professional development at the beginning of a campus-wide sexual assault prevention and response initiative enhances psychological safety within the group, evidenced by increased perceptions of participative safety and support for innovation, and builds team cohesiveness around a shared set of tasks. Within the present MDT, the professional development training series also appeared to facilitate adoption of a shared set of values for accomplishing the team's goal of preventing and responding to sexual assault on campus. Recommendations for MDTs with similar goals are discussed.

Faculty and Staff Perceptions of Title IX Mandatory Reporting Policies at Two Institutions.

Most faculty and staff at postsecondary institutions are mandatory reporters who must disclose sexual assault to a Title IX Coordinator. However, scholarship examining their role is sparse. We address this gap by investigating perceptions and experiences of employees (n = 166) at two institutions. Findings indicate that most employees are aware of their reporting duties, likely to comply, have received training, and support mandated reporting. Additionally, we find significant sociodemographic differences in perceptions of mandatory reporting. Those who have had a direct experience reporting have mixed reactions to the process. We discuss research and policy implications.

Rape Myth Acceptance and Other Barriers to Formally Reporting Sexual Assault Among College Students With and Without Sexual Assault Histories.

Low rates of reporting sexual assault to law enforcement have been attributed to a culture of rape myth acceptance. Yet, rape myth acceptance rates and specific barriers to reporting have not been examined by sexual assault and reporting histories. This study compared the rape myth acceptance levels of reporting survivors, non-reporting survivors, and individuals without sexual assault histories. The sample consisted of 579 undergraduate students (68.0% White, 72.5% women) at a public university in the southeastern U.S. Differences in non-reporting survivors' experienced barriers to reporting and the perceived barriers of those without sexual assault histories were also examined. Results indicate differences in rape myth endorsement by sexual assault and reporting status, with the highest rape myth adherence rates endorsed by individuals without a sexual assault history and the lowest endorsed by reporting survivors. While non-reporting survivors and those without sexual assault histories shared two of the top three barriers to reporting (i.e., wanted to avoid thinking or talking about it, did not want family or friends to find out), non-reporting survivors were more likely to endorse personal reasons for not reporting, and those without sexual assault histories were more likely to endorse concerns about the law enforcement response to rape. Several barrier factors were identified among non-reporting survivors (i.e., fear of law enforcement involvement, personal reasons, ambiguity of the event, responsibility) and among individuals without sexual assault histories (i.e., risks outweigh benefits, victim blaming, ambiguity). Although both survivors and individuals without sexual assault histories acknowledge the personal, social, and legal risks of reporting a sexual assault to law enforcement, survivors' experienced barriers differed in nuanced ways from the presumed barriers of individuals without sexual assault histories. Findings may enhance sexual assault prevention trainings and awareness campaigns by targeting both rape myth beliefs and specific barriers to reporting of those with and without sexual assault histories.

Condemnation of Statutory Rape Based on Respondent Race, Perpetrator Race, and Victim Race.

Race impacts perceptions of crimes, perpetrators, and victims. Although statutory rape generally receives little empirical or media attention, it has important implications for victims and offenders across the United States and appears to be enforced in a haphazard way. This study used a between-subjects experimental survey design at two universities (n = 1,370) to assess the impact of respondent race, perpetrator race, and victim race on attitudes toward statutory rape. Results of a repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that respondents viewed both White victims and their perpetrators as bad, blameworthy, deserving of punishment, harmed, and likely to commit crime in the future, judgments suggesting that the respondents take this sexual activity seriously. In contrast, analyses revealed that respondents were significantly less concerned about Black victims than White victims. Consistent with the liberation hypothesis, these differences in attitudes may contribute to the law being enforced inconsistently, providing differential access to justice based on a variable that is not legally relevant.

Providing and Receiving Sexual Assault Disclosures: Findings From a Sexually Diverse Sample of Young Adults.

This study utilized a sample of primarily lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ)-identified young adults from across the United States to pilot test a new instrument, the Reactions Provided to Disclosures Questionnaire (RPDQ), and assess the disclosure experience for both those who provide and those who receive disclosures of sexual assault. Results indicate that the experience of sexual assault disclosure in the LGBQ community is similar to the heterosexual community in that most victims disclose their assaults, most often to a friend, and were most likely to receive the reaction Emotional Support. Victims were also likely to receive the reaction Victim Blaming, especially if they disclosed to formal sources, such as law enforcement, medical, or religious personnel. This study also examined the relationship between the types of assault experienced and disclosure reactions received. Experiencing an anal assault was significantly associated with Victim Blaming reactions. A central aim of this study was to examine how respondents who received (rather than provided) a disclosure reacted, a question not been adequately addressed in prior literature. The RPDQ (a modification of Ullman's Social Reactions Questionnaire), which was piloted here, factored in to five types of reactions: Emotional Support, Affectionate Support, Empathetic Support, Tangible Aid and Information Support, and Egocentric Reactions. Sexual assault survivors were more likely to report that they provided Emotional Support and Affectionate Support after receiving a disclosure than were nonsurvivors.

Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Rape Myth Acceptance: Preliminary Findings From a Sample of Primarily LGBQ-Identified Survey Respondents.

This study is among the first to examine the relationship between sexual orientation and rape myth adherence using a nationwide survey of primarily lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) respondents (n = 184). The more established Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale and a modified Male Rape Survey serve as the primary instruments to test both rape myth adherence and instrument-appropriateness. Results suggest that respondents were most likely to support myths that discredit sexual assault allegations or excuse rape as a biological imperative and least likely to support myths related to physical resistance. Consistent with previous work, men exhibited higher levels of rape myth adherence than women. Regarding sexual orientation, respondents who identified as queer consistently exhibited lower levels of rape myth adherence than respondents who identified as gay.

Partner age differences, educational contexts and adolescent female sexual activity.

CONTEXT: Research suggesting that female teenagers who date substantially older males are at increased risk for negative health outcomes supports the need for statutory rape laws. However, prior research has generally ignored the social context of adolescence when examining the risks associated with dating an older partner. METHODS: Data from Waves 1 (1995) and 2 (1996) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used to model the occurrence of sexual intercourse within adolescent heterosexual romantic relationships. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the predictors of sexual intercourse among 4,266 romantically involved female students aged 12-18. RESULTS: Female students with male partners three or more years their senior had higher odds of engaging in sexual intercourse than female students with partners closer to their age (odds ratio, 1.5). However, the association between having an older partner and the risk of sexual intercourse was nonsignificant for females older than 16. Moreover, when male partners' school status was taken into account, the relationship was no longer significant. Female students with partners who had exited school had elevated odds of having had intercourse compared with females who dated partners in the same school (1.8). CONCLUSIONS: These findings challenge statutory rape laws' focus on age, given that the association between educational context and sexual risk overrides the association between partner age and sexual risk.